Novel school-based health intervention program—a step toward early diabetes prevention

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the existing knowledge, attitude, practices (KAP), and impact of intervention with diabetes awareness and prevention education among school students in New Delhi, India. The Diabetes Awareness and Prevention Education is a 2-year, school-based intervention, conducted with two cohorts of students who were in the sixth and seventh grade when the study started from six schools of Delhi (n = 3 private and 3 government), India. These schools were purposively selected to represent socioeconomic strata and different geographies within Delhi. Students in these schools were surveyed before the intervention began and after 1-year intervention (n = 1520). The intervention used strategies which included the following: orientation workshops for teacher coordinators and peer leaders, interactive classroom sessions (curriculum) led by trained teachers, peer-led small group activities (peer-led health activism), fun learning games, students’ worksheets, and intraschool competitions, etc. After intervention, significantly more students reported that diabetes is high level of glucose in blood than at baseline. Consumption of junk food items significantly reduced among students post intervention. A total of 6.5 and 13.8 % more students in private and government schools, respectively, reported outdoor activities during leisure time. Teacher-led classroom discussions with active youth engagement and empowerment (peer-led health activism) can be an important strategy with potential long-term benefits for early diabetes prevention.