Health Of School Children Research Articles

PENDIDIKAN KESEHATAN TENTANG PRILAKU SEKSUAL ANAK USIA SEKOLAH DAN PENCEGAHAN BULLYING

Introduction : Bullying and adolescent mental health are trends and issues that are growing in society. Various efforts have been made to reduce and prevent bullying, especially among school children. Mental health problems are also a problem that requires special attention. These two problems require collaboration between various parties, including schools, communities and nurses. One effort that can be made is health education about preventing bullying problems and optimizing mental health in school children. Health education is an effort to increase knowledge for school children. Objectives : The aim of this community service is to increase school children's knowledge about bullying prevention and the mental health of school-aged children. Method : The methods used are leaflets and flip sheets. The result of this community action is an increase in school children's knowledge about bullying and mental health as measured by an increase in knowledge scores before and after providing education. Result : The results obtained were that 80% of school children showed a significant increase in knowledge from the category of sufficient knowledge to good knowledge and 20% were in moderate knowledge. Conclussion : health education can increase knowledge for school age children for prevent bullying and sexual abuse.

Effect of a Nutritional Education Intervention on the Reduction of Added Sugar Consumption in Schoolchildren in Southeastern Mexico: Community Study.

Consumption of added sugars negatively affects schoolchildren's health, making it essential to promote strategies designed to reduce their intake through educational interventions. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a nutritional education intervention, INCAI, on the consumption of added sugars among schoolchildren in southeastern Mexico. A 9-month educational intervention was designed to promote healthy eating, physical activity, and the development of socio-emotional skills among primary school children. Information on the usual intake of foods and beverages was collected from 400 schoolchildren at the beginning and end of the intervention using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. For the analysis, a generalized estimating equation (GEE) model was constructed using the Poisson distribution family to estimate the effect of the intervention. The relative incidence in the final stage showed a slight increase of 4% (p = 0.093) in the percentage of added sugars compared with the baseline levels in the control group. By contrast, the intervention effect, represented by the interaction between treatment and time, showed a 10% reduction in the final stage in the intervention group (p < 0.001). Based on these findings, the INCAI educational intervention effectively reduced added sugar consumption by 10% in the intervention group, while no significant reduction was observed in the control group. These results suggest that nutritional education programs can be a useful strategy for lowering added sugar intake among schoolchildren, highlighting the importance of incorporating such interventions into public health policies targeting child populations.

Assessment of oral hygiene parameters in association to eating behaviors and healthy eating self-efficacy in school-aged children

BackgroundEating behavior are a broad category influenced by a various personal, social, cultural, environmental, and economic factors. The objective of this study was to evaluate the oral hygiene status of school-aged children in relation to their eating behavior and healthy eating self-efficacy.MethodsThe study was carried out with the participation of 225 children aged 7–9 years. Parents carried out the Children’s Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ) to assess eating behaviors and provided sociodemographic information. Oral examinations of the children were provided according to plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S), dmft and DMFT and, the Healthy Eating Self-Efficacy Scale (HESES) was administered to the children. For statistical analysis, a consistent partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) technique was utilized.ResultsA statistically significant negative correlation was found between the Healthy Eating Self-Efficacy Scale and the PI, GI, OHI-S, dmfs (p < 0.001) and DMFS (p = 0.002). Emotional undereating significantly negatively affected dmfs (p = 0.021), while emotional overeating had a significant positive effect on DMFS (p = 0.036). None of the eating behavior subgroups in children showed a significant relationship with self-efficacy. Additionally, higher self-efficacy (p = 0.001) and food fussiness (p = 0.001) were found in children from high-income families, while emotional overeating (p < 0.001) and desire to drink (p = 0.009) were observed in children from middle-income families.ConclusionThis study reveals a significant relationship between healthy eating self-efficacy and oral hygiene in children. Higher self-efficacy correlates with better oral health, while emotional eating negatively impacts dental outcomes. Socioeconomic factors also play a role, suggesting that interventions should target self-efficacy and emotional eating to improve both eating behaviors and oral health in school-aged children.

