School Health Screening Research Articles

Air quality disparities and respiratory health risks in critically polluted and relatively non-polluted areas: a prospective child health study.

Air pollution, a significant global health concern, notably impacts human well-being. Children, owing to their distinctive physiology and behavior, are particularly susceptible to its adverse effects. This prospective study examines air quality variations and respiratory risks in children residing in critically polluted areas (CPA) compared to relatively non-polluted areas (NPA), utilizing a prospective design to understand the impacts of air pollution on children's respiratory health, including measures like relative risk (RR) and attributable risk (AR). This prospective study tracked 739 students of 5th- 7th grade residing in CPA and NPA for one year, and measured the ambient and indoor air quality levels in both these areas. Throughout the study, based on the observed respiratory symptoms new episodes of upper and lower respiratory tract illnesses were recorded for each child on a weekly basis. Incidence rate, RR and AR for both the illnesses were compared. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 26.0. The study observes higher concentration for particulate matter and gaseous pollutants at CPA in comparison to NPA. Children living in CPA exhibited a notably greater weekly occurrence of both upper and lower respiratory tract illnesses compared to those in NPA, with RR of 1.26 (95% CI: 1.16-1.37) and 1.74 (95% CI: 1.34-2.27), respectively. The AR associated with air pollution for upper and lower respiratory tract illnesses among CPA students was found to be 20.7% and 42.7%, respectively. This research underscores the pressing need to address air pollution in critically polluted areas and its profound effects on children's respiratory health. Public health interventions, such as reducing emissions from industries and creating green spaces, should be prioritized. Furthermore, early respiratory health screening in schools within polluted areas could aid in the timely diagnosis and management of respiratory issues in children.

Teachers’ Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice on Schoolchildren’s Visual and Eye Health: A Scoping Review

Abstract Studies on knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of teachers regarding schoolchildren’s visual and eye health is an important step before implementing further collaboration between education and healthcare system. The input in this field is limited as many countries are at the early stage of involving teachers in school health screening programmes. This review aims to understand the level of KAP among teachers on schoolchildren’s visual and eye health and the methodology used to conduct these studies. This scoping review was conducted based on Arksey and O’Malley’s framework for scoping studies. A systematic search using electronic databases (Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed and Ebscohost) was conducted to identify relevant articles, imported into the Rayyan web application for review management. Mendeley desktop was utilised for citation management. A total of 463 articles were identified during the selection process, and 17 articles were included in this scoping review after eligibility screening. These studies were grouped into three designs: cross-sectional, intervention, and qualitative. This scoping review revealed that the level of knowledge and practice among teachers on schoolchildren’s visual and eye health was low to moderate, while the level of attitude was good. Some misconceptions exist among teachers regarding children’s visual and eye health. Training programmes for teachers are crucial to significantly improve their KAP levels. Most of the teachers lacked the knowledge and practice concerning children’s visual and eye health. However, with a good attitude, their awareness level can be upgraded with proper training, eye screening facilities, and access to information.

Epilepsy Among School-Children in a Rural District in Northwest India: Prevalence Estimates Using Three Different Approaches.

To estimate and compare the prevalence of epilepsy during childhood using several approaches and also to determine whether school-based screening campaigns can capture epilepsy cases efficiently. Epilepsy prevalence determined from cases captured through the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), a nationwide school-health screening framework, were compared with estimates derived from school- and community-based surveys in one Indian district. Level-1 screen comprised perusal of child health registers maintained by the RBSK teams over one year to estimate the documented number of children with epilepsy; Level-2 screen comprised a questionnaire-based school survey among 10,000 school children; and Level-3 screen-a door-to-door community-based survey among 10,000 children in the district. Prevalence estimates of childhood epilepsy varied significantly across screening methods. The child health register identified lower crude and age-adjusted prevalences of 40 (95%CI, 24 to 55) and 36 (95%CI, 20 to 51)/1,00,000 vis-à-vis both the school survey [crude and age-adjusted prevalences of 354 (95%CI, 221 to 487) and 340 (95%CI, 181 to 517) per 100,000] and the community survey [crude and age-adjusted prevalences of 759 (95%CI, 591 to 927) and 746 (95%CI, 579 to 914) per 100,000]. The community survey identified 15 children with epilepsy (20%) who had dropped out of school. Also, it recaptured a small number of children previously identified by the school or child health register surveys. The present findings underscore the need to scale up the capacity of public programs to screen epilepsy among school children and underline the high frequency of school dropouts among children with epilepsy in resource-limited settings.

