School Health Research Articles

The mental health of parent versus non-parent post-secondary students

Post-secondary students experience abnormally high levels of stress compared to the general population, and parents pursuing post-secondary education have additional demands that challenge their mental health. Understanding the mental health of parent versus non-parent students is imperative to support students in their academic pursuits. The purpose of this mixed-methods, cross-sectional paper was two-fold: (1) to investigate the mental health (flourishing/languishing) of parents pursuing post-secondary education in Ontario, Canada with children/youth aged 0–18 years compared to non-parent post-secondary students; and (2) to explore parents’ and non-parents’ lived experiences of mental health (flourishing/languishing) while pursuing post-secondary education. A total of 374 students (n = 86 parents; n = 288 non-parents) completed an online survey that included demographics and the previously validated Mental Health Continuum-Short Form. A subset of participants (n = 10 parents; n = 10 non-parents) participated in one of six focus groups (3 parent focus groups; 3 non-parent focus groups). Results from the independent sample t-tests indicated no significant differences between the overall mental health scores. Thematic analysis revealed 4 themes for student-parents: (1) factors that challenge mental health; (2) realities of being a student-parent; (3) social connectivity among family and friends; and (4) mental health fluctuations. A total of 6 non-parent specific themes were found: (1) social connectivity among peers; (2) factors that challenge mental health; (3) the bidirectional relationship between school and mental health status; (4) prioritizing academic roles; (5) finding purpose through academic pursuits; and (6) admiration for student-parents. Findings from the current study highlight the dichotomy in student-parent versus non-parent academic identities and are important for university personnel to understand to provide tailored supports.

Factors Influencing Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Information among Adolescents Aged 12-19 Years in Mukono Municipality Schools: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Adolescent sexual and reproductive health is one of the essential health care services that promote a adolescent’s health. Complications of unwanted pregnancies lead to school dropouts’, disability and mortality. However, many adolescents 12-19 years face barriers to reproductive health information about their health and rights. And are unable to access services needed to protect their health. This study aimed to assess factors influencing access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Information among adolescents aged 12-19 years in Mukono municipality schools, Uganda. Methods: Analytical cross-sectional survey and simple random sampling were used to select 384 participants between July and December 2022 in Mukono municipality. A Self-administered structured was used to collect data. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and a modified Poisson regression model. Results: Findings showed the mean age of participants was 16.1 (S.D + 2) years. The proportion of access to information was 80.27%. Significant factors strongly associated with access to sexual and reproductive health information were being Moslem (OR: 0.284 (0.089-0.912)], going to hospital [OR: 2.350 (1.143-4.828)], distance 3-5 Kms from home to nearest health facility [OR: 0.41 (0.176-0.912)]. Conclusion: Two of every ten participants had access to Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights information. Significant determinants were radio media and print newspapers. Stakeholders should advocate for adolescents’ increased access to healthcare information to avert the upsurge in related diseases. Policy makers should review and monitor new guidelines for Adolescent and School health inclusive of sexuality and reproductive health. Thus, improve health equity for all.

Exploring critical health literacy in health education: A social justice approach

Objective: To explore the perspectives and practices of high school health education teachers implementing health literacy with a focus on the social determinants of health within the context of a concern for social justice. Design: Qualitative content analysis was used to assess high school teachers’ accounts of the practices used to teach health education in line with their professional preparation, the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards, the textbook(s) used and the district’s health education curriculum. Setting: A large urban independent school district in southern Texas, USA. Method: Six high school health education teachers’ interviews were analysed using the social ecological framework and a social justice framework to identify themes that aligned with the teaching practices used to facilitate critical health literacy. Results: Although teachers were unfamiliar with the term Social Determinants of Health, they were able to speak to the challenges that their students faced in everyday life. The need for support and the remedying of knowledge deficits were two important themes. Conclusion: Health education teachers often lack the preparation to teach about the social determinants of health in a manner that resonates with students’ backgrounds. The current TEKS standards provide insufficient guidance, emphasising kinesiology, diet and movement over a focus on critical health literacy and the social determinants of health, resulting in a limited and inadequate curriculum for high school students.