Neglected Voices: Uncovering the hidden consequences of air pollution on rural schoolchildren's health in Northern Thailand

Air pollution is a pressing global concern, with its consequences disproportionately impacting individuals in developing nations. This disparity in impact is especially pronounced among vulnerable groups, including women, children, and the elderly. This paper’s primary objective is to illuminate the often-neglected ramifications of air pollution on the well-being of rural schoolchildren in Northern Thailand. Despite their heightened susceptibility, this demographic remains marginalized in discussions concerning air quality. The study aims to underscore the significance of recognizing the schoolchildren’s heightened vulnerability to the adverse health effects stemming from air pollution, which is exacerbated by their critical developmental stage. The ensuing discussion comprehensively delves into the detrimental effects of pollution on the overall welfare and health of schoolchildren, thus accentuating the compounded socioeconomic disparities. By acknowledging and addressing the specific vulnerabilities of this demographic, policymakers and stakeholders can devise targeted interventions to safeguard their health and foster sustainable development.

THE EFFECTS OF AN ADDITIONAL RECREATIONAL FOOTBALL PROGRAM ON PHYSICAL FITNESS IN CHILDREN – A REVIEW

Football is the most popular sport in the world, it is hardly unexpected that numerous organizations have employed football-related activities to address and raise awareness of health issues globally. Recreational football has shown to be a useful weapon in the fight against childhood obesity prevention and improve physical fitness. The aim of the present study was to provide a review of evidence about muscular fitness demands and cardiorespiratory fitness during recreational football according to the duration and frequency of training interventions in schoolchildren. The literature review adhered to the PRISMA guidelines. A manual database search was also performed using the following key terms, either singly or in combination: 11 for health, physical activity, motor ability, physical fitness. After the study selection, two sets of research studies were chosen according to their content: muscular fitness and cardiorespiratory fitness. The present study's findings supported the theory that the football training and recreation football program would enhance children's physical health in schoolchildren. Study showed that additional recreational football programs influence better results on muscular fitness demands on sprint 20m (p ≤ 0.05) and Flamingo test (p ≤ 0.05). Also, there are a statistically significant difference between the experimental group that did an additional recreational football program and the control group at the initial and final measurement in Resting HR and Maximal HR parameters. The recreation football is recommended to be included in the syllabus of the schools in all groups to enhance physical well-being and lower the likelihood of acquiring non-communicable diseases.

Corrigendum: School children's mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic

Corrigendum: School children's mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic

The impact of distance learning on the health in schoolchildren (literature review)

Distance learning (Dl) is widespread in educational institutions. The COVID-19 epidemic has led to the transfer of only Dl to students in most countries of the world. However, the use of Dl is associated with a number of health risk factors. The purpose of the review is to study the impact of Dl on the health in schoolchildren. A literature search was conducted using PubMed and eLIBRARY.RU search engines. The initial search allowed identifying 21,745 reports, after an independent assessment by two experts, there are still 36 full-text publications containing original data on the impact on the health of schoolchildren. The analysis of the topics of publications allowed establishing all publications to be devoted to the study of the impact of Dl on the health of students during the COVID-19 epidemic, which does not allow differentiating the impact of Dl on health from the influence of self-isolation and fear of covid disease. Most studies do not compare the detected changes in health status during traditional training. The main complaints of students during Dl were complaints of painful sensations in the eyes, decreased vision, headache, back and neck pain, sleep disorders, largely associated with hygienically irrational learning conditions. The revealed changes in mental status (anxiety, depressive manifestations) are largely determined not by the presence of Dl, but by the influence of self-isolation and fear of covid disease. The transition to Dl also led to an increase in body weight in a number of students, a decrease in physical fitness. More pronounced changes in the state of health were noted in schoolchildren of junior classes. Conclusion. The identified adverse changes in the state of health in students can be minimized by the use of Dl in combination with traditional learning and compliance with hygienic requirements for its management.

