School health interventions for adolescents at nutritional risk: A survey of health teachers, nurses, and coaches

Abstract

To determine the status of school-based health and nutrition interventions for adolescents who are pregnant, overweight, or athletes and to solicit opinions relative to interventions, we mailed questionnaires to coaches, nurses, and health teachers in a randomly selected sample of secondary schools in Pennsylvania. We received over 1100 responses from 179 schools. Less than 25% of the schools had interventions for overweight or pregnant teens and less than 45% had interventions for athletes. Descriptions of interventions showed that coaches, nurses, and health teachers were likely to be involved with particular adolescent groups. Of existing interventions, 30% to 60% were not externally funded. Over 85% of the respondents felt that schools should have interventions, and over 40% of the respondents were interested in being involved. Perceived obstacles included lack of time, funding, administrative support, and qualified personnel. These results indicate that school personnel are interested and see the need for health interventions for specific adolescent groups, but provision of such programs by schools has been limited. Cooperation among administrators, health personnel, parents, and the community is needed. For nutrition educators, there are opportunities to become involved with high-risk adolescents in school nutrition and health interventions either by direct contact with the adolescents or through training and support of school personnel.