Health education training of university students of the early childhood education degree in Spain

• Published in: Ciência & saude coletiva Vol. 24; no. 8; pp. 3067 - 3078
• Main Authors: Llorent-Bedmar, Vicente, Cobano-Delgado, Verónica
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Associacao Brasileira de Pos-Graduacao em Saude Coletiva - ABRASCO 01-08-2019; Associação Brasileira de Saúde Coletiva
• Subjects: Curricula; Curriculum; Early childhood education; Education; Health Education; Humans; Spain; Students; Students - statistics & numerical data; Surveys and Questionnaires; Teacher Training - methods; Universities; University students; Spain; España
• ISSN: 1413-8123; 1678-4561
• DOI: 10.1590/1413-81232018248.28642017

In Spain, Health Education is included in the Early Childhood Education curriculum, but teachers do not manage to develop it effectively. We intended to verify the opinion of the students of the Early Childhood Education Degree of the universities of Andalusia about their education and the relevance of this subject. The research was conducted on a population of 2,178 students, using the questionnaire as the main instrument. Its validation required measuring its internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha coefficient and exploratory factor analysis. The students consider essential Child Health Education training (87.8%), and affirmed that the one they received in the official curricula had been weak. The subjects offered are mostly focused on the promotion of healthy lifestyles (61.5%) and prevention (38.5%). On the other hand, they consider first aid training very important. We propose the implementation of a complete and appropriate Health Education in the training of teachers.