Learning and Health Impacts of COVID-19 Prevention and Control Measures among the Hill Tribe Schoolchildren of Northern Thailand: A Teacher’s Perspective
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Abstract
Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic impacts all populations accross different dimensions. Schoolchildren have been one of the most affected groups by the prevention and control measures that were implemented. This study aimed to understand the impact of the prevention and control measures against COVID-19 on hill tribe schoolchildren.
Method: The study included school directors and teachers working in schools and daycare centers (DCCs) in the hill tribe villages. A qualitative method was used to elicit information about the impacts of COVID-19 prevention and control measures in teaching, learning, and health among hill tribe schoolchildren. The participants were asked several questions. Thematic analysis was used to extract information and study the patterns of the findings.
Results: A total of 22 participants, seven school directors, and 15 teachers from four schools and three DCCs were selected to participate in the study. Among them, 72.7% were female, 63.6% had a bachelor’s degree, and the mean age was 44.1 years. Educational and health impacts were found with the implementation of prevention and control measures for COVID-19, and two major forms were detected: educational and health impacts. Regarding the impact on education, the students were found to have difficulties in online learning platforms. In addition, poor parental support and the inability to buy educational tools and equipment for online learning platforms made it more challenging. In terms of health, the students lost the opportunity to be cared for by professionals, lacked practice of interpersonal skills, and lacked access to healthy food.
Conclusion: With no better option, hill tribe students were forced to modify their learning styles without any learning materials or equipment available. The children were not able to consume the recommended quantity and quality of food provided by the government at school and DCCs. All government offices including school directors should emphasize on improvement the approaches to ensure that students are able to learn on their maximized capacity in learning inducing the method to provide lunch with quality and quantity food for all students.
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