A Study on Health Status of Urban School Children (7-18 Years): A School Based Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: School age is considered as a dynamic period of growth and development because children undergo physical, mental, emotional and social changes. The health and nutritional status of school children is an index of national investment in the development of its future manpower. Objective: The objective of the present study was to assess the health status of school children in Urban Health Training Centre (UHTC) area of Bareilly, India. Methods: A total of 417 children from various schools aged between 7 to 18 years residing in UHTC area were surveyed in a School Health Program. Height and weight was measured following standard procedures. General nutritional status was assessed clinically. SPSS Version 16 was used to analyze the data. Results: 417 students were examined. The overall prevalence of underweight was 72.7%. 50% study subjects were educated up to Junior High School and Primary School among the boys & girls category respectively. Generally boys were taller & heavier than girls. The prevalence of Underweight, Clinical anemia & Dental carries was higher in Girls, while Worm infestation & URTI was higher in Boys. Conclusion: Most of the school children in our study had a poor nutritional status. Interventions such as skills-based nutrition education, fortification of food items, effective infection control, and delivery of integrated programs are recommended.

Keywords

• Urban school
• undernutrition
• underweight
• nutrition
• anthropometry
• Warm infestation