EFFECTIVENESS OF A HEALTH EDUCATION INTERVENTION ABOUT INFLUENZA AND VACCINE IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN SOUTH LEBANON

Seasonal influenza is an intense respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that circulate all around the world. In Lebanon, there is a lack of national flu awareness campaigns. Schools’ students are truly outstanding and viable sources to spread the awareness and strive for the conduct change in the general population. Hence, this study was carried out to test the effectiveness of a health education intervention in improving the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward influenza and its vaccine among secondary schools’ students in South Lebanon. This is a Pre/Post research study conducted in four schools located in South Lebanon. A health educational intervention was presented to the secondary schools’ students aged between 14 to 19 years old. They were asked to fill the same self-administrated questionnaire, pre and post the educational intervention. A total of 372 participants completed the questionnaire. The results showed a statistically significant improvement in the KAP of students towards influenza and influenza vaccination (p \u3c 0.05) except for the attitudes towards seasonal influenza (p \u3e 0.05). Students’ KAP had been improved towards seasonal Influenza viruses and the vaccine after getting the educational intervention. A broad mass instructive campaigns should be performed to control the spread of influenza in the country