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Socio-Demographic Factors: Does It Make Difference on Children Perception and Practice towards Environmental Health Promotion: a Case Study of Gaza Strip, Palestine
Amal Sarsour1, Al Shaarawi Salem2, Yehia Abed 3, Abdelnaser Omran 4, Syed Wasif Gillani5*
1
School of Housing, Building and Planning, 11800, Minden, Universiti Sains Malaysia. E-mail:
[email protected]. 2 Department of ophthalmology, school of medical sciences, university sains Malaysia,16150 kubang kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia. 3 School of Public Health-Al Quds University, Gaza Strip, Palestine. E-mail: 4
[email protected] of Housing, Building and Planning, 11800, Minden, Universiti Sains Malaysia E- mail:
[email protected] 5 School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Penang
There is no conflict of interest among the authors.
Corresponding author: Dr. Syed wasif gillani School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Penang
[email protected] tel: +6017-4203027
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Abstract This study aims to assess if there is causality relationship between the level of the children perception and practice towards environmental health promotion and the socio-demographic factors in Gaza strip Palestine. The result of the present paper reveals positive shifts with statistical differences in the level of environmental health knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours of the experimental children before and after their attendance in the awareness program in favour of the post-test The results showed differences in the level of Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviours (KABs) among the experimental children, attributed to socio demographic variables such as (gender, age, type of study children parent’s job, monthly income, educational back ground of children’s parents, and residential area), with remarkable differences and variations in reaching significantly within all these variables whether in pre or post test was prevailed. The present study provides implications and contributes in various theoretical and practical perspectives in comparison with the different literature in the same field
Keywords: Socio Demographic Factors, health promotion, attitudes, behaviours, Influence, children, Gaza Strip, Palestine.
1.
Introduction
The promotion of environmental health awareness has become an urgent need to achieve the concepts of sustainable development and promote the principles of environmental health action within the communities (Abu Safieh, 2006). Some empirical studies have acknowledged that different factors can
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influence on human perception towards enhancing Environmental Health (e.g. Raudsepp, 2001; Gollnick and Chinn, 2002; Marouli, 2002; Capps et al., 2005; Fisman, 2005; Digby, 2010; Ziadat, 2010). In this sense, previous researches have examined factors influencing environmental health promotion. Vaske et al. (2001) suggested that income and education might not be the most appropriate indicators when attempting to explain environmentalism. Their study recommended future investigations of other potential predictors of attitude and value orientations such as age, gender, and ethnicity. Relationships between environmental knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours from one side with different factors, such as age, education, income, and gender were considered in various capacities in Environmental Education literature (Digby, 2010). According to Ziadat (2010), agreement and discrepancy in knowledge, views, and actions arise out of Environmental Awareness and may be affected by education, age, social level, profession, location of residency, and gender throughout the global society. The limited body of research on Environmental Awareness of children showed that a child’s age may dictate levels of environmental concern (Larson, 2008). Several studies found that the level of these items can vary considerably between different topics and student environmental awareness, which in turn were affected by several factors, including gender (Sheila, 2004). Different researchers assert that Environmental Awareness declined in minor communities because children had fewer opportunities to access safely natural resources (Arcury and Christianson, 1993; McDaniel and Alley, 2005; Barraza and Cuaron, 2004; Bullard, 2006). By means of little chance for built up of environmental concepts, children from low-income neighbourhoods may be less disposed to change their perspective on environmental issues (Fisman, 2005). Hence the crucial analysis and disciplined study on the factors influencing children perspective and practice towards Environmental Health Promotion may bridge the gap in Enhance Environmental Health among children in Palestine.
The present study aims to identify the key factors affect on endorse environmental health and personal hygiene practice among children in Gaza Strip, Palestine. Methodology Sample size and technique A stratified sample was applied to select the study target group from the 10th, 11th, and 12th age group children, including both males and females, in Gaza City, representing an urban area, and North Gaza, representing an agricultural area. The study sample comprised 214 children, 103 children as the experimental group and 111 children as the control group.
