Healthy School Environment Research Articles

Handwashing Practices and Associated Factors Among School Children in Kirkos and Akaki Kality Sub-Cities, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Provision of handwashing facilities and proper practices are essential for preventing fecal-oral and acute respiratory infectious diseases. The aim of this study was to assess availability of handwashing facilities and predictors to students' good hygiene practices in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A mixed-methods study design was conducted in schools of Addis Ababa from January to March 2020 in 384 students, 98 school directors, 6 health clubs, and 6 school administrators. Data were collected using pretested interviewer-administered questionnaires, interview guide, and observational checklists. The quantitative data were entered into EPI Info version 7.2.2.6 and analyzed using SPSS 22.0. A bivariable at P < .2 and multivariable logistic regression analysis at P < .05 for quantitative and thematic analysis for qualitative data were used. Handwashing stations were available in 85 (86.7%) of the schools. However, 16 (16.3%) schools had neither water nor soap near the handwashing facilities while 33 (38.8%) of schools had both. There was no high school that had both soap and water. Approximately one-third (135, 35.2%) of students practiced proper handwashing, among which 89 (65.9%) were from private schools. The handwashing practices were significantly associated with gender (AOR = 2.45, 95% CI: (1.66-3.59)), having trained coordinator (AOR = 2.16, 95% CI: (1.32-2.48)) and health education program (AOR = 2.53, 95% CI: (1.73-3.59)), school ownership (AOR = 0.49, 95% CI: (0.33-0.72)), and training (AOR = 1.74, 95% CI: (1.82-3.69)). Water supply interruption, and lack of budget, adequate space, training, health education, maintenance, and coordination were the main barriers that prevent students from practicing proper handwashing. Handwashing facilities and materials provision and good handwashing practices of students were low. Moreover, providing soap and water for handwashing was insufficient to promote good hygiene practices. There should be regular hygiene education, training, maintenance, and better coordination among stakeholders to create a healthy school environment.

PEMBENTUKAN UKS DI SDN 15 KUTA MAKMUR

School Health Unit is a means to improve the ability to live healthy and the health status of students as early as possible in order to improve student achievement. The program was carried out to improve student health through health education programs, health services and fostering a healthy school environment as an activity in the School Health Unit (UKS) aimed at the school community. Meanwhile, in Blang Adoe Village, Kuta Makmur District, North Aceh Regency, there was SD Negeri 15 Kuta Makmur, which did not yet have UKS. For this reason, the community service team wanted to do community service by establishing UKS at SD Negeri 15 Kuta Makmur. The establishment of UKS was a health activity carried out in schools with students and their environment as the main target. UKS establishment can be continued to the stage of UKS development to improve the ability to live and eat healthily, the dangers of juvenile delinquency, reproductive health education and formation of healthy living behavior, which will result in optimal health status. The implementation of UKS involved elements of health workers, school officers, students, local government, parents of students and other groups in the community

UPAYA PEMBERDAYAAN SISWA SEBAGAI KADER “PEDULI’ (PENGENDALIAN DAN ELIMINASI) DBD PADA SISWA SMPN 41 KOTA PADANG

Service activities based on the realization of a healthy school environment are carried out by forming and empowering a larva monitoring team or jumantik in schools. This activity aims to create a school that is healthy and free from mosquito larvae, especially the Aedes Aegypti mosquito which is a vector of dengue fever. The activity was carried out by carrying out a pretest and posttest, counselling and also socialization to school residents about DHF and also jumantik. After equalizing perceptions about jumatiK, a member of the jumantik team will be recruited who will be tasked with monitoring larvae, eradicating mosquito nests, as well as recording and reporting on the presence of mosquito larvae in the area of SMPN 41 Padang City. There is a significant difference in the average level of knowledge and attitudes of students at SMPN 41 Padang before and after counselling and providing material regarding the larva monitoring team. This shows that the counselling provided can affect the level of knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of students regarding larva monitoring and dengue fever for the better. A Jumantik team has been formed in each class. Hopefully, the team will do well in the future.

