Background : Oxyuriasis and giardiasis are common intestinal infections in students. Prior investigators have proposed the role of teachers in preventing these problems. The present study was conducted to determine the effects of health training on teachers' knowledge of oxyuriasis and giardiasis prevention in Kashan in 2000.

Materials and methods : For this quasi-experimental study, knowledge of 256 teachers towards the nature, transmission and prevention of oxyuriasis and giardiasis was assessed before the training via a questionnaire, then, one month later, after the training, their knowledge was reassessed. Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests were used for data analysis.

Results : Knowledge score of teachers' towards the nature, transmission and prevention of oxyuriasis and giardiasis prior the training intervention were 3.6±1.1, 3.6±1.2, and 3.4±1.0 respectively. These figures have changed to 4.3±0.9, 1.1±0.1, and 3.9±4.0 following the training respectively (p<0.00001). Training has increased both male and female teachers' knowledge (p<0.00001).

Conclusion : Health training has improved knowledge of Kashan teachers' towards the nature, transmission and prevention of oxyuriasis and giardiasis. We recommend continued medical and health education for teachers