A comparison of Philippine and American children's concepts of body organs and illness in relation to five variables

Abstract

A recently completed studyoO) investigated Philippine* children’s concepts of body organs and concepts of illness. Specifically, the questions raised for investigation were: (a) What are children’s levels of knowledge of illness and levels of knowledge of body organs? (b) What is the relationship between level of knowledge of illness and level of knowledge of body organs? (c) What variables significantly influence the level of knowledge of body organs and of illness? The above study was an extension of a study done by SmithCz6’ in 1973; the limitations which Smith noted in her study were either controlled or studied. First, more psychosocial factors were included in analysis such as mother’s education and occupation, family’s place of residence, family size, and sibling position. Second, the content of health education and science subjects in school were determined.‘-“) In addition, the grade level variable was expanded to include first graders. The present study aims to compare the Philippine data with that of Smith along the variables studied by the latter, namely, grade level, father’s education, sex, history of illness, and type of illness explained. Differences in resources and culture are major reasons for the comparison. Three limitations exist in this approach. First, while the same scoring methods and rules were used and high intrajudge and interjudge reliability were demonstrated by this investigator, no interjudge reliability test was done with Smith as far as scoring the responses. Second, the studies were not done concurrently. Well and hospitalized school age children comprised the study subjects. However, only urban children comprised the well group in both Smith’s+ and the Philippine sample (Metro-Manila residents). A mixed group of children from urban and rural residences comprised the hospitalized children in both Smith’s and the present study. Figures in tables l(a) and (b) present a summary of the characteristics of the Philippine and