Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Availability

Open Access Thesis

Keywords

Environmental health--Study and teaching--Iowa; Environmental health--Study and teaching; Iowa;

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe the nature and extent of environmental health education currently being offered and taught in selected Iowa high schools during grades 9-12. The sample consisted of 136 high schools in Iowa. Schools in this sample were selected based on high school size using random stratified sampling techniques. A questionnaire was constructed to ascertain the nature and extent of environmental health education. Of the 136 questionnaires mailed, 86 were returned. The data were analyzed descriptively by compilation of frequencies and percentages for responses to each question. The results of this study indicated that within Iowa high school health courses there is limited coverage of environmental health topics. The top five topics covered were: indoor hazards/pollution with an emphasis on smoking, particulates, and carbon monoxide; overpopulation as it related to the spread of diseases; food additives; solid waste and its association to recycling, reduction, and reuse; and chemical carcinogens. Many of the environmental health topics appear to receive coverage outside of the health course, with biology identified as the principal academic area providing additional coverage. The health educators had varied academic backgrounds in their professional education. The academic area in which the health course was most commonly offered was in home economics. The most significant fact relating to the health educators was that only 33% have had some type of formal environmental health course work in their academic backgrounds.

Year of Submission

1994

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

School of Health, Physical Education, and Leisure Services

First Advisor

Sue A. Joslyn

Second Advisor

Susan J. Koch

Third Advisor

Carl W. Bollwinkel

Comments

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Date Original

1994

Object Description

1 PDF file (93 leaves)

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

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