SOCIALIZATION OF CLEAN AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLE BEHAVIOR IN SDN 8 SIANTING-ANTING SAMOSIR REGENCY

Improving health status is one of the national development efforts to create a healthy, prosperous Indonesian society. Clean and healthy living behavior (PHBS) is an action to empower elementary school students to be able and willing to carry out clean and healthy living behaviors so as to create a healthy school environment. This community service activity aims to provide socialization and education for students at SD Negeri number 8 Sianting-anting, Samosir Regency. Activities consist of socialization in the form of counseling, discussion and question and answer. The activity participants consisted of 71 students from grades 1 to 6. The material presented was how to wash hands with soap and running water, consume healthy snacks, use clean and healthy latrines, exercise regularly, eradicate mosquito larvae, smoke free at school, dispose of trash in its place and work together to keep the school environment clean. Participants were very enthusiastic and gave positive responses and actively participated in socialization activities. The results of the activity evaluation showed that the participants were able to wash their hands properly, mentioned the PHBS components at school, and after the socialization activities, students also implemented PHBS at SDN 8 Sianting-anting, Samosir Regency. The statistical test using the t-paired test showed that the value of p = 0.001 (p &lt;0.05) which means that there is a difference before and after being given PHBS education on the level of knowledge of students at SDN 8 Sianting-anting, Samosir Regency.

Inspeksi Kesehatan Lingkungan Di Sekolah Menengah Pertama Negeri 2 Dramaga Kabupaten Bogor Jawa Barat Tahun 2022

One of the factors that can affect the learning process and the health of school residents is the hygiene of the school environment. A potentially disease-causing school environment necessitates a school environmental health inspection to maintain a healthy school environment and promote students' clean and healthy lifestyles. This study seeks to characterize the health status of the school environment at State Junior High School 2 Dramaga in Bogor, West Java. This study is an observational descriptive study. The scope of the study includes the health of the school environment, including location, building construction, building space, room air quality, lighting, ventilation, school sanitation facilities, sports facilities, worship facilities, the yard, and the absence of mosquito larvae. Observation with a checklist and measurements of the physical environment, including classroom density, lighting, and ventilation measurements, were used to collect data. The results indicated positively to the health of the school environment. Efforts to improve school sanitation in the regulation and coaching sections yielded positive results. However, in terms of building space, lighting, toilets, and the absence of mosquito larvae, and the results are not favorable. The research findings on the health of the school environment led to a positive conclusion with a percentage of 69.2%. In addition to advising schools on how to enhance their facilities and infrastructure, researchers also monitor the schools' environmental health.

The School Food Solution: Creating a healthy school food environment with Canada's Food Guide

In 2021, Canada’s federal government made a historic commitment to develop a national school food policy. Among overlapping challenges of increasing food insecurity, rising food costs, and the impact on food systems from climate change, there is now an opportunity to create a school food environment that ensures universal access to nutri­tious foods and supports sustainability in food sys­tems. A universal school food program can ensure that all children, regardless of income, access the recommended nutritious foods and can promote climate-friendly diets. Such school food programs can also support local farmers and regional econo­mies. In this paper, we outline the policy context for the new Canada’s Food Guide and the researched benefits of school food. We argue that Canada’s Food Guide can support a healthy school environment that is equitable and that promotes sustainability in the food system by embracing founding principles of diet equity and sustainabil­ity. Our concluding discussion outlines issues to be addressed in implementation.

EFFECT OF RESTRICTING SWEETENED CARBONATED BEVERAGES AND PROMOTING VEGETABLE CONSUMPTION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS ON CALORIC INTAKE AND OBESITY RATE AMONG STUDENTS