Factors associated with perceived health of school-aged children in rural Rwanda: an opportunity to leverage community health workers to enhance school health promotion and primary healthcare systems linkages

BackgroundIn many low-income countries, enhancing the health of school-aged children is often impeded by insufficient or limited knowledge regarding their health status. Further, hands-on health promotion interventions are nearly non-existent due to the lack of designated health workers. The disconnection between schools and primary care facilities further exacerbates this issue. To address these challenges, the World Health Organization has introduced the Health Promoting School (HPS) framework, a comprehensive model designed to integrate health into all aspects of school life and promote physical, mental, and social well-being. We sought to assess the perceived health status of school-aged children, identify associated factors, and explore the role of community health workers (CHWs) in public schools in rural Rwanda.MethodsWe carried out a convergent mixed methods study among teachers and community members in rural areas of Musanze, Rwanda. Data collection instruments were adapted from the World Health Organization’s HPS framework and the literature. We conducted six in-depth interviews and three focus group discussions. We performed a logistic regression analysis to examine the factors associated with perceived health. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data.ResultsA total of 479 individuals participated in this survey. Of these, 425 (89%) were community members, while 54 (11%) were employed as teachers at Nyabirehe or Rwinzovu public schools. Almost half of respondents 221 (46%) described the children’s health as poor. Many factors were associated with perceived children’s health, including having an established leadership team for school-based health promotion (OR = 1.97, 95%CI: 1.01,3,84), and being familiar with school-based health promotion (OR = 4.77, 95%CI: 2.27,10.0). Qualitative results described the CHW as a bridge between communities, schools, and primary healthcare centers.ConclusionThis study revealed that the health of schoolchildren needs particular attention. In resource-limited settings, HPS presents a promising opportunity to address the health and well-being of children at rural public schools. However, adapted policies, the establishment of health promotion teams, and hands-on orientation for teachers and community members are necessary to ensure an effective implementation of HPS. In Rwanda and other low-income countries where public schools lack nursing staff, CHWs could play a vital role in enhancing HPS and the linkage between schools and primary healthcare facilities.

Differences in Physical Activity Levels, Screen Time, and Body Mass Index and Their Associations with Oral Health in Schoolchildren in Mallorca.

The time that adolescents spend using screens is associated with an elevated body mass index (BMI) and decreased physical activity, with gender being an important determinant. There is evidence that an elevated BMI can affect oral health. To analyze gender differences in physical activity levels and screen time, as well as screen use and BMI, and their associations with DMFT. Physical activity levels, screen time, and their relationship with the oral health status and BMI were studied in 468 schoolchildren aged 12 to 15 years. To analyze the differences in the numerical data, an analysis of the mean by the Student t-test or a one-way analysis of variance followed by the Bonferroni post hoc analysis was used. Moreover, to analyze the differences in the categorical data, the chi-square test was used. Boys were more active (59.9%) than girls (40.1%) (p < 0.001) in terms of the means of transportation that they used to travel to school. It was observed that boys spent more mean hours playing outdoors than girls (boys: 1.38 ± 0.04 vs. girls: 1.24 ± 0.04; p = 0.040). The mean number of hours engaged in sports activities outside school was higher for boys than girls (boys: 2.22 ± 0.06 vs. girls: 1.77 ± 0.73; p ≤ 0.001). The mean number of hours spent using electronic devices during the weekend was higher in boys than girls (boys: 2.89 ± 0.08 vs. girls 2.44 ± 0.09; p ≤ 0.001). Children with a DMF > 0 had a higher mean BMI than those with a DMFT = 0 (DMFT > 0; 21.95 ±4.80 vs. DMFT = 0; 20.77 ± 3.67; p = 0.003). An increased number of hours spent in front of a computer correlates with a higher BMI. Sex seems to be a determining factor when it comes to engaging in active activities. Caries is more frequent in children with a higher BMI.

