Fire disaster preparedness in secondary schools a case study of Ilala municipal council

Abstract

Background: Fire outbreaks in schools are now reported to be of public concern because of the increased incidences, injuries and deaths due to fire accidents. Regular media reports on fire outbreak incidences grim a picture that secondary schools are not well prepared for fire emergencies in Tanzania. Therefore this study assessed fire disaster preparedness among secondary schools in Ilala Municipal Council. Objectives: This study specifically assessed knowledge on fire safety among secondary teachers, fire safety equipments available in secondary schools and assessed whether secondary schools provide training to school community for fire safety preparedness. Methodology: A cross sectional study was employed where by a single cluster sampling study was used to obtain study participants. A total of 94 secondary schools and 422 teachers were included in this study. A self-administered questionnaire with closed and open ended questions were used to collect information on general information and socio demographic characteristics of study participants, fire safety measures and plans pertaining to fire disaster preparedness, determine whether secondary schools train staff on fire disaster preparedness and assessment of knowledge/awareness on fire safety preparedness among boarding secondary schools in Ilala Municipal Council. Data was analyzed by using an Epi info software version 3.5.1 whereby proportions, frequency, distribution tables and figures were used to present the results. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered to be statistical significant. Results: A total of 422 secondary school teachers were recruited in this study, 283 (67.1%) were from public owned secondary schools and 330 (78.2%) were from day secondary school category. Of all 422 secondary school teachers, 220 (52.6%) were females, the mean age was 40.7 years ± 6.5 SD. Adequate knowledge on fire safety prepared was 293 (69.4%). Of all 94 secondary schools, 57 (60.6%) had fire extinguishers, of these 43 (43.6%) had serviced fire extinguishers. Less than half, 38 (40.4%) secondary schools have fire emergency plan and 23 (24.5%) have persons responsible for fire safety. During analysis we found that adequate knowledge, 33 (71.7%) on fire safety their schools were 9.64 times more likely to be prepared compared to 10 (20.8%) with inadequate knowledge (OR = 9.64, 95% CI; 3.74 – 24.87; p < 0.001). Secondary schools 17 (73.9%) had person for fire safety were 4.90 times likely be prepared for fire disaster as compared to 26 (36.6%) which have no person designated for fire safety, this was statistical significant (OR = 4.90, 95% CI; 1.72 – 13.99, p < 0.001). Head of schools with adequate knowledge on fire safety their schools were more prepared for fire disaster and it was statistical significant (AOR = 9.23; 95% CI; 3.08 – 27.63; p < 0.001). Secondary schools which are inspected once or more per annum were more prepared for fire disaster (AOR = 7.48; 95%CI; 2.15 – 26.04; p = 0.002). Having person for fire safety was not statistical significant at multivariate (AOR = 1.58; 95%CI; 0.46 – 5.47; p = 0.47). Conclusion and Recommendations: Based on the study findings obtained on the assessed fire disaster preparedness; we found there was inadequate knowledge on fire safety preparedness among secondary school teachers, most of the schools have un serviced fire fighting equipments, lack of personal responsible for fire, lack of fire safety inspection in secondary schools and lack of fire emergency plans in school (policy) among secondary schools are contributing to unpreparedness among secondary schools. Therefore regular training on fire safety, provision of fund in secondary schools to ensure provision of fire fighting equipments and regular inspection of secondary schools for fire safety.