Generalist Teachers' Knowledge Level on Causes and Effects of Injuries in Schools' Sports

Abstract

The Purpose of the Study was to examine the knowledge levels of generalist teachers' causes and effects of injuries in basic schools' sports in the Central Gonja District of Savannah Region, Ghana. The study employed a descriptive survey design. The population of this study comprised 190 generalist teachers from 95 schools in the Central Gonja District of Savannah Region. A total of 180 respondents and ninety (90) schools were sampled using cluster and simple random sampling techniques. A researcher-designed questionnaire titled "Fuzzy First Aid Assessment Inventory" was the main tool for the data collection for this study. The questionnaire consists of 20 items on knowledge on causes and effects of sports injuries. The participant had the option to Strongly Agree, Agree, Disagree, and Strongly Disagree for items. Quantitative primary data were analyzed using descriptive analysis of frequency counts and percentages, the mean and standard deviations. The study concluded that knowledge levels of generalist teachers on the causes of sports injury were low. It is recommended that Schools authorities should sensitize the generalist teachers through in-service training, workshops, seminars to appreciate the importance of having first aid knowledge not first aid boxes by name. The study also revealed that sports teachers' knowledge levels on the effects of sports injuries were high. It is also recommended that the universities and colleges of educations that train teachers should consider first aid a core subject not an elective, to have effective knowledge in the administering of basic first aid.