Assessment of Food Preferences, Eating Practices, and Nutritional Status Among In-school Able and Disabled Adolescents of Ages 10 - 19 Years in Minna, Niger State, Nigeria

Background: Malnutrition affects school-age children's health, growth, and academic performance. Adolescents often consume unhealthy fast foods and follow crash diets influenced by peers, media, and cultural norms. Adolescents with disabilities, including physical, intellectual, sensory, developmental, and mental health disabilities, may face additional challenges in accessing and maintaining a balanced and nutritious diet as they may face additional barriers. Understanding the unique needs and challenges faced by adolescents with disabilities is crucial in promoting their overall health and well-being. Objectives: The study aimed to compare the nutritional status of able and disabled adolescents in Government Vocational and Technical College and Niger State School of Special Education in Minna, as well as their food preferences, eating practices, and the factors affecting their nutritional status. Methods: The study used a cross-sectional design, administering 400 questionnaires to disabled and able students. The responses were 100% collected using self-administered structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed, and results were presented utilizing tables and figures, with a statistical significance level set at P &lt; 0.05. The IBM statistical product and service solutions (IBM SPSS statistics), version 27.0 software was employed for data analysis to explore and understand the food preferences, eating practices, and nutritional status of in-school adolescents with disabilities in Minna, Niger State, Nigeria. This approach allowed for a comprehensive assessment of the diverse factors influencing the dietary habits and nutritional well-being of adolescents with disabilities in the study. Results: The study involved 400 participants, with 12.8% aged over 12 years, 50.3% aged 12 - 15 years, and 37.0% above 15 years. Females made up 51.0% of the participants. About 40% of disabled participants had inadequate dietary patterns, compared to 10% of able participants. There was a significant difference in the distribution of BMI groups between the able and disabled subjects (x2 = 26.984, df = 3, P = 0.000). Socio-demographic of the participants based on age and gender showed a significant association with the nutritional status of able adolescents at (χ2 = 44.593, P = 0.000) and (χ2 = 4.650, P = 0.031) respectively and among disabled at (χ2 = 18.303, P = 0.000) and (χ2 = 23.925, P = 0.000) respectively. Conclusions: The study revealed disabled adolescents often skip meals, consume fast foods, and have poor dietary habits. Interventions like education and increased access to healthy food options are needed.

Developing health-saving competence of pre-service teachers in Kazakhstan

This study's significance lies in the need for a perspective teacher who can solve educational objectives to preserve children's and teenagers’ health. In this context, it is crucial to cultivate the health-saving competence of pre-service teachers during the educational process at the university. The study has aimed to develop, implement and experimentally test educational conditions for developing health-saving competence of a pre-service teacher within the framework of the educational program of the pedagogical direction. The participants were 37 university teachers of physical education and 145 students from two universities in Kazakhstan. The proposed approaches and methods represent a process of future teacher training which includes the stages: initial, main and final. Instructional intervention was employed at the final stage: the authors developed and introduced a special course for prospective teachers titled "Development of Schoolchildren's Health and Modern Health-promoting Technologies”. Tests, surveys, and questionnaires have been used during the intervention to test the course efficiency. The majority of respondents (79%) consider it necessary to utilize health-promoting methods and techniques at different stages of the lesson in the process of teaching the discipline. The essential aspect in the study of the elective course was building upon students' existing knowledge in the fields of physical education, pedagogy, psychology, and subject-specific teaching methods, as well as enhancing their health-saving competencies. Keywords: health-saving, competence, physical education, teacher, activity.