A School Health Program to Foster Understanding of Sensory Processing Challenges.

School-age children experience sensory processing challenges, especially among children living with intellectual and developmental disabilities. As the modern classroom strives to be an inclusive environment, more schools are adopting measures to provide sensory processing support. School nurses can be at the forefront to spearhead this initiative and are well-positioned to promote support and inclusivity for students through increased education for this population, including their peers. This article explores a collaboration between local school health services and a college of nursing to provide school-age children the opportunity to learn about the challenges faced by children living with sensory processing challenges.

Promoting oral health in elementary schools: The effectiveness of dental stand media

Promoting oral health in elementary schools: The effectiveness of dental stand media

Understanding Community Perceptions on the Role of Schools in Youth Mental Health.

Youth mental health rates of depression and anxiety continue to climb. Schools have a role to play to support youth mental health but often struggle to navigate community expectations. Focus groups (n = 17) were conducted with over 100 participants to understand community perceptions on the role of schools. Three themes emerged around what schools should be doing: (1) provide accurate education about mental health, (2) create mental health promoting environments that positively supports young people, and (3) act as a common space to bring community members and organizations together for their young people. School professionals and systems should be equipped to adequately address youth mental health. The current US institutional response to this crisis is underdeveloped and exacerbates equity issues and health outcome disparities. Schools need institutional support for addressing mental health in ways that incorporate building a shared understanding with families and providing efforts to prevent and detect rather than just treat mental health. Schools should work with their communities to promote shared understanding and accountability for all to engage in building rich protective environments that promote mental well-being for kids in their care.

Making Teachers and School Health Nurses Part of Pediatric Diabetes Teams.

Children with diabetes need consistent care across all environments, including school, where they spend significant time.Turkey's Diabetes at School Program, initiated in 2010, has made substantial progress in integrating diabetes care into the school system. The program's achievements include government support, annual awareness activities, communication between diabetes teams and schools, policy implementation, and training for school staff. A recent meeting of Provincial Health Service Officers highlighted ongoing efforts and future directions for the program, emphasizing the importance of continuous support for children with diabetes in educational settings. Key outcomes of this meeting include designated caregivers for children with diabetes at school, optional administration of insulin by trained staff, mandatory diabetes education for teachers, and health-conscious policies for school activities. The program's success is attributed to the collaborative efforts of teachers, healthcare professionals, and government officials. Ensuring robust support for children with diabetes in schools is vital for their well-being and academic success.

Are educational aspirations associated with susceptibility to smoking, e-cigarette use, and smokeless tobacco use in adolescence?

The early socio-economic differences in smoking build on the interplay between individual-, family-, peer-, and school-related factors. The present study aimed to add knowledge to this by examining susceptibility to smoking (S-SM), electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use (S-EC), and smokeless tobacco (snus) use (S-SN) by educational aspirations in a country with advanced tobacco control policies. National cross-sectional School Health Promotion study survey was conducted among 8.-9. grade students (av. 15-year-olds) in 2017 with no prior smoking (n = 47589), e-cigarette use (n = 49382), or snus use (n = 53335). Gender-stratified, age-adjusted multilevel logistic regression analyses with S-SM, S-EC, and S-SN were considered as outcomes and student- and school-level (aggregated) factors were considered as independent variables. The highest prevalence was observed for S-EC (girls 29%, boys 35%), followed by S-SM (16%, 15%) and S-SN (10%, 16%). Compared to those planning for general upper secondary education, S-SM was the highest for those without educational aspirations (OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.04-1.40), S-EC for those planning for vocational education [1.15 (1.05-1.25)], and S-SN for those planning for extra year/discontinuation [1.65 (1.04-2.60)] among girls. Among boys, both S-SM [1.37 (1.23-1.52)] and S-EC [1.19 (1.09-1.29)] were the highest among those planning for vocational education, with no clear associations with S-SN. Current other tobacco/e-cigarette use [OR range 1.27-8.87], positive attitude towards product use in one's age group [3.55-6.63], and liking school [0.58-0.68] consistently associated with susceptibility. Students not planning for academically oriented education had higher susceptibility to different nicotine products. High S-EC warrants monitoring to strengthen policy evaluation and prevention.

