A study on the Vision-related Knowledge and Behaviors of the 1st and 2nd graders of Primary School and their Parents in a City

일 초등학교 1·2학년 아동과 학부모의 시력관련 지식 및 행태에 관한 조사

The purpose of this study was to investigate the visual acuity and the degree of vision-related knowledge and behaviors of the 1st and 2nd graders of primary school and their parents in a city. The research design was a descriptive study and the subjects were 579 pupils and their parents in Namwon City, Chonbuk province. Children's vision screening was conducted with Han's test by author, school nurse according to the guidelines. The data were analyzed by frequency, percentage, mean, S.D., t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, $x^2$-test with SAS program. Subnormal visual acuity group (SVAG) in children was 17.3%, and was higher in girls and in the 2nd graders, but there were no significant differences statistically. The mean score of the vision-related knowledge in children was 6.8 points out of 10 points and that of vision-related behaviors was 23.5 points out of 33 points. The mean scores of the vision-related knowledge were significantly higher in 2nd graders (p= .02), in girls (p= .02) and SVAG (p= .01) and the group of high scores in vision-related knowledge presented significantly high scores in vision-related behaviors (p= .001). The mean score of the vision-related knowledge in parents was 6.4 points out of 10 points and that of vision-related behaviors was 28.4 points out of 33 points. The group with high scores of vision-related knowledge in parents presented significantly high scores in vision-related behaviors (p= .003). As SVAG were higher in 2nd graders and the group of high scores of vision-related knowledge showed also high scores in vision-related behaviors in both children and their parents, From the above results, the author suggests a school-based visual health program for them.