The impact of digital devices on the mental and physical health of primary school children: systematic review

The use of digital technology has permeated the lives of elementary school children, affecting aspects of their mental and physical health. While these technologies offer various benefits, there are concerns about their negative impacts such as anxiety, sleep disturbances and decreased physical activity. This study aims to evaluate the impact of digital devices on primary school children's mental and physical health through a systematic review. Using the PRISMA method, literature from PubMed, and Scopus was selected based on quality, relevance, and completeness of data. Of the initial 150 publications, 7 articles were relevant after being pre-analyzed. The results showed that physical activity is important for the health of children who actively use digital devices. Some active apps and video games increase physical activity and emotional well-being, but excessive use may pose a risk for anxiety, depression and obesity. Digital device use affects the mental and physical health of primary school children. The conclusion of this study is that parents and educators should supervise the use of digital devices to reduce negative impacts and optimally utilize technology to support children's development. Keywords: Digital technology; Mental health; Physical health; Elementary school children

A Descriptive Study to Assess the Impact of Covid-19 and Lockdown on Mental Health of School Children in Selected Schools at Mysuru

Background: Child development includes the biological, psychological and emotional changes that occur in human beings between birth and end of adolescence period. Childhood is classified into three stages of life which involves early childhood, middle childhood, and adolescence. Children might be in special need for support in handling anxiety caused by the disruptive situation. The conditions probably make the situation particularly challenging for young children, which is hypothesized to lead to increased emotional and behavioral problems. The COVID-19 pandemic has generated a lot of anxiety, stress, and grief. These stressors can cause mental health problems for anyone, and they can trigger acute symptoms in persons who already have mental health problems. Methods: The aim of the study is to assess the impact of COVID-19 and lockdown on mental health of school children in selected schools at Mysuru. Research design adopted for the study was descriptive survey design. Non probability convenience sampling technique was adopted to select 50 school children with in the age group of 12 to 15 years. Personal Variable Proforma was used to assess the selected personal variables and Structured Knowledge Questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge of school children regarding impact of COVID-19 and lockdown on mental health of school children in selected schools at Mysuru. Conclusion: The results of the present study revealed that majority of the school children had negative impact regarding COVID-19 and lockdown on mental health. Impact of COVID-19 and lockdown on mental health of school children were not found to be significant with the personal variables. The COVID-19 related interruptions need to be focused some key challenges and measures to control and manage COVID-19 crisis. Health care professionals play a vital role in educating and providing basic health care services to the school children.

"Ethnic disparities in the prevalence of Molar-Incisor-Hypomineralisation (MIH) and caries among 6-12-year-old children in Catalonia, Spain".

To study the prevalence of MIH and caries in 6- and 12-year-old schoolchildren and their association with ethnic disparities and other relevant factors. In recent years, there has been uneven improvement in school children's oral health, highlighting inequalities in access to dental care and health outcomes, particularly among ethnic minorities. The most prevalent oral disease in childhood, caries, is preventable, as its risk factors are well known. However, MIH, a common condition affecting the enamel of permanent incisors and/or molars, has no established aetiology or preventive measures. A cross-sectional study among schoolchildren was conducted in 725 children from Masnou (Barcelona, 2013) and in 577 children from Sant Andreu de Llavaneres (Barcelona, 2018-2020). Data collection was carried out by means of clinical examination and a selfreferenced questionnaire. Oral health outcomes included: presence of dental caries, presence of MIH, hypomineralised second primary molars (HSPM). All variables were analysed according to ethnic disparities and other variables such as socioeconomics, diet, hygiene habits, plaque and access to dental services. We performed multivariate Poisson regression models with robust variance to examine ethnic disparities in MIH and caries. This cross-sectional study based in Catalonia, Spain showed that there are ethnic disparities in caries as observed with other child's diseases; however, they do not seem to follow the same pattern for MIH. More studies are needed (i) to explore how MIH behaves among populations in terms of inequality; (ii) to study the aetiological factors of MIH; and (iii) to identify potential factors associated with MIH and caries that have not been studied and that may contribute to the observed ethnic disparities.

