indian council of medical research - Pondicherry University DSpace ...

nght attitudes and practices. In order to involve the paramedical workers and teachers
In giving health care to school children, the Government of India launched a scheme for
health check up of primary level school students in the year 1996. Accordingly, dunng
the period July 22-27. 1996, 100 mlllion children enrolled in primary schools all over the
country were examined by a team of health nurses, teachers and helpers. The
emphasis was once again on health appraisal and remedial measures only, and not on
health and nutrition education.
5.3 Methodology
A detailed protocol was designed, taking into consideration the vanous issues raised
under objectives. Both ethnographic and quantitative methods were employed to collect
data. Ethnographic methods were used to study the people's perceptions on the Issues
and quantitative methods were used to bring out the epidemiological features. More
than one method was employed to obtain data on most of the Issues. The cho~ce of
methods was determined by the issue and logistics. The qualitative data pertain~ng to
health, educat~on and social aspects were collected separately for each one of them.
All the ehlnographic quamtitative data were collected concurrently using a single
questionnaire. The instruments (proforma, forms, questionnaire etc.) and methods used
were pretested In the neighboring villages. The study deslgn described below deals
w~th the choice of the method in relation to the issues (Table 5.8A and 5.86).
description of the method, timu frame of activities and also the statistical methods
applied for analyses .