Measuring Tools The researchers conducted two different methods to collect quantitative and qualitative data from evaluating the outdoor awareness program and to collect data from the children. After each trial, the achievement and challenges intrinsic in the procedure were considered to refine and enhance the effectiveness of the tool to attain its aims and to assess environmental health acquirement and identify program effectiveness and efficacy across a specific range of age groups and programs (Ballantyne et al., 2005). For the quantitative method, a combination between orally and self-administered pre- and post-test questionnaires was used for the target group, some of whom needed help in reading and understanding the questions. These questionnaires were applied to investigate the children’s knowledge, attitude, and behaviour both before and after attending the Environmental Health Awareness Programme (EHAP). For the qualitative method, a focus group interview with children from the experimental group was first conducted to collect qualitative information. Second, an observation sheet was used to support the study’s findings both from the self-report and the focus group answers.
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Pre- and post-test self-report questionnaires were designed to investigate the children’s knowledge, attitude, and behaviour before and after attending the EHAP. The questionnaires were also designed to study the three variables with respect to their relationship with gender, area of residence, student scores, and achievement in school. In addition to reviewing the primary environmental health issues that should be discussed in the awareness program, the questionnaires were also designed based on previous research on outdoor awareness programs. A reference table was designed to guide the researchers in designing the questionnaire. The researchers concentrated on the variety of questions regarding different environmental health issues discussed in the EHAP, drawing on comparisons with questionnaires used elsewhere in similar investigations. Suitable questions were then adopted and included in the present study’s questionnaire. The questions were designed to be used in the focus group. Direct measures of observable behaviour were also incorporated in the present study as an additional evaluation tool to support the obtained data.
Treatment A qualitative and quantitative quasi-experimental study was applied to evaluate outdoor awareness programs, during the Semester break in Summer 2011. It covered six lesson plans for teaching environmental health concepts and issues to children in an outdoor school setting. Sessions were held three times a week. The awareness program lasted three weeks, starting with the pre-test and ending with the post-test. The program comprised six sessions, which were divided into four theoretical and two practical sessions. Each theoretical session (lecture and discussion) lasted for three hours. The practical session (on solid waste recycling and on using hygiene kits) lasted for four hours for each activity. Pedagogical approaches were used in the delivery of the program, including hands-on activities, storytelling, playing with puppets, painting and performance presentations. Activities ranged from physically active to quiet thinking and reflective activities. During each activity, the children worked in friendship groups incorporating both boys and girls, and were then asked to deliver the environmental health messages they learned from their peers and families (peer-to-peer approach). The children benefited from the present study by participating in the EHAP, which seemed to be particularly effective in reaching children during their formative stage. The chances that these children will grow up to be environmentally sensitive adults are increased. Results and Findings Socio-demographic characteristics of the study respondents in Gaza Strip In the study area 103 respondents participated in the Environmental Health awareness Program (experimental group). Six demographic variables measured, namely, age of study children, place of residency, gender, educational background of the children’ parents, type of their job and average monthly income. The relevant demographic details are presented in table 1. Table 1: Study respondents distribution according to socio-demographic variables Variable Place of Residency Gaza North Sex of Child Male Female Age of Classroom
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Frequency (N=103)
Percentage %
47 56
45.6% 54.4%
48 55
46.6% 53.4%
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10 years old 36 35% 111 years old 29 28.2% 12 years old 38 36.9% Educational Background of the children parents Illiterate 27 26.2% School Certificate 56 54.4% University Degree 20 19.4% The study children parents type of Job Governmental 31 30.1% Private sector 6 5.8% Freelancers 15 14.6% Jobless 51 49.5% Average Monthly Income of the children parents less than 500 sh. 53 51.5% 500 - less than 1000 sh. 17 16.5% 1000- 2000 sh. 22 21.4% above 2000 sh. 11 10.6% *Each .100$ equal about 360 Shekel (shekel is the currency used in Palestinian territories and Israel) Level of EHKAB’s in related to Gender among the Experimental Group According to the results, and as displayed in Table (2) the level of environmental knowledge among females of the study children was higher than of males in pre test and post test, and there was statistical significant differences in the level of environmental health knowledge in pre test among the study children attributed to their gender towards female, while it didn’t reach significantly differences in post test attributed to gender. Also, there were no statistical significant differences in the level of environmental health attitudes in pre test and post test among the study children attributed to their gender. Finally, the table shown that, there were statistical significant differences in the level of environmental health behaviours in pre test and post test among the study children attributed to their gender towards female (table,2).