Consumption of Milk Beverages Reduces Iron, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium, and B Vitamins Inadequacies in Pakistani School-Aged Children from Sindh and Punjab: A Diet Modeling Study

BackgroundOnly 47% of households in Pakistan’s Sindh and Punjab provinces are food secure. More than 80% of 5–9 y old children are below recommended intakes of calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamin A and vitamin D. Although 89% consume dairy products daily, only 3% comply with Pakistan’s recommended dairy consumption of 2–3 servings/d. ObjectivesThe objectives of this study were to evaluate the theoretical impact of substituting or adding fortified milk and/or buffalo milk in the diets of Pakistani school-aged children to address nutrient inadequacy. MethodsDairy consumption and nutrient intakes were calculated using dietary data collected from 5842 children via a 24-h diet recall in the School-age Children Health and Nutrition Survey conducted in Sindh and Punjab provinces of Pakistan between 2019 and 2020. Given daily intakes documented in the School-age Children Health and Nutrition Survey, 2 modeling scenarios were applied to test the impact on nutrient intakes of 1) substituting current milk (buffalo, cow, and goat) consumption (volume by volume) with a fortified milk beverage and 2) adding a fortified milk beverage or buffalo milk to current consumption to meet dairy consumption recommendations. ResultsThe hypothetical substitution of current milk consumption with fortified milk lowered nutrient inadequacies for vitamin C (by 86%), vitamin A (by 45%), thiamin (by 26%), riboflavin (by 14%), vitamin B6 (by 13%), calcium (by 8%), and iron (by 7%), compared to baseline (relative percent reduction). Among children consuming <2 dairy servings/d, theoretically adding buffalo milk had a positive contribution to calcium, phosphorous, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin C, riboflavin, niacin, and folate; theoretically adding fortified milk additionally reduced inadequacies of iron, thiamin, vitamin B6, and greatly reduced vitamin C inadequacy. ConclusionsBuffalo milk and fortified milk each have their own value in closing nutrient gaps. Increasing their consumption can be integrated into a multi-pronged public health strategy (including fortified foods, ensuring food security, and diet diversity) to tackle nutrient inadequacies in children.

Physiological concept of modern medical and biological it methods, used at school in physical culture lessons

The physiological substantiation of the use of IT methods, implemented in the form of ACS "Varicard", is given to monitor the adaptation and health of schoolchildren during classes with them in the subject "physical culture" (PK). The use of the proposed physiological and pedagogical control is aimed at using an individual approach in the selection of motor loads and means of physical activity in accordance with the Federal State Educational Standard, based on the identification of types of autonomic regulation of body functions and the cardiovascular system of those involved.

“The new normal isn’t normal”: to what extent has the Covid-19 pandemic affected secondary school children’s mental health and wellbeing in the North of England?

ABSTRACT This paper reports on a study exploring the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on secondary school children's mental health and well-being in the North of England. It explores three research questions: to what extent has the Covid-19 pandemic affected secondary school children’s mental health and wellbeing in England? What did students value most for their mental health and wellbeing in a secondary school context during the Covid-19 pandemic? What are the implications for the post-pandemic future? A qualitative multi-method research design was used consisting of an online questionnaire survey (n = 605) and follow-up focus group interviews (n = 16). The findings of the study show that the pandemic and associated restrictions had a detrimental effect on the lives of a very large proportion of the young people in our study, with greater impact on girls than boys. From the analysis the resilience and ability of the participants to “bounce back” from the upheavals caused by the restrictions was apparent. However, for a significant minority the adverse impacts on their mental health and wellbeing continue to affect their lives. The idea of returning to “normal” following a period of crisis and turmoil such as the Covid-19 pandemic, emerges as an unhelpful concept because of the implied associated expectation of a smooth return to the routines prior to the pandemic crisis. This assumption is problematic as this study’s findings demonstrate. The “new” normal is experienced differently by students, especially girls, to what was “normal” experience before the pandemic and this has significant implications for schools.