Parent-Reported Academic Outcomes After a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in the Pediatric Population.

Millions of children are diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) each year, most being mild TBI (mTBI). The effect of mTBIs on academic performance is of significant importance. We investigate mTBI's impact on parent-reported academic outcomes in school-aged pediatric participants. This cross-sectional survey study queried parents (N = 285) regarding letter grade performance and the presence or absence of academic accommodations before and after an mTBI, including complicated mTBI (c-mTBI, or mTBI with radiographic abnormality). We found a parent-reported decline in letter grades following c-mTBI (p < .001), with no significant change following uncomplicated mTBIs. Degree and length of recovery were also associated with grade changes (p < .05). Those with no academic accommodations prior to the injury showed significant decreases in grades after injury regardless of post-injury accommodation status (p < .05). This study underscores the need for an improved framework of support to maximize academic performance of children following mTBI, especially in those with a c-mTBI and still recovering from their injury. Our study identifies children who are at risk for adverse academic outcomes following mTBI. We encourage efforts to better support school nurses in this effort, including improved communication between health care teams and school teams.

School health and nutrition services for children and adolescents in Tanzania: A review of policies and programmes.

School health and nutrition programmes are effective strategies to address the health problems among school-going children and adolescents. We examined the policy environments, successesand bottlenecks associated with school health and nutrition programmes in Tanzania. We used the 'policy triangle framework' to examine 22 national and regional school health and nutrition policies and programmes in Tanzania. We also interviewed 16 key informants to gain further insights into school health and nutrition programmes. Several school health and nutrition policies in Tanzania outline the basic elements of school-based health and nutrition services. Yet, these documents neither recognise vulnerable groups, recommend age-appropriate strategies to address children's and adolescents' varied and transient needs, nor provide a framework for implementing and tracking recommended activities. In these documents, underweight and infectious diseases, including humanimmunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, are frequently identified as major concerns of young people, with little or no consideration of social determinants. Diverse strategies including school feeding, water and sanitation services, health and nutrition educationand promotion of healthy behaviours are identified. In doing so, these documents adequately define the roles and responsibilities of all government actors, but young people and their guardians are not actively engaged in design and implementation. Additionally, there are several challenges to implementing these policies including budgetary constraints, limited resources, a lack of inter-sectoral coordinationand insufficient capacity within targeted schools. To improve the health and nutritional status of school-going children and adolescents in Tanzania, adequate budgets, strengthened coordination and implementation efforts, the development of school-based stakeholders' capacity, as well as the involvement of all other stakeholders, including adolescents, are imperative.

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.

School health and nutrition environments: A multicountry survey in five countries of sub-Saharan Africa region-Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, South Africa, Sudan, and Tanzania.

Schools are increasingly regarded as a key setting for promoting the health, well-being, and development of children and adolescents. In this multicountry cross-sectional survey, we describe the health, nutrition, and food environments of public primary schools in five urban settings in Africa region: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Durban; South Africa, Khartoum, Sudan; and, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. We evaluated the school health and nutrition (SHN) environments in three main areas: (1) the availability of health-related policies, guidelines, and school curricula, (2) the provision of health, nutrition, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)services in schools, and (3) the school food environments and eating habits of adolescents. We used stratified random sampling to recruit 79 schools from five countries. Trained fieldworkers collected standardized questionnaire data from 79 school administrators, 765 food vendors, and 4999 in-school adolescents aged 10-15 years. In our study, 24 out of 79 school administrators were aware of their school's health-related policies and guidelines while 30 schools had a specific SHN curriculum. In general, health, nutrition, and WASH services were inadequate. Possibly due to a lack of school kitchens, 14.4% of students bought snacks and unhealthy foods from food vendors. Our study indicates that schools' food and nutrition environments are insufficient to improve adolescent health and nutrition in the African region, including limited coverage of SHN policies, suboptimal facilities and nutrition services, and unregulated food environments. Schools in sub-Saharan Africa need to improve their health and nutrition environments.