Madrasa student’s health-related quality of life and its associated factors: a cross-sectional study from Bangladesh

The evidence clearly shows that education greatly impacts people’s well-being. Bangladesh has two main education systems—general and traditional religious schooling. The current study aimed to measure the quality of life of madrasa students and find out the factors influencing it. This was a cross-sectional study on a group of madrasa students in the Mirpur area of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Data were collected using two-stage stratified random sampling between April and May 2022. The final sample size was 373. The health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was calculated using the KIDSCREEN-10 index, and the median split was used to categorize the score into ‘good’ and ‘poor’ categories. A p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant for all statistical tests. Among the participants, most (56%) reported having a good HRQoL. The median age (IQR) of the participants was 10.0 (8.0–12.0) years. Most of the participants were male (91%) and were not orphans (95%). The current study also found that a higher feeling of safety (AOR 3.7; 95% CI 1.3–10.4; p = 0.016) increased the odds of having good HRQoL. However, having a present illness decreased the odds (AOR 0.6; 95% CI 0.4–0.9; p = 0.10) of having a good HRQoL. The key results show that the majority reported a good HRQoL. Promoting students’ physical, mental, and social well-being through health education, anti-bullying initiatives, regular school health screening, and institutional & community involvement can help to improve the overall HRQoL of madrasa students.

Scoping review of barriers to mental health service utilization among medical students and residents

Background: Undergraduate medical students and resident doctors face high rates of anxiety, depression, and psychological distress. Despite these issues, their mental health service utilization is very low; this can be attributed to various structural and attitudinal factors. The current research aims to highlight such barriers to accessing mental health care and bridge the existing research gap. Methods: A literature search on barriers to mental health treatment for medical students was conducted involving PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus databases, along with bibliographic search, from inception till 30th April 2023 to identify relevant English records with full-text available. Studies not involving medical students or not assessing treatment barriers, and non-original papers were excluded. Results: Our comprehensive literature search yielded 12 articles. We identified six key themes concerning barriers to accessing mental health services: stigmatization, attitudinal barriers, confidentiality concerns, time constraints, lack of knowledge, and access to services. Discussion: Stigmatization was found to be a prominent barrier, while attitudinal barriers included beliefs that mental health problems are a sign of weakness and should be managed independently. Medical students and residents also worried about breaches in confidentiality affecting their interpersonal relationships and career prospects. Time constraints due to demanding academic and clinical responsibilities also posed challenges in seeking mental health care. These critical barriers to mental health service utilization among medical students and residents can be addressed through mental health awareness campaigns in college campuses, universal mental health screening in medical schools, providing internet-based services and collaborative programs with local mental health professionals to widen the treatment options.

Adolescent school-based mental health screening: a best practice implementation project.

More than one in ten people globally live with a mental health illness. Adolescent mental health is a major contributor to that statistic, as 27% of adolescents have one or more mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral problems. School-based health care clinics can provide mental health services for this age group. This project aimed to promote evidence-based practices regarding adolescent mental health screening in schools. This project used the JBI Evidence Implementation Framework to promote evidence-based practices for adolescent mental health screening in schools. The JBI framework is grounded in an audit and feedback process, along with a structured approach to identifying and managing barriers to compliance with best practices. Five audit criteria representing best practice recommendations were developed. A baseline audit was conducted, followed by the implementation of an improvement strategy. The project was finalized with a follow-up audit to determine any changes in compliance with best practice recommendations. The baseline survey of students revealed a 25% average compliance for audit criteria 1 and 2. The primary barrier to compliance was students' unawareness of the availability of mental health services. The improvement strategy included an educational presentation for students regarding mental health. The follow-up audit revealed an increase in compliance with best practices. The project achieved a 29% increase in compliance with best practices, although only 23% of the students were reached via the improvement strategy. http://links.lww.com/IJEBH/A189.

Guidelines toward more socially just mental health screening in schools.

