Health-promoting school initiative in Ashram schools of Wardha district.
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Date
2011-05
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Abstract
Background. We studied the effect of a health-promoting
school-based intervention for disadvantaged children in the
residential Ashram schools of rural Wardha, Maharashtra.
Methods. At baseline, 1287 children in 10 Ashram
schools were examined using a locally adapted Global Schoolbased
Student Health Survey questionnaire. The haemoglobin
level of all children was estimated using the haemoglobin colour
scale. Body mass index and physical activity score for each child
were calculated. The intervention was carried out through
school health committees. After 1 year, 1226 children were
examined using the same questionnaire.
Results. There was significant improvement in personal
hygiene and reduction in hygiene-related morbidity among the
children. The median haemoglobin level of the children increased
from 10.7 g/dl to 11.4 g/dl. There was also a significant
increase in the proportion of children with body mass index that
was normal for age (5th–85th percentile) from 32.2% to
38.5%.
Conclusion. The need-based participatory health-promoting school initiative for disadvantaged children in Ashram schools led to an improvement in their personal hygiene and health.
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Dongre Amol R, Deshmukh Pradeep R, Garg Bishan S. Health-promoting school initiative in Ashram schools of Wardha district. National Medical Journal of India. 2011 May-Jun; 24(3): 140-143.