Health literacy and its determinants among school-going children: a school-based cross-sectional study in Nepal.

Limited health literacy is linked to unhealthy behaviors, adverse health outcomes, poor quality of life and financial burdens on society. However, little is known about the level of health literacy, especially among school-going children. This cross-sectional study assesses health literacy levels and their determinants in 354 school children from Kathmandu Metropolitan City, utilizing a multi-stage cluster sampling method. The 10-item Health Literacy for School-Aged Children was used to measure the student's literacy levels. Bivariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression at the significance level of 0.05 were performed to determine factors associated with limited health literacy. The majority of participants (76.6%) had moderate health literacy, while 13.8% had a high level and 9.6% had a low level of health literacy. Students from nuclear families had lower odds [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 0.4; 95% CI: 0.2-0.8] of having limited health literacy. Students whose mother education was up to secondary school (aOR: 10.1; 95% CI: 1.3-78.9), students with pre-existing mental health conditions (aOR: 3.7; 95% CI: 1.4-9.6) and students with unsatisfactory health status (aOR: 3.9; 95% CI: 1.5-10.5) had higher odds to have limited health literacy. These results suggest the importance of prioritizing school health promotion and education activities for students with pre-existing mental health conditions and mothers with low educational attainment. Implementing peer support group programs for children with mental illnesses, mobilizing school health professionals and introducing interventions such as vocational training of mothers can collectively improve health literacy among school-going children.

Risk Factors for Anemia in Adolescent Pregnancies: Evidence From the Lembah Pantai Urban Health District in Malaysia.

Introduction Adolescent pregnant mothers are at higher risk of acquiring anemia during pregnancy, which has detrimental consequences for the mother and baby. Untreated and prolonged anemia can lead toperinatal morbidity and mortality and antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum maternal morbidity.Anemia among adolescent pregnant mothers can be attributed to many factors, such as poor nutrition and the physiological demands of pregnancy. Hence, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and characteristics of anemia among adolescent pregnancies in Lembah Pantai Health District in an urban setting. Materials and methods This cross-sectional study utilized secondary data from registry records of adolescentpregnant mothers in the Lembah Pantai District Health Office in Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia from 2019 to 2022. All adolescent pregnancies aged 10 to 19 years were included in this study. Those with a prior diagnosis of thalassemia or other hematological disorders, as indicated in their medical records, were excluded from the study. The chi-square (χ2) test was applied to elicit the association at a univariate level, and those variables with a p-value of <0.25 were included in a multiple logistic regression model. Results A total of 307 records were reviewed, and 272 pregnant adolescent cases were eligible for the analyses. The prevalence of anemia among teenage pregnancies from 2019 to 2022 was 28.7% (95% CI: 23.0-33.6). This prevalence was lower than in many lower-income countries and developing countries.Factors that were significant on using multiple logistic regression analysis included marital status (unmarried) (AOR: 1.87, 95% CI: 1.01-3.45, p=0.046), residing area Seputeh (AOR: 0.29, 95% CI: 0.14-0.61, p=0.001), and third trimester of first antenatal visit/booking (AOR: 5.08, 95% CI: 2.02-12.70, p<0.001).The population in the Seputeh area has a higher overall household income in comparison toLembah Pantai. Conclusions According to the WHO classification, the prevalence of anemia among adolescent pregnant women at the Lembah Pantai District Health Office reflects amoderate public health issue. Consequently, anemia may exacerbate the impact of other health conditions in this population.Hence, local health authorities should ensure that anemia is adequately addressed without ignoring other crucial health issues. A multidisciplinary, comprehensive, holistic strategy involving healthcare providers, school health teams, and community assets offers a potential solution. Strategies that can be employed include providing targeted health and nutrition education in schools through school health teams. Additionally, establishing adolescent-friendly health clinics tailored to the specific needs of pregnant adolescents and enhancing antenatal services to ensure comprehensive screening and management of anemia should also be implemented.Hence, this will ensure achieving safe motherhood goals through an effective healthcare response.

