An assessment of school kiosks in Chimbote (Peru) to curb obesity

Abstract

School kiosks are spaces where food is provided to preschool and school-age students. Sanitary control of products can help curb and reduce obesity in this study population. We determined compliance and regularity of the evaluation of school kiosks in general and by Regular Elementary Education Institutions in an area of Peru. We performed a secondary cross-sectional analysis of the database of biannual evaluations of school kiosks conducted by the North Pacific Health Network. The main response variables were (a) level of compliance, categorized in Initial (I), In-Process (P), Healthy Kiosk (KS), and Outstanding Healthy Kiosk (KSD). We assigned values from 1 = I to 4 = KSD and assessed the regularity of assessment (schools visited in either semester 1 or 2 or visited in both semesters). The study population consisted of 31 (47.7%) schools out of a total of 65. KS level was reached by 29.1% of the preschool facilities, while 40% of kindergarten/elementary kiosks reached the KS level. Regarding regularity of assessments, 54.8% of kiosks were evaluated in both semesters. All strategic actors of the Ministry of Health and Education must become involved in promoting and facilitating the attainment of the health goals by increasing the number of healthy or featured school kiosks.

Keywords

• healthy lifestyle
• school age population
• overweight and obesity
• schools