Mental health screening is a pivotal practice for promoting the social-emotional-behavioral (SEB) health and well-being of youth in schools. However, some aspects of traditional mental health screening practices may inadvertently perpetuate structural racism and unintentionally facilitate oppression and SEB disparities. We address this issue constructively by presenting an intentional approach to guide school psychologists and related professionals in implementing more socially just mental health screening in schools. Our guidelines are grounded within the four phases of the Participatory Culture-Specific Intervention Modeling (PCSIM) framework: system entry, culture-specific model development, culture-specific program development, and program continuation or extension. We propose that conceptualizing mental health screening within PCSIM methodology promotes more socially just practices by (a) displacing the implicit power of professionals, (b) giving transparent representation to local communities, and (c) employing methods that are recursive, culturally relevant, and intended to build capacity for sustained transformative change. Within each PCSIM phase, we recommend culturally responsive practices for professionals that foster equity in screening and SEB outcomes and discuss ways to resist practices that perpetuate oppression and disparities. We aim to convey a method for mental health screening that is not done to students and schools but rather done in partnership with and for the benefit of students and schools. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Family Adherence to Their Child’s Health Issue Follow-Up and Its Associated Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: This study aimed to measure the adherence rate among families of referred cases from school health screening clinics to diagnostic clinics and to examine the associated factors. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among families of cases referred from school health screening clinics to diagnostic clinics in Saudi Arabia. Data collectors contacted the guardians of the cases to fill out the interview questionnaire regarding their visit to the school health clinic and adherence to referral. Results: Among 698 families who participated in the study, 57.6% reported adherence to diagnostic clinics. Families of dental caries and myopia cases were more likely to adhere than families of obesity cases (aOR: 8.36 and 5.41, p < 0.001). The chance of adherence was about two-fold among families of cases referred to hospitals and specialized clinics compared to families of cases referred to primary healthcare centers (PHCCs) (aOR: 1.80, p = 0.042). Conclusion: This study revealed a low family adherence rate among cases referred to diagnostic clinics. Additionally, the study documented that referral to PHCCs and screening positive for obesity were the main factors associated with non-adherence. Taking care of children’s health is one of their rights, and increasing the family’s adherence by raising families’ awareness and designing a referral reminder system are recommended. In addition, the services of PHCCs should be strengthened.

The Brief Evaluation of Adolescents and Children Online (BEACON): Psychometric development of a mental health screening measure for school students.

This paper describes the development and psychometric evaluation of a brief self-report measure (BEACON) to inform universal mental health screening in schools. Items assess symptoms and impairment associated with anxiety and attention/hyperactivity problems (grades 4-11) as well as depression and eating difficulties (grades 6-11), with optional items for suicidality and self-harm (grades 7-11). Initial item examination based on Item Response Theory (IRT) and classical test theory involved 3844 students in grades 4 through 11 (Study 1) and identified 18 items for grades 4-5 and 31 items for grades 6-11 that fulfilled pre-set criteria. Study 2 extended testing with 10,479 students in grades 4-11 and added an additional four items assessing impairment associated with eating difficulties for older students (grades 6-11) creating a total of 35 items for grades 6-11. All items, for both grade-level versions, met the pre-set criteria for IRT and classical test theory analysis supporting their strength in the measurement of the dimensions of concern. The measure showed good reliability (subscale alphas .87 to .95). Validity was also demonstrated against standard symptom measures, school grades, school absenteeism, and help-seeking. The BEACON appears to be a psychometrically sound measure to use in the first stage of school-based screening for mental health problems.

Supplemental Material for Guidelines Toward More Socially Just Mental Health Screening in Schools

Supplemental Material for Guidelines Toward More Socially Just Mental Health Screening in Schools

Editorial introductions.

Editorial introductions.

ANALYSIS OF WORKLOAD AND WORK-RESULT LEVELS ON WORK FATIGUE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS IN WEST KARAWANG DISTRICT

Work exhaustion is a weakening of energy to carry out an activity or a decrease in work power and a decrease in the body's resistance to work. Fatigue causes teacher performance to be disrupted. The purpose of this study was to identify the level of workload, stress, and work fatigue in elementary school teachers. The research method used is quantitative analytic descriptive with cross-sectional research design. The research sample was 190 teachers, taken using consecutive sampling technique. Bivariate analysis using the chi-square test showed a significant relationship between workload and stress levels with the occurrence of work fatigue in elementary school teachers. The findings of this study suggest the need to conduct promotive and preventive services and routine health screening in schools so that elementary school teachers can work optimally and avoid work fatigue problems.