Consumption of high-caloric sugar-sweetened beverages can promote childhood obesity and limit consumption of healthy foods. The Texas Public School Nutrition Policy is a mandate promoting healthy school environments by prohibiting sales of sweetened beverages and restricting portion sizes of high-fat foods. This study examined the possible effects of applying the Texas Public School Nutrition Policy in Saudi Arabian schools on students caloric intake and obesity rates. The average weekly sweetened carbonated beverage, caloric, and vegetable consumption of 162,147 Saudi public school students were determined based on the literature. Thereafter, according to prior pre-/post-studies, the effect of the Texas Public School Nutrition Policy on students food selection was estimated. This study found that the policy would decrease students consumption of sweetened carbonated beverages during school days from 5.3 to 3.9 servings/week, increase vegetable intake from 4.25 to 4.7 servings/week, and decrease total average caloric intake from 1,871 to 1,792 kcal/week. Although the reduction in caloric consumption is small (79 kcal/week/student), this policy can be a general strategy for increasing physical activity, improving nutrition, and managing obesity and overweight among Saudi students.

Study on Implementation of School Health Program (UKS)

School Health Efforts are an important prospect in efforts to prevent disease and improve children's health. This study aims to describe the implementation of UKS, namely the implementation of the three main UKS programs, the role of teachers, and infrastructure. This research is qualitative research with a phenomenological approach. Data was collected through in-depth interviews and documentation with 10 informants. The results showed that the types of UKS activities included health education, health services, and fostering a healthy school environment. UKS activities are not routinely carried out and experience problems in their implementation. The teacher's role in UKS activities includes providing information, assessing, examining, and guiding students to clean independently. Regarding the currently available infrastructure, it is still limited and does not meet the minimum level of UKS services improvement of UKS infrastructure facilities, improvement of teacher knowledge, and skills in UKS management is very much needed.

Process of youth engagement in school health promotion: a scoping review protocol

IntroductionSchool environments are an essential setting to shape and influence the health and well-being of students. Health promoting school (HPS) is a whole-school approach that strengthens and builds a safe...

Bridging Health and Education via School Health Education in Pakistan: A Case Study of Rawalpindi

Health and education are two important sectors that can determine a country’s development. Pakistan is a developing nation that has invested a lot of money in providing its people with better health and educational facilities. It is better to provide awareness among citizens to take care of their health rather than huge investments in curing the diseases. Students’ health has a positive impact on their learning abilities, and once they are aware of the healthy habits taught in schools, they can become healthy students and can achieve better in academics. The main purpose of this research is to examine the status of health education in public schools and to locate the ways through which health is promoted, via schools as a platform. The study examined five different elements of school health education: Personal Health and Life skills, Healthy school environment, Health and Nutrition Services, Disease control and prevention, School-community Partnership. The quantitative research method was employed using a survey strategy of school teachers. The study depicts the prevalence of health education components, with varying degree, in both primary and secondary schools. The Independent sample t-test was used to analyze the variances and mean differences between the groups. The statistics have shown that in urban and rural areas, schools undergo similar practices regarding health education. A separate policy to bridge health and education in the form of school health education has been recommended to provide the basic guidelines for the authorities to take actions to foster students’ learning capabilities.

Perceived Barriers to Digitising School-Based Obesity Intervention: An Exploratory Study.

BackgroundSchools serve as a focal point in which to engage students and school communities, including teachers, parents and other healthcare providers (e.g. nutritionists), in implementing obesity interventions. Bringing them together is beneficial to ensuring healthy eating among schoolchildren and to creating healthy school environments. However, there are barriers and success factors related to the implementation of such an intervention. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the barriers and success factors to school-based obesity interventions to improve obesity implementation.MethodsAn exploratory case study with multiple units of analysis was conducted, including interviews, document analyses and a survey. The interview sessions involved six participants, including teachers and nutritionists. The survey was conducted among 121 participants involving 30 teachers, 78 parents and 13 school canteen operators. Pattern-matching techniques were employed to formulate the results.ResultsThe barriers consisted of the school system, parental awareness, staff availability, and children’s compliance. The success factors included the teachers’ role, the nutritional approach used, compliance with the healthy school canteen guidelines, and strong collaboration with the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) and other agencies.ConclusionIt is necessary to digitise an obesity intervention module with some improvements, including strengthening the broader school community’s role and integrating nutrition education with technology to improve implementation.