Use of comics in the promotion of school children’s health: a scoping review

This scoping review provides an analysis of the available experiences on the use of comics to promote the health of school children. It was registered in the Open Science Framework (OSF) under DOI: doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/Z5VX6. Seventeen studies were used, including articles, theses and dissertations. The results present the main characteristics of the studies such as year; country; sample characteristics; study design; description of actions and population/sample. The target population of each selected study was children younger than 10 years. The sample number of the studies ranged between 47 and 881 children. Fifteen studies developed the interventions in schools. 44.4% of the selected studies were published between 2011 and 2020, and the continents with the highest number of publications were South America and North America, with 33.3% each. Regarding the type of study, 55.6% used the non-randomized experimental method and 35.3% had themes related to specific diseases. The experiences that were considered successful were conditioned to the organizational structure of the use of comic books and how they were offered to school children.

The Relationship between School Social Environment and Mental Health of Adolescents

The mental health of school children is gaining increasing attention, particularly concerning the social environment at school. This social environment encompasses various aspects such as peer interactions, relationships with teachers, and the overall school climate. These factors have a significant impact on children's mental health, including their emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Peer interaction is a key component of the school’s social environment. Positive relationships with peers can provide emotional support, boost self-confidence, and help children develop important social skills. Conversely, negative experiences such as bullying or social isolation can lead to stress, anxiety, and depression. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between the school social environment and the mental health of adolescents. This study uses a quantitative research approach with a cross-sectional design. The respondents of this study were 33 samples. The results of the statistical test showed that there is a significant relationship between the school social environment and students' mental health, with a p-value of 0.01, which is less than the significance threshold of 0.05. It can be concluded that the school social environment has a significant impact on students' mental health.

Вплив інфекції SARS-CoV-2, пандемії COVID-19 та повномасштабної війни на здоров’я школярів: результати опитування

During the COVID-19 pandemic, children not only faced health problems caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus but also dealt with its consequences, such as long COVID, as well as social isolation, tension, and fear. However, a full-scale war has become an even greater challenge for the children's bodies due to the direct threat to life, uncertainty, and chronic stress. The aim of the study was to identify and compare the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the COVID-19 pandemic, and full-scale war on the health of schoolchildren, including their mental health, quality of life, as well as access to medical care, education, and leisure. Materials and methods. We conducted an online survey of schoolchildren. Overall, 200 children aged 9 to 17 of Ternopil school participated in the survey. The questionnaire consisted of 38 questions. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate the results. Differences between values were considered significant at p&lt;0.05. Results. Overall, 63.3% of children reported having experienced or possibly experienced SARS-CoV-2 infection. The majority of children (63%) who had COVID-19 contracted it during the first two waves of the pandemic (2020 and winter-spring 2021). Only 9.8% of respondents indicated hospitalization due to COVID-19. Half of the cases had a familial nature. Among children who had COVID-19, 41.3% reported having symptoms after the illness, which were often lasted up to 1 month. In 18.3% of respondents, the duration of symptoms met the criteria for long COVID. Common long COVID symptoms included fatigue, loss of smell and/or taste, sleep disturbances, decreased attention, and general weakness. One in five children noted the impact of the pandemic and full-scale war on access to medical care. The pandemic and war had the greatest impact on children's access to education (70.1% and 77.3% respectively) and leisure (59.5% and 64.5% respectively). Full-scale war significantly affected the mental health of children (70.6% vs. 33.3%, p&lt;0.0001), their quality of life (59.4% vs. 34.2%, p&lt;0.0001), and the sense of direct threat to life (62.1% vs. 29.9%, p&lt;0.0001). During war, children twice as often indicated the need for psychological support than during the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, 91.4% of children noted the greatest impact of full-scale war on their mental health. Conclusions. COVID-19 and its consequences, the pandemic, and full-scale war significantly influenced the health, quality of life, and access to basic services for children and adolescents. The impact of the full-scale war on the mental health of children is significantly more substantial than the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the direct SARS-CoV-2 infection, even in a region distant from direct combat. These disruptions may have further implications for the physical health of children and the nation. The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of the participating institution. The informed consent of the patient was obtained for conducting the studies. No conflict of interests was declared by the authors.