| Title: |
The Anatomical Knowledge of Namibian School Children |
| Language: |
English |
| Authors: |
Adam M. Taylor (ORCID 0000-0002-4084-0456); Lojandrie Kirsten (ORCID 0009-0000-7753-3903); Luigi Sedda (ORCID 0000-0002-9271-6596); Quenton Wessels (ORCID 0000-0001-8539-5459) |
| Source: |
Anatomical Sciences Education. 2026 19(3):466-478. |
| Availability: |
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us |
| Peer Reviewed: |
Y |
| Page Count: |
13 |
| Publication Date: |
2026 |
| Document Type: |
Journal Articles; Reports - Research |
| Education Level: |
Elementary Education; Secondary Education; Grade 4; Intermediate Grades; Grade 5; Middle Schools; Grade 6; Grade 7; Junior High Schools; Grade 8; Grade 9; High Schools; Grade 10; Grade 11; Grade 12 |
| Descriptors: |
Foreign Countries; Anatomy; Knowledge Level; Elementary School Students; Secondary School Students; Preadolescents; Adolescents; Age Differences; Human Body; Grade 4; Grade 5; Grade 6; Grade 7; Grade 8; Grade 9; Grade 10; Grade 11; Grade 12 |
| Geographic Terms: |
Namibia |
| DOI: |
10.1002/ase.70164 |
| ISSN: |
1935-9772; 1935-9780 |
| Abstract: |
The public has limited knowledge of key organs and anatomical structures. The lack of anatomical knowledge and understanding can hinder time to access healthcare, quality of care, and treatment outcomes. The current study investigated the anatomical knowledge among Namibian children by comparing 8 school grades--4 to 12, which covers children from the ages of 9 to 18 years old, with a total of 481 participants from 5 schools located across various areas of Namibia. All structures showed an increase in the correct responses with an increase of age except for the stomach. Structures within the abdomen were most poorly answered, with the spleen (8.8%), adrenals (9.8%), gallbladder (11.9%), and pancreas (12.1%). Structures were then grouped into functional systems and a multiple logistic regression model was used to ascertain knowledge level compared with grade 4 (the earliest year of education) and girls as reference. Knowledge improved significantly across multiple increasing school grades. Students demonstrated the best increase in performance in muscular, endocrine, respiratory, digestive, and nervous systems, respectively--with 2 schools outperforming the rest. Analysis of the percentage of structures correctly located by boys and girls showed that girls outscored boys on average, in 15 of the structures. This is the first study to look specifically at the anatomical knowledge of children in both a primary and secondary educational setting, and the first that considers learners in Africa. The study provides evidence into the need for improved health education and promotion and its benefits in school children and their anatomical knowledge. |
| Abstractor: |
As Provided |
| Entry Date: |
2026 |
| Accession Number: |
EJ1499989 |
| Database: |
ERIC |