Table 2: Level of Environmental Health Knowledge, Attitude and Behaviour in Related to Gender Item
Sex of Child
N
Mean
Total score for each item
Percentage %
Sig.
T
Knowledge Pre Test Knowledge Post Test Attitudes Pre Test
Male Female Male Female Male Female
48 55 48 55 48 55
17.69 18.95 19.94 20.27 71.04 74.62
24
74% 79% 83% 84.5% 79% 83%
0.037
1.424
4.489
0.298
0.438
1.094
0.813
2.081
0.056
Attitudes Post Test
Male Female Male Female Male Female
48 55 48 55 48 55
78.50 79.16 56.23 59.89 59.73 61.53
90
87% 88% 85% 91% 90.5% 93%
0.409
0.419
0.687
0.014
2.588
6.279
.004
1.788
8.904
Behaviours Pre Test Behaviours Post test
91
24 90
66 66
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Level of EHKABs among the Experimental Group in related to study area As illustrated in Table (3), the level of environmental knowledge among the study children in Gaza city (urban area) was higher than of the study children of North Gaza (agricultural area) in pre and post test, and there was no statistical significant differences in the level of environmental health knowledge in pre test among the study children attributed to their area, while it reached significantly differences in post test attributed to area. Also, there were no statistical significant differences in the level of environmental health attitudes in pre test and post test among the study children attributed to their area. Finally, the table shown that, there were no statistical significant differences in the level of environmental health behaviours in pre test and post test among the study children attributed to their area. Table 3: Level of environmental awareness among children according to their residential area
Item
Sex of Child
N
Mean
Knowledge Pre Test Knowledge Post Test Attitudes Pre Test
Gaza North Gaza North Gaza North
47 56 47 56 47 56
19.36 17.52 20.68 19.64 75.00 71.23
Attitudes Post Test
Gaza
47 56 47 56 47 56
79.87 78.00 58.38 58.02 60.53 60.82
Behaviours Pre Test Behaviours Post Test
North Gaza North Gaza North
Total score for each item
Percentage % 80.67% 73% 86.2% 81.83% 83.3% 79.14%
24 24 90
88.74% 86.67% 88.46% 87.91% 91.7% 92.15%
90 66 66
Sig.
