Abstract
The indicators for health risk factors among school children in Lebanon associated with increased mortality and morbidity were higher than the global percentage based on WHO (2014) statistics. Knowing that the Ministry of Education in Lebanon has been trying to include health education in the national school curriculum since the last reform in 1997, this qualitative exploratory study analyzed the students’ arguments resulting from focus group discussions to identify their level of knowledge, attitudes and perceptions and to provide suggestions for improving the national textbooks and teaching practices. Data were collected through focus group discussions with grade 5 students in 2 schools: Lebanese public school and UNRWA Palestinian School. The content analysis technique was used to perform the analysis and interpretation of data. Data was coded based on criteria from the Rational Model as well as the Health Belief Model. The study found, among other things, that students in both schools acquired the knowledge present in the textbooks about the benefits of balanced nutrition but they gave inaccurate and incomplete justifications with no scientific reasoning. Regarding attitudes, they show negative attitudes toward prefer unhealthy food over healthy ones. Some of their practices were healthy but unhealthy snacks, skipping breakfast, drinking big amounts of soft drinks were prevalent. The arguments of the students in both schools also showed some social related practices as related to the opinions, behavior, advice, and support of the people surrounding students influence their feelings and behavior, and the students have a reciprocal effect on those people.
Highlights
1.1 Problem StatementHealth risk behaviors have been a major concern of many countries around the world including Lebanon, and they often start with teenagers
The main statements, or phrases for each question were selected from the arguments and recorded in different tables including the answers given by LPS students and the UNRWA students
Between meals eat snacks fruits, sweets; Different between two schools eat variety of food to get all types of things our body need; Calcium in milk let bones be strong; Vitamins prevent feeling weak and getting fever; playing sports daily prevents growing fat and getting diseases as diabetes; nutrients; Don’t miss meals; eat enough food portions; water is good for the kidneys; drinking Pepsi while eating is harmful
Summary
1.1 Problem StatementHealth risk behaviors have been a major concern of many countries around the world including Lebanon, and they often start with teenagers. As reported by the last World Health Statistics report issued in 2015, diabetes, hypertension and obesity are health conditions that increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases and several types of cancer and contribute to non-fatal diseases such as arthritis and loss of vision due to diabetic retinopathy (WHO, 2015). Obesity problem is not restricted to high-income countries; it is on the rise in low- and middle-income countries. The prevalence of hypertension is highest in some low-income countries while public health interventions reduced its prevalence in many high-income countries (WHO, 2015). In Lebanon, in 2014 the indicators for risk factors associated with increased mortality and morbidity such as the prevalence of anemia, raised fasting blood glucose, raised blood pressure, and obesity among adults aged ≥ 18 years, were higher than the global percentage as revealed in the latest world health statistics report (WHO, 2015) briefed in the table below: jel.ccsenet.org
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
