Vocal Hygiene Awareness and Voice Function Among Teachers in Selected Public Primary Schools in Migori County, Kenya
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Date
2023-12
Authors
Oogo, Cynthia Achieng’
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Vocal hygiene awareness education is a productive method of disseminating knowledge,
reducing vocal misuse s and preventing acquisition and progression of voice disorders
among teachers. Nevertheless, vojce disorders among teachers, do occur and persist due
to limited vocal hygicne awareness and practices. The purpose of this study was to
examine ic relationship between vocal hygiene awareness and voice function among
pu!\hcl primary school teachers in Awendo Sub-County, Migori County, Kenya. The
"h‘“‘“"% of this study sought to investigate the level of vocal hygiene awareness among
teachers in Awendo Sub-County, assess the physical environmental factors within the
sch_m_)l that influence voice funetion among teachers and to find out the programs and
policies in schools that promote healthy vocal function among teachers. Further, it sought
10 assess thf: possible influence of teachers’ awareness of vocal hygiene practices on their
voice function. The study was guided by Bronfenbrenner’s Social Ecological Model. The
study adopted correlation research design which employed a mixed research
methodology. The target population was teachers in all public primary schools in
Awendo Sub-County, Migori County, Kenya. Two sampling procedures were used to
select the respondents in the study: Simple random sampling for teachers and purposive
sampling for the head teachers. The sample size consisted of 82 teachers and 8 Head
teachers. Data was collected using self-scoring questionnaire and interview schedules.
Descriptive statistics was used to describe and summarize quantitative data in terms of
graphs, frequency tables, pie charts and percentages with the aid of Statistical Package
for Social Sciences computer program, while qualitative data was analyzed and presented
thematically. The results show that majority of teachers had vocal hygiene awareness.
Also, there was a significant negative association between voice hygiene awareness
among the sampled teachers and their voice function. That is; with increase in the level of
vocal hygiene awareness, there was a decrease in vocal function problems thus higher
levels of vocal hygiene awareness translated to better vocal function. The study further
found out that more than half of the schools had physical environmental factors that may
affect the voice function of the teacher such as; dust in the school environment including
chalk dust, noise, insufficient drinking water and undisciplined learners. Also, there were
no programs in schools to promote vocal health of teachers. Even though there were
policies against noise making and indiscipline in schools; such policies only applied to
pupils. In conclusion, vocal hygiene awareness should form an integral part of the teacher
training curriculum. Also there should be modification of the school environment so as to
improve and (or) eliminate factors that may affect the voice of teacher. Finally policies
and programs aimed at improving the voice function of the teachers should be introduced
in schools. The study recommends further research on the prevalence of voice disorders
among teachers in Kenya to enable asses the actual burden of voice disorders on teachers.
Description
A Research Project Submitted In Partial Fulfilment for the Award of Degree of Master in Speech and Language Pathology in the School Of Education and Lifelong Learning Kenyatta University December, 2023
Keywords
Vocal Hygiene Awareness, Voice Function, Teachers, Public Primary Schools, Migori County, Kenya