T
F
0.642
2.152
0.217
0.024
1.426
5.266
0.871
2.189
0.027
0.054
1.213
3.790
0.756
0.253
0.097
0.676
0.286
0.175
Level of EHKABs in related to Children Age levels among the Experimental Group The results reflect difference in the mean of the level of environmental health knowledge, attitudes and behaviours among the study children according to their age (table, 4) In order to study the differences between level of environmental health knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours among the study children as independent variable and their age levels as dependant variable, One-way between groups ANOVA was conducted one way analysis was used (Table, 4). There was variation in the presence of statistical significant differences in some cases as in the level of environmental health knowledge among the study children in post test, and in the level of their behaviours towards environmental health issues in pre and post test due to the children age levels (P < 0.001), while there was no significance differences in the level of the children knowledge, and attitude in pre test and the children attitudes in post test too. Table 4: Level of EHKABs among the Experimental Group according to their Classroom Dependent Variable Knowledge Pre test
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Age
N
Mean
Percentage %
10
36
17.56
73.2%
11 12
29 38
19.52 18.24
81.34% 76%
Total score for Each Item 24
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Knowledge Post Test Attitude Pre Test
Attitude Post Test
Behaviour Pre Test
Behaviour Post Test
10
36
19.28
80.34%
24
11 12 10
29 38 36
21.66 19.74 73.11
90.25% 82.25% 81.3%
90
11 12 10 11 12 10 11 12 10 11 12
29 38 36 29 38 36 29 38 36 29 38
73.97 72.03 78.36 81.41 77.37 58.08 61.14 56.03 61.61 62.31 58.58
82.2% 80.1% 87% 90.5% 86% 88 93 85 93.3 94.4 89
90
66
66
Table 5: Summary of Experimental Group Classroom and KAB’s Analysis of Variance Dependent variable
Df
Between Groups 2 Within Groups 100 Total 102 Between Groups 2 Knowledge Post Within Groups 100 Test Total 102 Between Groups 2 Within Groups 100 Attitudes Pre Test Total 102 Between Groups 2 Within Groups 100 Attitudes Post Test Total 102 Between Groups 2 Behaviours Pre Within Groups 100 Test Total 102 Between Groups 2 Behaviours Post Within Groups 100 Test Total 102 *. The mean difference is significant at the 0.05 level. Knowledge Pre Test
F
Sig.
1.634
0.200
3.494
0.034*
.400
0.671
2.271
0.108
4.408
0.015*
5.928
0.004*
The relationship between EHKABs and type of Job of the Experimental Study Children’s Parents The level of EHKAB’s among the study children according to the type of their parents job were significantly differ from each other, that the level of EHK was highest among the study children whom their parents work in private sector, in comparing to the other two types of jobs (governmental & freelancers) in addition to jobless, and it reached the lowest among the children whom their parents were jobless.
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While the level of EHA was higher in pre test among the children whom their parents work in governmental sector, than the children whom their parents work in the other two types of jobs, or jobless, and it was the lowest among the children whom their parents work in private sector. In post test the level of EHA reached the highest among the children whom their parents work in freelancers, while it reached the lowest among the children whom their parents work in private sector. Finally, the level of EHBs in pre test & post test was the highest among the children whom their work in governmental sector in comparing to the children whom their parents work in the other two jobs or jobless, while it was the lowest in pre test and post test among children whom their parents work in freelancers, and jobless respectively (Table, 6). In order to explore the differences between levels of EHKAB’s among the study children as independent variable and the type of job of the study children parents as dependant variable, One Way analysis was performed (Table, 7). The results emphasizes that there were no any significance differences in the level of the EHKAB’s, in pre test and post test due to the type of job of the study children parents. Due to KABs‟ variables not meeting p< 0.05 significance level criteria, a post hoc analysis for comparing this variable, type of job and the KAB scores, was not conducted. Table 6: The level of KABs Pre-Post Test according to the type of the Children’s Parents’ job Parent’s Job
Knowledge Pre Test
Knowledge Post Test
Attitude Pre Test
Attitude Post Test
Behaviour Pre Test
Behaviour Post test
Mean
19.32
20.32
74.42
79.16
60.39
61.77
% N Std. D.