Do school Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene facilities affect students' health status, attendance, and educational achievements? A qualitative study in Nepal.

Access to safe and sufficient drinking Water, Sanitation, and good Hygiene (WASH) facilities in schools play a crucial role in preventing students from numerous Neglected Tropical Diseases, improving the learning environment in schools, and creating resilient communities living in a healthy environment. This study aims to explore the impact of combining WASH facilities on students' health status, school attendance, and educational achievements. Four schools, two with improved and two without improved WASH facilities, were selected purposively from Dhanusha and Chitwan districts of Nepal. A total of 24 participants, 16 students, and eight teachers were also purposively selected based on the Theory of Data Saturation. The participants were interviewed face-to-face using study guidelines; Key Informants Interview for teachers and In-depth Interview for students. The data were audio recorded and analyzed thematically using Dedoose 9.0.17 qualitative data management and analysis software. School WASH facilities have a significant impact on students' health and well-being. Poor school-WASH facilities hindered students' school attendance, particularly for menstruating girls. School without separate toilets for girls, including menstruation hygiene facilities, lack of water and soap, sanitary pad, and secure toilet's door often have higher rates of absenteeism among girls. Poor teacher and students' relationships, students' low interest in education, household chores, and participation in social customs also contribute to students' absence from school and low educational performance. It is important to note that inadequate WASH facilities affect not only students, but also teachers in the same school. The lack of safe and sufficient drinking water, unimproved sanitation, and poor hygiene facilities were seen by students and teachers as reducing their health and well-being, school attendance, and academic performance. Thus, schools need prioritize and promote the provision of improved WASH facilities for the betterment of students' health, attendance, and educational proficiency.

Lack of knowledge about the human papillomavirus vaccine among Brazilian adolescents: A cross-sectional study.

To analyze the distribution and factors associated with lack of knowledge about the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine among Brazilian adolescents.Cross-sectional study using the 2019 National School Health Survey among 17,805 Brazilian students of public and private schools, aged 13-17 years. The outcome variable was "lack of knowledge about the HPV vaccine" and the explanatory variables were sociodemographic, behaviors, knowledge, and health conditions. Logistic regression model was used to calculate Odds Ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Spatial analysis techniques were used to determine the formation of clusters in the federated units with similar proportions of adolescents who were unaware of the vaccine. The lack of knowledge about the HPV vaccine was reported by 45.54% of Brazilian students. There was a higher chance of lack of knowledge having had sexual intercourse (OR 1.43; 95% CI 1.20-1.70); attending public school (OR 1.72; 95%CI 1.47-2.02) and located in the Northeast Region (OR 1.35; 95%CI 1.08-1.69). The lower chance of lack of knowledge were female gender (OR 0.41; 95% CI 0.35-0.48), higher maternal education (OR 0.62; 95% CI 0.50-0.77) self-rated health as Poor/very poor (OR 0.64; 95% CI 0.49-0.86) and receiving contraceptive counseling (OR 0.77; 95% CI 0.65-0.91). The proportion of lack of knowledge about the HPV vaccine was higher with the formation of High-High spatial clusters in the states of Maranhão, Piauí, and Pernambuco. Sociodemographic, health, and behavioral conditions and knowledge of students, as well as school characteristics, were associated with lack of knowledge about the HPV vaccine. A higher frequency of lack of knowledge about the HPV vaccine among adolescents was found in the states of the Northeastern Region.

