Hygiene, health and sanitation awareness as part of developing and validating a phys-ical education toolkit: contributing to personal and social well-being of children from Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Background
Physical inactivity and a sedentary lifestyle are key risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases, while poor hygiene behaviour is at the root of many communicable diseases such as infections with soil-transmitted helminths. This double burden also affects school-aged children growing up in disadvantaged areas. Within the KaziBantu project – ‘Healthy Schools for Healthy Communities’, an educational toolkit for primary schools (Grade 1-7) including physical education, moving-to-music lessons, and nutrition, health and hygiene education has been developed.
Methods
The mission was about the development of age-specific Health and Hygiene Education lessons as part of the Nutrition, Health and Hygiene Education toolkit. To identify health- and hygiene-related key messages, an intensive literature review, direct observations and school-based discussions with teachers, school management and local experts were conducted. Certain lessons have been piloted in two primary schools in impoverished areas of Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
Results
The KaziKidz toolkit follows the national curriculum and consists of lessons with corresponding worksheets, posters, games and assessments. Interactive lessons including activities in and outside the classroom, theoretical instructions as well as practical training support teachers in teaching their learners important life skills and good hygiene behaviour. The piloted lessons were well-accepted by teachers and students.
Conclusions
A school-based toolkit was developed with the aim of having a positive impact on school children’s health through improved hygiene awareness and resulting behaviour change. Learners, teachers and the school management are facing challenging conditions and existing barriers. Therefore, supporting each other is indispensable in order to improve the children’s health.