Prevalence of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) among Students and Teachers of Guidance Schools in Babol, Winter ۲۰۱۸

Background: It is important to determine the prevalence of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) symptoms in school students and teachers, which is relevant to the physical environment of the building. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of sick building syndrome in students and teachers of guidance schools in Babol.   Methods: This descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was carried out in ۱۵ guidance schools in Babol in the winter of ۲۰۱۸, among ۱۵۰ students and ۹۵ teachers. The MM۰۴۰EA (Miljomedicine۰۴۰) questionnaire was used to collect data and was completed by interview. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test.   Results: Among the ۱۲ symptoms of SBS, ۵۰.۷% of students had fatigue, and ۴۴.۷% had headaches. There was a significant correlation between heavy headedness (p = ۰.۴۲) and headache (p = ۰.۰۲۹) with students’ gender. There was a significant correlation between the teachers’ gender with the redness or dryness of facial skin (p = ۰.۰۱۵), redness or itching of hands (p = ۰.۰۰۹) and also fatigue (p = ۰.۰۰۳). There was a significant correlation between the symptoms of the SBS with very high temperature in the students (p = ۰.۰۵۰), and with the noises (p = ۰.۴۰) in the teachers.   Conclusion: The present study showed that more than half of the students and teachers had symptoms of SBS. Since the symptoms of SBS are associated with some physical conditions of the classroom and school environment, the health condition of the schools should be annually checked for all aspects.