School Children's Health Screening at SDN Bangsal 1 with Puskesmas Pesantren 1 Kediri City

The guidance and development of School Health Business (UKS) in schools is carried out through three main programs (known as the UKS trias) which include health education, health services, and fostering a healthy school life environment. The health services in question include school children's health screening, otherwise known as health screening; health monitoring; and health education. The purpose of this community service is to conduct a health screening of school children at SDN Bangsal 1 Kediri City. The school health screening program will be held in February 2022, precisely at 08.00 – 12.00. The health tests carried out include eye health, ear health, skin health, teeth and reproductive health tests. An eye health test is conducted to determine whether the student suffers from color blindness, low vision, cataracts, or other diseases. A skin health test is done by checking whether there are red spots on the skin. In addition, health tests are also added to other body parts. This community service is carried out in collaboration with the Pesantren 1 Public Health Center, Kediri City. From the screening results, it was found that the health of the students of SDN Bangsal 1 Kediri City did not show any serious diseases, but some eye problems were found. The action taken by the school for students with health problems was to refer to the Pesantren 1 Public Health Center which is not far from the school, by bringing a referral letter given by the examining doctor at the health screening. The health screening program is one of the school's flagship programs. It is hoped that the students of SDN Bangsal 1 Kediri have more awareness to maintain health.

Universal Mental Health Screening: Steps for School Counselors Through Multidisciplinary Teaming

School counselors collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to implement universal mental health screening (UMHS) in schools and this work is especially pertinent in light of the U.S. K–12 mental health crisis. Because the school counseling UMHS literature is still emerging, expanding this literature is necessary, particularly to meet students’ mental health concerns. The present study examined the qualitative experiences of school counselors and other multidisciplinary UMHS team members implementing screening. We coded data through a phenomenological lens and used deductive coding from the National Center for School Mental Health’s (2018) eight steps to UMHS. We discuss not only the results but applications and implications, geared toward school counselors at the building and district level to assist with their practice.

A roadmap to equitable school mental health screening

Youth in the United States are experiencing mental health concerns at alarming rates. Considering the nation's legacy of racism and growing recognition of the impact of social determinants of health on educational and mental health inequities, it is imperative to re-envision how we approach mental health screening in schools to center equity. A focus on mental health screening for the sole purpose of identifying individual at-risk students ignores key contextual considerations, is ineffective in addressing health and educational inequities, and has the potential to perpetuate oppressive practices in schools. Equity-focused mental health screening requires a shift from individual- and deficit-focused approaches to systems- and holistic-focused approaches that (a) identify strengths and stressors among individuals, groups, and communities; (b) dismantle structural forms of oppression; and (c) promote positive mental health outcomes for minoritized youth. Integrating recommendations from the educational equity literature and critical school mental health frameworks, this paper identifies core considerations for equitable school mental health screening and provides guiding principles for each phase of the screening process, from screening readiness to execution to follow up. To implement these recommendations and transform school-based mental health care, schools should (a) incorporate multiple perspectives; (b) prioritize student, family, and community voices; and (c) build collaborative partnerships to co-construct a vision for equitable school mental health.

School Health Screening For Early Detection Of Obesity, Congenital Heart Disease And Rheumatic Heart Disease.

School Health Screening For Early Detection Of Obesity, Congenital Heart Disease And Rheumatic Heart Disease.

Reaching the unreached: Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Centres for child heart care

Learning outcomes Need for preventive health care: To comprehend the contribution of preventive health care in improving the health quotient. Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Hospital (SSSSH) and its initiative is an apt example of the wonder which preventive care can bring in the context of rural health. Community participation: The case can be instrumental in showing the pathway to encourage community involvement in mainstream health by promoting the holistic model of SSSSH that understands mothers and children's health profile and needs, especially in the unreached rural segments of an emerging economy like India. Importance of healthy childhood: World Health Organization (WHO) promotes the school health programme to prevent health risks among children by inculcating healthy behaviours during childhood. The successful SSSSH model proves that it is implementable by integrating comprehensive health education modules in the existing institutions for medical care. Case overview/synopsis The challenge of a healthy childhood is inadequate availability and accessibility of quality care. Non-awareness of the parents is also a significant reason for the children who miss the benefit of a happy childhood. While much is planned by the Government and some part of it being executed, this case highlights the effectiveness of the maternal and child health programme executed by the Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Hospital (SSSSH). This initiative fulfills the dire need of ensuring the preventive healthcare component leading to safe motherhood and safe birth of healthy children. Further, the case is also the culmination of pin-pointed innovative awareness activities such as school health screening and the Divine Mother and Child Health Program (DMCHP). It opens up the discussion on the current model of health care followed by SSSSH, Raipur, and its impact in the local areas to decide on its expansion across the country for nationwide implementation. Complexity academic level Bachelors in Business Administration, MBA, Executive MBA, Post Graduate Diploma in Healthcare Management Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 2: Built Environment.

