Ergonomic Functionality of Classroom Furniture in Senior High Schools in Ghana
Ergonomic Functionality of Classroom Furniture in Senior High Schools in Ghana
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2015
Authors
Effah, Bernard
Boampong, Ernest
Kessels Dadzie, Peter
Osei, Asibey
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Journal of Advanced Science & Technology
Abstract
Classroom furniture is an important facility that helps to provide a conducive, comfortable and functional
classroom environment for students in educational institutions. The comfort and functional utility of classroom furniture
depends on its physical design in relation to the physical structure and biomechanics of the human body. An observation and
evaluation study was conducted to explore the type of furniture used by students in classroom environment and their
opinions were drawn on the design. A systematic random sampling method was used to choose a sample of 120 students
from a population of 482 students. The subjective evaluation of the health problem of the students was made by
questionnaire technique. Postural analyses of the students during normal classroom lessons were made by video photographic method as well as direct observation methods. The outcome of the study revealed that one type of furniture
(mono-desk) as seat to one student at a time was found in use and the design features and its dimensions were the same. The
features like seat width, and height, backrest height, thigh clearance, footrest and lumbar support were found to be
incompatible to the users. The prevalence rate of neck pain according to class, age, sex, weight and height experienced by
students were high. The study found significant association between flexed postures and upper back pain. Static postures
neck pain and low back pain were also associated.
Description
Keywords
Citation
Boampong, E., Effah, B., Dadzie, P. K., & Asibey, O. (2015). Ergonomic functionality of classroom furniture in senior high schools in Ghana. Int J Adv Sci Technol, 2(1), 6-11.