Study of Personal Hygiene, Nutritional and Morbidity Profile of School Children in Rural Area of Khammam District, Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Majority of the health problems of school children can be prevented by promotion of hygiene and sanitation through health education of school children, teachers and parents. OBJECTIVES: 1. To find out the status of personal hygiene among the primary school children. 2. To study the nutritional and morbidity profile of the school students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted among primary school students in rural area of Khammam district, A.P. RESULTS: the study included 180 primary school children (105 boys and 75 girls). The status of personal hygiene was better among girl as compared to boys when it came to clean and combed hairs (82.66 vs. 66.66% , p<0.05), clean clothes (94.66% vs.79.04%, p<0.05), clean teeth (89.33% vs.80.95% , p<0.05), use of soap for hand washing at school (86.66% vs.72.38%, p<0.05), hand washing after toilet (93.33% vs. 80.95%, p<0.05). Anemia (43.88%) and malnutrition (31.66%) was found to be common among the school children. CONCLUSIONS: The government health services should regularly undertake school health checkup and health education session in the schools for a wider coverage. Periodic appraisal of school staff and parents of the school students needs to be undertaken in aspects of health of the children. INTRODUCTION:School health is an important branch of community health. In 1960, the government of India constituted a School Health Committee to assess the standards of health and nutrition of school children and suggest ways and means to improve them. 1 The committee recommended the need for medical examination of pupils and of school nutrition program. Schools are sacred because they provide an environment for learning skills and for development of intelligence that can be utilized by students to achieve their goals in life. School is a place where health education regarding important aspects of hygiene, environment and sanitation, as well as social customs, is being imparted.There are 6.3 lakh schools in India, with 128.3 million children in primary schools and about 50 million in upper primary schools. 2 It is a fact that only 8% of the schools have sanitation facilities in school premises, only 44% have water supply facilities, 19% have urinals and 8% have lavatory facilities. Under these conditions, schools and community environment become unsafe places where diseases are transmitted. 3 The present study was undertaken among primary school children of rural area of Khammam district, Andhra Pradesh, with the following objectives:1. To find out the status of personal hygiene among the primary school children. 2. To study the nutritional and morbidity profile of the school students.

A study on nutritional status and environmental conditions of school children residing in social welfare hostels in urban area of a South Indian city

“…2 In another study conducted by Aditya et al, the prevalence of underweight was more in boys (32.3%) when compared to girls (30.6%). 20 Madhavi et al conducted a study and reported that boys (66.7%) were more malnourished than girls (52.5%) which was similar to our study. 11…”

“…In this present study prevalence of anaemia was found to be 97.7%, which is very higher and significant than all other studies like Charuhas ). 11,20,[23][24][25][26][27][28] In this present study prevalence of anaemia was found more in girls with 55.8% of girls were anaemic and boys 44.2% are found to be anaemic. In other study by Madhavi similar findings were observed with girls (65.35%) were anaemic than boys (34.65%).…”

“…A study conducted by Deb et al similar findings were observed (62.71%), and in other studies done by Osei 87%), Aditya (31.6%) findings were much lower. 2,4,[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] Significant under nutrition was observed in a study conducted by Shrikanth et al which showed associations between BMI and undernutrition. 21 In other study conducted by Ghalib prevalence of thinning was found to be between (42-75.4%).…”

A cross sectional study on personal hygiene among rural school students in southern Rajasthan

“…8 In other words, schools provide an opportunity to better educate the children regarding different aspects of health such as nutrition, immunization, hygiene, environment, sanitation, social customs and so on. 7,9 Regular school health check-ups can prevent complications in school children by early detection of childhood illnesses. 10 The school and family are the two major sources from one can develop a strong base for hygienic practices.…”