80.5 31 4.118
84.67 31 3.893
82.7 31 8.217
87.96 31 8.399
91.5 31 5.283
93.6 31 4.287
Mean
20.50
22.33
71.00
78.17
59.00
60.83
% 85.42 N 6 Std. 2.345 D. Mean 18.67 Freelancers % 77.8 N 15 Std. 3.885 D. Mean 17.43 Jobless % 72.63 N 51 Std. 4.759 D. * Std. D.: Standard Deviation
92.63 6 1.966
78.9 6 10.807
86.86 6 8.519
89.4 6 7.899
92.2 6 4.956
20.07 83.63 15 3.788
71.07 79 15 8.908
80.33 89.3 15 7.798
56.20 85.15 15 8.470
60.67 91.92 15 4.835
19.75 82.3 51 4.024
72.84 81 51 9.063
78.31 87 51 7.901
57.33 86.86 51 7.625
60.02 91 51 5.555
Governmental
Private sector
Table 7: Summary of type of job for the children parents and KAB’s Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) Results Item Knowledge Pre Test
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Between Groups Within Groups
df 3 99
F 1.783
Sig. 0.155
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Total Between Groups Within Groups Total Between Groups Attitude Pre Test Within Groups Total Between Groups Attitude Post Test Within Groups Total Between Groups Behaviour Pre Test Within Groups Total Between Groups Behaviour Post test Within Groups Total * The mean difference is significant at the 0.05 level. Knowledge Post Test
102 3 99 102 3 99 102 3 99 102 3 99 102 3 99 102
0.842
0.474
0.605
0.613
0.261
0.854
1.633
0.187
0.772
0.513
The relationship between experimental study children parents’ monthly income levels and the EHKAB scores of the children There were variations in the level of EHKABs among the study children according to the Average Monthly Income (AMI) of their parents. (Table, 8) In order to study the differences between levels of environmental EHKAB’s among the study children as independent variable and the average monthly income of the study children parents as dependant variable, one way analysis was used. The results as clarified in Table (8), that there were no any significance differences in the level of EHKAB’s in pre test and post test due to the level of monthly average income of the study children parents. Accordingly, a post hoc analysis was not conducted. Table 8: The level of KABs Pre-Post Test according to the type of the children’s Parents Monthly Income Parent’s Average Monthly Income less than 500 sh. 500 - less than 1000 sh. 1000- 2000 sh. above 2000 sh.
95
Mean % N Std. D. 20.50 % 6 2.345 Mean % N Std. D. Mean % N
Knowledge Pre Test
Knowledge Post Test
Attitude Pre Test
Attitude Post Test
Behaviour Pre Test
Behaviour Post test
17.68 73.67 53 4.755 19.06 79.42 17 3.960 18.32 76.33 22 4.202 20.64 86 11
19.70 82.1 53 4.060 20.41 85.04 17 3.692 20.23 84.3 22 2.287 21.45 89.4 11
73.21 81.34 53 8.908 70.53 78.37 17 9.348 75.00 83.3 22 8.206 71.36 79.3 11
78.11 86.8 53 7.738 80.00 80.81 17 8.039 79.77 88.63 22 8.041 78.82 87.6 11
57.58 87.24 53 7.297 56.59 85.74 17 9.301 60.77 92.1 22 4.985 58.36 88.42 11
60.21 91.23 53 5.401 60.76 92.1 17 5.629 61.32 93 22 4.401 61.64 93.4 11
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Std. D. 3.075 5.538 8.992 9.642 6.531 3.776 *Each .100$ equal about 360 Shekel (shekel is the currency used in Palestinian territories and Israel) Table (9): Summary of Children’s Parents’ Monthly Income Levels and KAB’s Item Knowledge Pre Test
Df 3 99 102 3 99 102 3 99 102 3 99 102 3 99 102 3 99 102
Between Groups Within Groups Total Between Groups Knowledge Post Test Within Groups Total Between Groups Attitudes Pre Test Within Groups Total Between Groups Attitudes Post Test Within Groups Total Between Groups Behaviours Pre Test Within Groups Total Between Groups Behaviours Post test Within Groups Total *. The mean difference is significant at the 0.05 level
F 1.568
Sig. 0.202
0.680
0.567
0.951
0.419
0.359
0.783
1.359
0.260
0.397
0.755
Level of EHKABs in related to Educational Background of the children’s Parents The level of environmental health knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour among the study children increase as the educational background of their parents increased, that the level of EHKAB’s among the children whom their parents have University certificates got the highest level in pre and post test in comparing to the children whom their parents educational background was school certificates or illiterate (refer to Table, 10). In order to examine the differences between level of environmental health knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours among the study children as independent variable and the educational background of the study children parents as dependant variable, One-way between groups analysis was conducted (Table, 11). The results indicated that level of environmental health differ significantly in some cases among the study children in pre test & post test, and also in the level of their behaviours towards environmental health issues in pre and post test due to the children parents educational background, while there was no significance differences in the level of the children attitudes in pre test and post test too, according to the study children parents educational background. Table 13: Level of KAB’s Pre-Post Test according to children Parents Background Educational Back ground of study child parents Illiterate