Advancing Mental Health Screening in Schools: Innovative, Field-Tested Practices and Observed Trends During a 15-Month Learning Collaborative.

Schools are well positioned to facilitate early identification and intervention for youth with emerging mental health needs through universal mental health screening. Early identification of mental health concerns via screening can improve long-term student development and success, but schools face logistical challenges and lack of pragmatic guidance to develop local screening policies and practices. This study summarizes mental health screening practices tested by six school districts participating in a 15-month learning collaborative. Qualitative analysis of 42 Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles revealed that districts tested quality improvement changes across seven screening practice areas, with all teams conducting at least one test to: 1) build a foundation; and 2) identify resources, logistics and administration processes. Quantitative data indicated that the average percentage of total students screened increased from 0% to 22% (range = 270 - 4,850 students screened at follow-up). Together, these results demonstrate how school districts not currently engaged in mental health screening can apply small, specific tests of change to develop a locally-tailored, practical and scalable process to screen for student mental health concerns. Lessons learned are provided to inform future directions for school-based teams.

Vision screening as part of the school health policy in South Africa from the perspective of school health nurses

BackgroundVision screenings of school-going children are essential in the early detection of visual anomalies common in different age categories, which may negatively affect their academic ability and social development. Hence, their inclusion in school health policies is imperative. The aim of this study was to assess the implementation of vision screening protocols in the current Integrated School Health Screening policy of South Africa from the perspective of school health personnel.AimThe study sought to explore the perceptions, experiences and attitudes of the school health nurses on vision screenings included as part of the school health screenings in Gauteng province (South Africa).SettingThis study was located across three public healthcare facilities across Gauteng at primary healthcare levels.MethodsThree teams of 13 school health personnel from three primary healthcare facilities in the district of Ekurhuleni were invited to participate in the study. Focus group interviews were conducted for generating information on collective opinions and the rationale behind their views.ResultsResults of the collected qualitative data revealed challenges related to training, vision screening tests, referral criteria and follow-ups or referral pathways. In addition, further challenges reported were related to communication, time, space and consent forms not signed by the parents.ConclusionImproved cohesion and communication between all role players will enable reasonable and professional provision of validated vision screening services that have the best chance of early detection of children with vision anomalies to negate possible adverse effects on their scholarly performance.

Prevalence and determinants of refractive error and related ocular morbidities among Saudi adolescence population in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

PURPOSE:The purpose of this study was to determine the magnitude and determinants of refractive error (RE) and related ocular morbidities among preparatory and secondary Saudi students in Riyadh.METHODS:This study was conducted in 2017–2018 at preparatory (12–14 years) and secondary (15–18 years) schools. A “Spot Screener” was used to determine if the child passed or failed a refraction test. Fail test meant RE ≥ ± 0.50 D. Data were collected on refractive status in each eye, anisometropia, and strabismus. The type of RE was estimated and analysis was performed for an association to gender, age, and education levels. The use of spectacle while screening defined the compliance of spectacle wear.RESULTS:The study sample was comprised of 708 Saudi students. There were 59.5% of boys. The prevalence of RE was 43.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 40.0, 47.3). The prevalence of RE in preparatory and secondary students was 44.5% and 43.2%, respectively. The proportion of myopia (≥ −0.5 D) and hyperopia (≥ +0.5 D) among students with RE was 82.2% and 17.8%, respectively. Family history of RE was positively associated to RE in students (odds ratio: 1.8 [95% CI: 1.3, 2.5]). The current screening initiative identified 45 (6.4%) new cases of RE who required spectacles. The compliance rate for using visual aid among students with RE was 74.6%. The prevalence of anisometropia and strabismus was 3.0% and 4.1%, respectively.CONCLUSIONS:A high proportion of Saudi adolescence in Riyadh have RE. Periodic ophthalmic assessment and refractive services are recommended as part of school health screening initiatives.