Tom AbuomOogo, Cynthia Achieng’2024-06-062024-06-062023-12https://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/28294A 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, 2023Vocal 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.enVocal Hygiene AwarenessVoice FunctionTeachersPublic Primary SchoolsMigori CountyKenyaThesis