School Health Status Research Articles

Investigating the Environmental Health status of Schools in Jiroft city accordance with national unifying plan in 2019

Introduction: Schools are safe places in the training of human, and they play a very important role in providing a healthy and cheerful life for students. Therefore, these places should be ideal from view of health and safety. The aim of this study was to investigate the environmental health status of schools in Jiroft city accordance with national unifying plan in 2019.
 Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study, took a census on 99 schools of Jiroft in the 2019. For gathering the data, the standard school inspection checklist of the Ministry of Health was used. The data were collected by referring to schools and via viewing and interview with officials. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS 22 software.
 Results: The results for the both urban and rural schools revealed that the highest health status was food hygiene (100%), and lowest score was related to safety status for rural schools (50%). The health status of tools and equipment was 84.61% for both urban and rural schools, while building health status in urban schools and rural schools were 87.5% and 71.87% respectively.
 Conclusion: According to the results, the environmental health and safety status of schools in Jiroft city was evaluated as favorable. The indicators of food, personal, tools and equipment hygiene in urban and rural schools, as well as the safety index in urban schools, were highly favorable. In general, in the investigation of the indicators of this research, 85.8% of schools were evaluated favorably in terms of environmental health and safety indicators. To increase the percentage of the environmental health and safety indicators, the coordination of related organizations in health and education is necessary.

Study of Environmental Health Status of Schools in Saleh Abad District - Mehran City - Using National Indicators in 2017: A Short Report

Study of Environmental Health Status of Schools in Saleh Abad District - Mehran City - Using National Indicators in 2017: A Short Report

Evaluation of School Health Status, Explanatory Study

Background: Schools are one of the best settings-based approach to promote health. Schools remain for many years been recognized as an important settings for health promotion for the community. The study provides description of schools health status in the city, concerning the activities and services components of school health and the deficiencies, accordingly the requested procedures and processes to improve that health situation, assuming that improvement of schools health status will lead the improvement of health status of the overall community. Objectives: The study aims to assess schools health status in Makkah city. Introduction: The study conducted to evaluate schools health status and services provided in Makkah city, 20 schools selected randomly for this purpose. Methodology: Descriptive study had been implemented, simple random sampling used, (20) schools selected for the evaluation of the six components of school health services and activities, data collected through checklist and interviews. Results: The study clarified that most schools in Makkah have a health supervisor, health supervision plan and a committee, but only 32% of schools have healthy foods provided. Conclusion: The study concluded that, health supervision was active, but there were weaknesses in the food services, unhealthy foods and drinks were available in schools. Recommendations: The study recommends for motivating schools health supervisors for the extra efforts they are providing beside their teaching responsibilities, in addition to that, periodic health education sessions for students is requested to raise their awareness on different health risks especially in school environment.

Environmental Health and Safety Assessment of Schools in Khalkhal City Using Crisis Management Approach

Background: Paying attention to physical, health and safety issues in educational environments is the most effective and fundamental factor for physical, mental and psychological development of students. Therefore, one of the most important and effective health issues of the school is to observe environmental health and safety. This study was conducted with the aim of surveying the environmental health and safety of schools in Khalkhal city with a crisis management approach. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive study with cross sectional design. The study population consists of all primary, middle and high schools in Khalkhal city (n=28). For sampling, census method was used. Data collection tool was an 87-item checklist that surveys the health status of schools and its classrooms in terms of health and safety facilities. It was completed by visiting schools and observing, interviews and measurements. Collected data were analyzed in SPSS and Excel software. Results: 10% of schools had newly constructed buildings and 90% had old buildings. The minimum required area per student was observed in all schools. The green space area required for each student is 0.5 square meters, which was not observed in 73.83% of schools. Only 87.5% of schools had one toilet for every 40 students. Sewage disposal in 98% of schools was hygienic, and 100% of schools had sanitary trash cans. In 60% of the schools, the toilets did not meet the hygiene standards. In 84% of the schools, the number of washbasins was proportional to the number of students (1 per 60). All the classrooms had maximum use of natural light. Moreover, in most schools, health policies, safety policies and emergency and personal hygiene standards were met. Conclusion: Most schools in Khalkhal city were at moderate level in terms of environmental health and safety and compliance with national school environmental health regulations as well as being prepared to deal with emergencies and crises which indicates a need for more attention and support from the relevant authorities for improving their status.

Environmental Health and Safety Status in the Primary Schools of Garmsar City, Iran

Background: Nowadays, school administrators and designers are increasingly convinced that the quality of school buildings, spaces, and learning environments can influence students’ health and learning. It makes sense to them that, when classrooms are clean, healthy, and well-lit, students are more comfortable, less prone to illness, and more focused on their studies. The current study aimed at investigating the environmental health and safety status in primary schools of Garmsar city, Iran with the recommended standards. Methods: The statistical population of the current descriptive, cross sectional study was selected by the census method. To accomplish this, a checklist related to the school environmental health inspection provided by the Ministry of Health, was completed through direct observation. Results: Most schools had favorable conditions in terms of the medical examinations (75%), appropriate drinking fountains (69%), standard toilets (87%), window height (90%), natural lighting (65%), safety in the installation of the heater (84%), electrical and lighting (72%), fire extinguisher (68%), sewage disposal (100%), and daily waste collection (72%). However, most of the schools had no health care rooms (66%), standard first aid kit (57%), emergency exit (69%), hygienic tuck-shops (59%), standard bench and desk (53%), favorable ventilation (54%), and the appropriate distance of the board (53%). Conclusions: It was concluded that the physical status of the primary schools of Garmsar was approximately in accordance with the required standards of School Health Regulations. However, some school buildings needed repair, which should be considered in government programs. In order to guarantee the safety of schools, it is more important to evaluate the defects of the environmental health status of schools.

The Effect of Health Promoting Schools Programs in Improving the Health Status of Schools in Urmia, North West of Iran

Background: Investing in the health of children in learning situation is one of the most important health interventions. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of health promoting schools in improving the health status of schools in Urmia, North West of Iran.Methods and materials: This interventional study was conducted on 155 schools executing the health promoting schools program that were included by census. Data collection instrument was standard checklist of health promoting schools approved by Ministry of health and Ministry of education. Data were collected in two-stage before and after intervention during 12 months. Data were analyzed using the software SPSS 16.0 and descriptive statistics and Paired t- test were used.Results: There were 217 schools in Urmia in primary, Middle and High school. A total of 155 schools surveyed in the study, 77 schools (49.7%) were primary school, 68 schools (43.9%) junior schools, and 10 schools (6.5%) were high school. Mean score of rates was 59.35 + 13.22 before the intervention and 63.94 + 12.1 after intervention and this difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Also, the rates of nine dimensions before and after the intervention increased excluding the two dimensions of clinical services and mental health services and counseling and these findings were statistically significant (P<0.05).Conclusion: The results showed that health promoting schools program was effective in improving schools in terms of health promotion. It is recommended that families, organizations, and policy makers to be involved in the implementation of this program.