Outcome Evaluation on Impact of the Nutrition Intervention among Adolescents: A Feasibility, Randomised Control Study from Myheart Beat (Malaysian Health and Adolescents Longitudinal Research Team-Behavioural Epidemiology and Trial).

A healthy eating environment in the school setting is crucial to nurture the healthy eating pattern for youth. Thus, it helps to combat the obesity issue. However, the impact of healthy school environment on healthy eating habits among Asian adolescents is scarce and less clear. This clustered randomised-control study has two objectives. The first objective was to evaluate the changes in adolescents’ dietary intake after the interventions for all arms (control; healthy cooking training only; subsidization with healthy cooking training). The second objective was to compare the effect of subsidization with healthy cooking training and healthy cooking training only with the control arm on adolescents’ dietary intakes. This study consisted of 340 secondary school students aged 14 years in rural and urban Malaysia. A total of two arms of intervention and one arm of control were included. Intervention one focused on healthy cooking preparation for the canteen and convenience shop operators. Intervention two included subsidization for fruits and vegetables with a healthy cooking preparation training for the canteen and suggestions on providing healthy options to the convenience shop operators. The outcome measured was changes to dietary intake. It was measured using a three-day dietary history pre- and post-intervention. A paired-t test was used to evaluate the outcome of intervention programmes on dietary changes for all arms (control, intervention one and two). An ANCOVA test was used to investigate the effect of providing subsidization and healthy cooking preparation training to the canteen and convenience shop operators on adolescents’ dietary intakes as compared to the control arm. Overall, the reduction in energy and carbohydrates for all arms were observed. Interestingly, fat intake was significantly increased after the four-week intervention programme under healthy cooking intervention but not in the food subsidization group. When comparing between control, healthy cooking training only and subsidization with the healthy cooking training arm, there was no significant changes between arms. A robust intervention to include subsidization of healthy foods for intervention programmes at schools in a larger scale study is needed to confirm this finding.

Optimalisasi Pencegahan Penularan Covid 19 Melalui Peningkatan Peran Unit Kesehatan Sekolah (UKS)

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid 19) is rapidly spreading throughout the world, including Indonesia. Positive confirmed cases rose significantly in the period May-August 2021. Cases in Bengkulu City showed as many as 4,173 people, 3,905 people recovered, 100 people died, and 663 suspected cases. The government has made restrictions on community activities, including learning in schools. Some schools continue to carry out face-to-face learning by implementing strict health protocols. The spread of Covid 19 can be prevented by increasing public knowledge, including teachers and students by providing information about preventing transmission. The School Health Unit (UKS) as a driving force in schools can provide correct information to teachers and students. UKS is a health program implemented by schools to provide health education, health services and foster a healthy school environment. The purpose of this activity is to increase the knowledge and attitudes of teachers and students towards efforts to prevent and transmit Covid 19 in schools, families, and communities. The method of this activity is communication, information, and observation to teachers and students at SMPIT Al-Hasanah Bengkulu City. This activity can measure the level of knowledge and attitudes of teachers and students before and after the activity to produce increased knowledge of the prevention and transmission of Covid 19 in schools and the community. Students become the most important part to overcome the spread in schools through increasing the role of UKS.

Body Mass Index of selected Overweight and Obese Indian Adolescents in Madurai district, Tamil Nadu, India

Childhood obesity is an important predisposing factor for most non-communicable diseases. Irrespective of the age and gender, the prevalence rates of overweight and obesity has attained alarming levels not only in developed countries but also in developing countries among all socio-economic groups. The prevalence of overweight and obesity has reached alarming levels, affecting virtually both developed and developing countries of all socio-economic groups, irrespective of their age and gender. Hence, the present study was aimed to identify the anthropometric measurements of selected overweight and obese school-going adolescents from different schools from Madurai district Tamil Nadu, India. A total of 514 adolescents (312 Girls and 202 Boys) aged 13-18 years participated from government and private schools. Mean height, weight and BMI were calculated and compared with (National centre for Health Statistics) NCHS standard references. The mean height, weight and BMI were found to be increasing as the age increases of both genders. Body Mass Index of Girls (34.18 – 35.24)was found to be higher than boys (33.49 – 32.89) of the same age group. The School-going adolescents of both genders, in general, have short stature at all ages as compared to NCHS reference data. The prevalence of Overweight 95 (18.48%) and obese 315 (61.28%) was found to be higher in Nuclear families, but there was no statistical association between family type and BMI (X2 = 2.575, p &gt; .05). A significant relationship was found between the Body Mass Index of the adolescents and Father’s Educational qualification (p=.00) and Mother’s Occupation (p=.008). Nutrition education can play an important part in reducing the incidence of overweight/obesity and its associated complications.Extensive trials with a healthy school environment as an intervention may pave the way for developing new strategies to reduce the overweight and obesity in school-going adolescents.

