CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
School Health Services i !ala"sia
School health service is a service provided by the Ministry of Health Malaysia to students who
are in school to ensure optimal health care. Preference is given to students of government-aided
schools throughout Malaysia. Health services have been started in this country in 196. !n 19"#
the school health team has been established to allow visits made to primary and secondary
schools in Malaysia. $enerally# each year nearly 1.% million school students# involving primary
and secondary levels in Malaysia to benefit directly through the school health services. &here are
the categories of students who are given health chec's# i.e Pre-school# Standard 1# Standard 6
and (orm ).
1
Pac#a$e o% health services
&here are three main components in the pac'age of health services# which are*
1+ School health
,+ School dentistry
)+ School -nvironment
School health services
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sekolah
&his program provides services to the students such as disease prevention# health screening and
usual care and referral to the clinic or hospital. &he purpose of these services include *
1+ &o maintain the health of students through health promotion# disease prevention# treatment and
referral.
,+ &o detect health problems that can hinder the academic achievement of students in schools.
&hus# the initial reference may be made to enable early intervention and placement of students in
special education system.
)+ &o encourage community involvement to develop the school as a safe and healthy institutions
to create an effective learning process.
Health E&'catio
Health education in school is divided into two categories# namely in groups and individually.
Health education is implemented in clusters include activities conducted through campaigns or
health camps in schools. Students ac.uire 'nowledge through e/hibitions# lectures and
demonstrations by health personnel. !t will prioriti0e public health issues related to students. (or
e/ample# screening for thalassemia# 1Tak Nak Merokok2 34o 5ot 6ant to Smo'e+ and a healthy
lifestyle. !ndividual health education is given as advice and counseling during medical
e/aminations. &he issues most commonly found are related to diet# s'in diseases# personal
hygiene and others.
Histor" a& Bac#$ro'& o% the School
Se'. 7eb. 7ampung 8u'it 3Hulu 5erus+ was opened in 19"9. !nitially# the number of
students enrolled is of about 1: students. &he first teacher was -n. 5i' bin ;li from the village of
&elu' Pasu# 7uala &erengganu. He holds a Standard (ive and a single teacher taught at this
school for si/ years. !n 196:# bloc' ; has been built to accommodate the growing number of
students. <lasses were successfully opened into two classes which involve only three teachers.
5ow# bloc' ; has been used as the ;dministration 8uilding and the rest turned into a special
room. !n 19%,# a teachers= housing unit 3wooden construction+ was built. !n 19%9# an additional
building# 9 84 38loc' 8+ constructed to hold the rising number of students up to ":.
!n 19%6# the school was inaugurated by the Honorable <hief Minister# 4ato =Seri 6an
Mo'htar ;hmad. (looding at the end of 19%6 had sun' the entire school building. !n 199)# an
additional building 3) 84+ was built. 1999 was a year of receiving the largest number of students
in the school# which consist of 9" students. ;verage admission of students per year is around 1:.
!n 199"# two teachers= housing unit 3stone building+ was erected. !n 1999# the school canteen was
built. Meanwhile# the >aboratory Sciences have successfully built in ,::%.
,
STATE!ENT OF PROB(E!
!n recent years# health problems among school students often reported in the mass media.
Significant health problem faced by the students is obesity. !n addition# health problems such as
diabetes# heart disease# high blood pressure has also been reported among them. Health problems
that occur among school students are thought to stem from imbalance of food inta'e and
unhealthy lifestyle.
;lthough various studies and researches have been conducted on this issue# but the issue is
still hotly discussed up to this day. &he researcher chose this topic to be highlighted in the
literature as an improvement to the previous literature results of a study conducted by scholars.
Health problems can happen to the students is due to the low level of awareness about health
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education. &herefore# the primary focus of this study is to e/amine the level of awareness among
the students in Se'. 7eb. 7ampung 8u'it 3Hulu 5erus+.
OB)ECTI*ES OF THIS STUDY
&he ob?ectives of this study are as follows*
31+ to determine the level of health awareness among the students 3Part 1+ in Se'. 7eb. 7g 8u'it
3Hulu 5erus+.
3,+ to investigate issues relating to level of health awareness among the students of Se'. 7eb.
7g 8u'it 3Hulu 5erus+.
3)+ to determine the constraints that inhibit students to apply health practices as well as the
elements regarding the health of students in school or at home.
RESEARCH +UESTIONS
i. How to determine the level of health awareness among the students 3Part 1+ in
Se'. 7eb. 7g 8u'it 3Hulu 5erus+@
ii. 6hat are the issues regarding to level of health awareness among the selected
students@
iii. 6hat are the constraints that inhibit students to apply health practices among
them.
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
&his study is conducted particularly among Part 1 students of Se'. 7eb. 7ampung 8u'it 3Hulu
5erus+. &he study will be more focused on the level of awareness in terms of the 'nowledge that
they have about health education. &he researcher will discuss about the other issue of health
awareness among the students. &here are also ways to increase health awareness among them as
well as their parents as a public. However# the findings may not be stated to cover all the students
in other schools.
8esides that# the constraints or barriers that inhibit students to practice a good lifestyle such
as ta'e a balance diet# do the physical activities and many more will be highlighted. &he steps to
overcome the problems faced by students in applying the health practices as well as the related
issue will be also presented.
DEFINITION OF TER!S
HEA(TH EDUCATION
&he definition of health* ;ccording to 6HA# health is a perfect physically# mentally and socially.
Health is not only associated with the absence of disease or in?ury alone.
&he definition of education* -ducation is a systematic effort. !t is performed by a society to
disseminate 'nowledge# attitudes and s'ills of its members. !t is also an effort to develop
individual potential and the changes that occur in human life.
&here is a general definition of health education. !t defines as a process of providing or using in-
depth e/perience to influence the understanding# attitudes and practices relating to the health of
individuals# families and communities.
ANOTHER DEFINITION OF HEA(TH EDUCATION
$reen 319%:+ stated that health education is any learning e/perience which is built to
facilitate adaptation and behavior that are conducive to health. ;ccording to ;nspaugh B -0ell
3199"+# health education is a process to develop and provide learning e/periences organi0ed in
order to provide information# change attitudes# and also influence behavior. &he process would
allow the children are responsible for their own health# leading to improved health and well-
being. Mar/ B 6ooley 3199%+ also e/pressed their own theories. (rom their perspective# health
education means learning in the classroom that provide the dimensions of physical# mental#
emotional and social. ;t the same time# develop the 'nowledge# attitudes and s'ills related to
health.
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