Healthier School Systems for Learners: Government Role in Fostering Holistic Interventions

Background: School health is a key component of school reform, and it is essential to address health issues that are relevant to education and incorporate key actors such as the government and other relevant stakeholders. This review article aimed to examine the role of governments in fostering healthier school systems for learners. Methods: This paper examined existing literature, policies, and programs and identified effective approaches to promoting holistic well-being within educational settings. Scientific databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, and Web of Science, and the websites of international organizations including the WHO, UNESCO, and UNICEF were searched. Results: Through case studies and best practices from different regions including Nepal, Japan, United Arab Emirates, Ghana, and Kenya, this review illustrated the potential impact of government-led initiatives in promoting school health. In this regard, health impact assessment can help policymakers understand the health implications of their policies and identify ways to improve health while minimizing harm. The government’s role includes enactment and assessment of policies that improve school programs, establishing accountability and regulatory framework, facilitating decision-making, collaborations with other stakeholders, and coordination. Conclusion: This article provided insights and recommendations for policymakers seeking to prioritize the health and development of students in their jurisdictions. Implementing the school health program is essential for achieving both the nation’s goal of health for all and the sustainable development goals.

PROJETO DENTE SORRIDENTE: RELATO DE EXPERIÊNCIA

Dentistry efforts are mainly focused on preventing oral diseases. In addition to highlighting the need to teach and help develop oral hygiene habits. Education and motivation methods aim to inform patients about oral diseases and change their hygiene habits. The objective of this work is to describe the Smiling Tooth Program, an oral health education program for children, young people, adults and the elderly. This work focuses on students from the João Rodrigues da Silva School of the EJA class (Youth and Adult Education) in the city of Altamira- Pa. For the success of this work, the innovations in the proposed activities of the program, an educational booklet was created with oral health guidance and distributed oral hygiene kits to students. Therefore, the development of education and motivation programs for oral health in schools is essential for the search for full oral health.

Do Climate Shocks Disadvantage Household Investment in Human Capital in Benin? An Approach Based on the Endogenous Treatment Regression Model

The increasing number of drought and flood shocks in Benin is causing considerable economic losses and social disruption. This article looks specifically at the effects of these shocks on household human capital expenditure in three climatic zones of Benin to highlight the effects specific to each zone. The data used come from the Harmonized Survey of Household Living Conditions. A linear regression model of the endogenous treatment was used for the analyses. The findings indicate that climate shocks reduce household capital expenditure and that this impact depends on the household’s climatic zone of residence. Investment in resilient infrastructure, such as water drainage and anti-flood systems, is suggested. The implementation of social and health assistance measures and school subsidies to cushion the impact of climatic shocks on the human capital expenditure of disaster-stricken households. The development and maintenance of an early warning system to anticipate the occurrence of shocks, floods, and droughts would also contribute to mitigation actions.

Analysis the Healthy School Campaign in Indonesia: A Health Policy Triangle Approach

The School Health Program policy was initiated by the Indonesian government in 2014. However, by 2021, student health service coverage was still suboptimal. The Healthy Schools Campaign Program was introduced in 2022 as an alternative policy to revitalize the School Health Programme. The study aimed to analyze the Healthy School Campaign Program using the health policy triangle framework, which includes actors, content, process, and context. This research uses qualitative methods with secondary data sourced from electronic document searches. The main actors in this policy involve official government institutions, supported by collaboration with non-government partners. Policy selection is based on situational, structural, cultural and international contextual factors. The program content focuses on physical health, healthy nutrition, and student immunization. The conclusion is that the selection of content is influenced by how actors identify health problems in the early stages of policy preparation. Implementation of this program requires a clear collaboration system as a reference for its implementation in educational units. Teacher and parent involvement is also very important to increase the effectiveness and sustainability of the program.