School Children Exposure to Low Indoor Air Quality in Classrooms During Covid-19 Pandemic: Results of a Pilot Study

Background: Indoor air quality (IAQ) in classrooms affects children s health and academic performance. The aim of this pilot study was to determine IAQ in elementary schools different in their internal and external characteristics, in settings of COVID-19 epidemics. Methods: IAQ parameters: fine particulate matter (PM2,5) mass concentration, CO2 concentration, temperature and relative humidity were measured in parallel in four elementary schools/classrooms during October (non-heating season) and four months (including holiday in January) of heating season. IAQ parameters were measured in settings of anti-epidemic restrictions (≤13 students in classroom, frequent ventilation). Results: During October, except in one school, PM2,5 concentrations were below the upper recommended value (25μg/m ), but started rising in all schools in the heating season. The highest concentrations of PM2,5 were registered in two schools with closed or shortly opened windows. CO2 concentrations were mostly in the recommended range (up to 1000ppm) except in the school with constantly closed windows and in three schools in February when concentrations were higher. Except in one, the same school, and in January, both temperature and relative humidity were out of the recommended range (24,0 27,0°C in non-heating;20,0 24,0°C in heating season;and 45 55%), with temperature mainly above and relative humidity mainly below it in three schools. The largest deviation in temperature and relative humidity were registered in urban schools. Registered differences may be explained by different internal and external characteristics. Original paper Conclusion: Despite anti-epidemic restrictions, most of the measured IAQ parameters were out of the recommended values in heating season. In addition, further deterioration of IAQ could be expected if all students had been presented in the classroom. Finally, to assure a healthy school environment in heating season, further optimisation of both indoor and outdoor conditions is needed in both pandemic and non-pandemic settings.

The School's Healthy Role in Facing Epidemics in Karak Region from the Students' Point of View

The school can play a crucial role in promoting the health of its students and teachers as well, and provides the best opportunities to achieve health education and quality for the life of the entire community, and thus it is considered one of the most important institutions that serve to achieve the goals of “Health for All”.The school itself is an integrated community in which many segments of society live or interact; (Children, teachers, administrative staff, workers and parents). And because health education always looks forward to targeting broad groups in order to spread awareness, attitudes and behaviors that are beneficial to health and life, the school provides a suitable place that delivers the message faithfully to a large segment of society if it is better communicated in a scientific manner. In this study, the researcher distributed (120) questionnaires to students in various government schools for the year (2022-2021) in Karak Region, randomly. The five-point Likert scale was relied upon to correct the study tools, by giving each of its paragraphs one score out of its five degrees (strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree, strongly disagree), and they are represented numerically (5, 4, 3, 2, 1) Respectively, the following scale has been adopted for the purposes of analyzing the results: From) 1.00 to 2.33 Low( ،From )2.34 to 3.67 average) ،From )3.68 to 5.00 large(.The scale was calculated by using the following equation: The upper limit of the scale (5) - the lower limit of the scale (1) / The number of required categories (3 =5-1)/3) (1.33) .And then add the answer (1.33) to the end of each category. Keywords: health services, healthy school environment, health education, Karak region DOI: 10.7176/JEP/13-19-01 Publication date: June 30 th 2022

ESSENTIAL HEALTHY SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT STANDARDS TO MAINTAIN CONDUCIVE LEARNING ATMOSPHERE

The school environment is one unit of the physical, mental and social environment of the school that meets the health requirements so that it can support the teaching and learning process properly and support the growth and development process of students optimally. A healthy school environment can be realized or maintained by involving all components of the school stakeholders. This study made use of a qualitative research design with descriptive analysis. Data were collected by conducting field studies, direct observation, and interviews with school stakeholders. This study found that to maintain school health, the essential healthy standards should be carefully and intensively implemented at schools. Therefore, this research implies that schools should maintain a healthy school environment so that students can study well and comfortably.