96
Mean %
Knowledge Pre Test
Knowledge Post Test
Attitude Pre Test
Attitude Post Test
Behaviour Pre Test
Behaviour Post test
15.26 63.6
18.30 76.3
69.89 77.6
76.52 85
55.41 84
58.11 88
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N 27 27 Std. D. 5.186 4.905 Mean 19.12 20.59 Secondary % 79.67 85.8 School N 56 56 Std. D. 3.785 2.702 Mean 20.40 21.25 University % 85 88.54 degree N 20 20 Std. D. 2.501 4.399 Mean 18.36 20.12 Total % 76.5 83.83 N 103 103 Std. D. 4.408 3.864 *. The mean difference is significant at the 0.05 level.
27 8.657 73.48 81.64 56 8.737 75.60 84 20 8.629 72.95 81.1 103 8.840
27 8.131 78.87 87.63 56 8.204 81.95 91.1 20 6.262 78.85 87.6 103 7.986
27 8.149 58.66 88.88 56 6.992 60.60 91.82 20 5.423 58.18 88.15 103 7.216
27 5.598 61.41 93 56 4.615 62.15 94.2 20 4.392 60.69 91.95 103 5.053
Table 11: Relationship between, EHKABs of the Children, and the Educational Background of their Parents. Item Knowledge Pre Test
Knowledge Post Test Attitude Pre Test
Attitude Post Test
Between Groups Within Groups
df 2 100
Total Between Groups Within Groups Total Between Groups Within Groups Total Between Groups Within Groups
102 2 100 102 2 100 102 2 100
Total
102
F
Sig.
11.693
0.000**
4.576
0.013*
2.707
0.072
2.749
0.069
Between Groups 2 Within Groups 100 3.394 Total 102 2 Behaviour Post test Between Groups Within Groups 100 5.340 Total 102 * The mean difference is significant at the 0.05
Behaviour Pre Test
0.037*
0.006*
Discussion In reference to the paper results and the gender variable, several studies have found that the level of perception and practice towards environmental health promotion can vary considerably between different topics, and the children's environmental awareness was affected by several factors such as gender (Sheila, 2004). In the present study, the result is consistent with the results of different studies, which claim that female students reported greater environmental knowledge than males (Affifi, 2000; Salmi and Mekhlafy, 2003; Sheila, 2004). On the other hand, as reported by different studies, no significant relationships
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between gender and environmental knowledge, and awareness level (Cardeiro and Sayler, 1994; Clarke, 1996; Dadah 2002). Zelenzy and Aldrich, (2000) review of a decade of research on gender differences in environmental attitudes and behaviours found that “women report stronger environmental attitudes and behaviours than men.” The pattern of females reporting stronger environmental perspective and performance than males remained reliable across age in about 14 countries (Digby, 2010). Most of these studies indicated that females are more expected to reveal environmental concerns and eager to initiate behaviour changes for the environment (Chan 1998; Connell et al., 1999; Clarke, 1996; Hampel et al., 1996; Salmi and Mekhlafy, 2003; Coyle, 2005). In contrast, many studies revealed that males reflect a higher level of awareness about environmental issues than females (Gambro and Switzky, 1999; Myers et al., 1999; Kibert, 2000; Murphy, 2002, 2004; Mohsen, 2003; Coyle, 2005; Ehrampoush, and Moghadam, 2005; White, 2006). Another factor that may affect EHKAB’s is age. In the current study, significant differences in the level of environmental health knowledge are found among children in the experimental group based on the results of the post test, as well as in the level of their behaviours toward environmental health issues in the pre test and post test, which can be attributed to the children’s age (P < 0.001). However, there were no significant differences in the level of the children’s knowledge and attitude based on the results of the pre test and the children’s attitudes in the post test. These findings were supported by Evan et al., (2007) who cited the findings of Eagles and Muffitt (1990) and Kellert (1995). Furthermore, another socio-demographic factor which can affect the level of KAB’s among children is the type of job of their parents. Although a variation in the level of EHKAB’s among children can be attributed to their parents’ type of job, these differences are insignificant. Based on the recent study’s results, the level of KAB’s, among children increases as the level of their parents’ income increases, though these differences are insignificant. From the other