Health status of children with mental retardation at Sta. Ana Elementary School and Stepping Stone Learning Centre : An analysis

• Main Author: Yeh, Chun-Chen (Jennifer).
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2001
• Subjects: Mental retardation; Mentally handicapped children > Health and hygiene; Health; Educational Psychology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/2543
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study assesses and analyzes the health status of children with mental retardation (CWMR) at Sta. Ana Elementary School and Stepping Stone Learning Centre in Manila.The study employed the descriptive method of research utilizing a researcher devised questionaire and unstructured interview. Then questionnaires were were distributed to parents, teachers and school officials of Sta. Ana Elementary School and Stepping Stone Learning Centre.Results of the study revealed that there are more male children with mental retardation than female children with mental retardation in private schools are younger than those in the public schools forty-five percent of the respondents of both schools have children with mild mental retardation hence, can be prepared for independent living, given appropriate training. Children with mental retardation in both schools encounter health problems such as communicable disease, underweight, physical weakness, fever and bacterial meningitis during infancy. Majority of the mothers in both schools suffered from communicable disease during pregnancy.The most common health problems of children with mental retardation were speech disorder, dental problems, headaches, dizziness and poor hygienic habits. Based on the findings the researcher recommends that health problems of children with mental retardation be given more attention by parents and teachers health care services provided in school be improved a correlational study of health problems of mothers during pregnancy and mental retardation be conducted and sources of funds for health care services for small schools be looked into to provide the needed services.The study also revealed that there is a significant difference between the health problem encountered by children with mental retardation of Sta. Ana Elementary School and Stepping Stone Learning Centre. It further revealed that the respondents in the public school have more health problems than those in the private school. Likewise, there is a significant difference between the health care services provided by Sta. Ana Elementary School and Stepping Stone Learning Centre. The same is true with the health practices monitored by the teachers in school and the health care services provided at home.Outcomes of the investigation imply that there is a need to give more attention to health problems of CWMR. Further, health care services provided in schools should be improved.