Effects of classroom cleaning on student health: a longitudinal study.

BackgroundSchool districts across the world have been grappling with how to keep their schools open, students healthy, and prevent the spread of viruses in their communities.ObjectiveThe aims of this study included assessing both (1) the effectiveness of enhanced classroom cleaning and disinfecting protocol on surface biocontamination and (2) the associations between surface biocontamination and student absence due to illnesses.MethodsCleaning effectiveness was assessed using quantitative adenosine triphosphate (ATP) measurements during a 10-week study period in a sample of 34 public schools (15,814 students), of a district located in the Western US. The schools were randomly assigned to 17 intervention schools implementing enhanced cleaning and disinfecting protocol and 17 control schools cleaning as usual. General estimating equations (GEEs) were used for modeling associations between ATP levels and weekly aggregates of student absences due to respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses, which were recorded by the schools according to district wide protocol.ResultsThe weekly average ATP levels on logarithmic scale were 5.02 (SD 0.53) and 5.26 (SD 0.48) in the intervention and control schools, respectively, where the difference is statistically significant (p < 0.001). The probability of weekly absence due to gastrointestinal illness was significantly associated with ATP levels (parameter estimate 1.16, 95% CI 1.01–1.34, per unit (log) increase of weekly average ATP), where the model accounts for student level, gender, ethnic group, and socioeconomic status as well as for school level attendance, total absence ratio, and ventilation adequacy in classrooms. Associations were not found between ATP levels and weekly probability of any absence, or absence due to respiratory illness.SignificanceEnhanced cleaning resulted in a significantly lower level of biocontamination on desktops in the intervention group. In addition, a statistically significant association was established between ATP levels on classroom desks and probability of absence due to gastrointestinal illness.ImpactWe found that enhanced cleaning protocol, including bi-weekly cleaning of classroom desks, as well as training of custodians and teachers, monitoring of effectiveness, and feedback, yielded a moderate but statistically significantly lower level of biocontamination on desktops, indicated by quantitative ATP monitoring. Within the range of weekly average desktop ATP levels observed, the probability of reported absence due to gastrointestinal illness is estimated to increase from 0.021 to 0.026. Based on the results, enhanced surface cleaning and monitoring its effectiveness is a possible district, state, or even national level policy to support healthy school environments.

Introduction to the Special Issue on Preventing Bullying and Promoting a Healthy School Environment

Introduction to the Special Issue on Preventing Bullying and Promoting a Healthy School Environment

Food Availability in Different Food Environments Surrounding Schools in a Vulnerable Urban Area of Santiago, Chile: Exploring Socioeconomic Determinants.

The analysis of the food environment is used to identify areas with gaps in the availability of healthy foods and can be used as a public policy assessment tool. In recent decades, Chile has implemented several strategies and regulations to improve food environments, with encouraging results. Little is known about the scope of these measures in socially vulnerable environments. This study is part of a project that seeks to build an integrated intervention model for healthy school environments in a vulnerable area of Santiago, Chile. The objective of this study was to evaluate the availability of healthy and unhealthy foods around schools and the relationship between it and socioeconomic determinants of the school community in the Chilean context. A cross-sectional study to measure the food environment of informal markets (street food), formal markets (stores), and institutions (schools) was conducted in and around 12 schools (100 m surrounding schools) in a vulnerable urban area of Santiago, Chile. A lack of healthy foods was observed, which was related to some socio-economic determinants and the multidimensional poverty was the most relevant. The diagnosis of food environments around schools can represent an important target for governments to implement policies focused at improving the availability of healthy foods.