hand, the level of EHKAB’s among children in the experimental group in Gaza City, an urban area, was higher than that of children in the experimental group in North Gaza, a rural area. However, generally, no statistically significant differences in the level of EHKAB’s were established which can be attributed to the participant’s location. A significant difference attributable to the location is only evident in the level of knowledge in the post test. These results are consistent with the results of different studies which compared children from areas of varying socioeconomic status. These previous studies showed that the participants’ income was positively related to global environmental knowledge, as environmental awareness decreased in poorer neighbour hoods, possibly because children had fewer opportunities to safely access natural resources (Arcury and Christianson, 1993; McDaniel and Alley, 2005; Barraza and Cuaron, 2004; Bullard, 2006). Moreover, a well-designed Environmental Awareness program that crosses cultural borders and considered for demographic variety may award more benefits to minority children of low socioeconomic status (Capps et al., 2005; Gollnick and Chinn, 2002; Marouli, 2002). In contrast to this finding, Kaplowitz and Levine (2005) found that “associations between income and environmental concern are quite ambiguous and fail to support the hypothesized positive association. The results of triangulation among the three variables (i.e., children in the experimental group’s parents’ job, their parents’ monthly income, and the type of area they came from) were similar to those obtained in the local study of Affifi (2000), which reported no clear significant difference between the place of residency (camp or town) and the environmental enlightenment level. Finally, the educational background of the children’s parents may also affect the level of EHKABs among children in the experimental group. The level of EHKABs increases as the educational background of their parents increases. Exclusively, based on the results of the pre test and post test, the level of EHKABs among children whose parents have university certificates was higher compared with those whose parents only achieved school certificates or are illiterate. Significant differences in the pre test and post test results were found in several cases regarding the level of environmental health knowledge among children in the experimental groups, as well as in the level of their behaviours toward environmental health issues attributed to their parent’s educational background.
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However, no significant differences in the pre test and post test results were established in the level of the children’s attitudes attributed to their parent’s educational background. To explain this finding, Gambro and Switzky (1999) suggested that, even if the educational level of children’s parents may influence the level of environmental knowledge a children acquire, it can only provide a principles on which the child must develop with her or his own experiences. Conclusion This paper has investigated and presented the influence of the socio-demographic factors of the participants, on the level of their perception and practice towards enhancing Environmental Health in their life, which represented by the three variables : knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours. The empirical results highlight remarkable differences in the level of KAB’s among the experimental children that can be attributed to socio-demographic variables, such as gender, age, type of study, jobs of parents, monthly income, educational background of parents, and area of residence. However, these results are unable to show the significant influence of socio-demographic factors on the level of KAB’s among the children. In another word, it reveals interesting trends that warrant further analysis regarding the relationship between the level of environmental health, knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours with socio-demographic factors. This issue remains questionable and should encourage environmental health scholars to explore further the factors affecting the environmental health knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours among the children.
Acknowledgement: The authors wish to express their appreciation and grateful to national and international organizations in Gaza strip- Palestine which work in the field of environmental health and children, for their support and help to apply this study. Also, special thanks extended to the study children in Gaza strip for their valuable participation in this research.
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