scholarly journals Prevalence of Health Problems Targeted by the National School-Based Screening Program among Primary School Students in Saudi Arabia, 2019

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1310
Author(s):  
Manal Matar Al Daajani ◽  
Dina Mohammed Al-Habib ◽  
Mona Hamed Ibrahim ◽  
Nora Abdulrhman Al Shewear ◽  
Yahya Mohammad Fagihi ◽  
...  

The Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH) established a National School-Based Screening Program (NSBSP) for health screening of schoolchildren. Students from specific grades were systematically screened for several health problems, including obesity, visual and auditory problems, dental cavities, scoliosis, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of these health problems among primary school students based on secondary data obtained from the NSBSP. We included 444,259 screened school children from the first and fourth grades of 50% of the selected schools (both private and public) across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) during the academic year 2018–2019. Among them, the most prevalent health problems identified were dental cavities (38.7%), eye refractory errors (10.9%), and overweight and obesity (10.5%); the less prevalent problems included ADHD (2.81%), auditory problems (0.6%), and scoliosis (0.48%). A greater prevalence of most health problems was observed in girls more than boys. The NSBSP successfully aided the detection of health conditions with high and low prevalence among primary school students in the KSA, and thus, the identification of health problems of specific concern. Implementation of effective school health services for the prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of these health problems are imperative.

Author(s):  
Manal Matar Al Daajani ◽  
Dina Mohammed Al-Habib ◽  
Mona Hamed Ibrahim ◽  
Nora Abdulrhman Al Shewear ◽  
Yahya Mohammad Fagihi ◽  
...  

The Ministry of Health (MOH) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) established a National School-based Screening Program (NSBSP) for health screening of school-going children. Students from specific grades were systematically screened for several health problems including obesity, visual and auditory problems, dental cavities, scoliosis, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of these health problems among primary school students based on secondary data obtained from the NSBSP. We included 444,259 screened school children from the 1st and 4th grades of 50% of the selected schools (both private and public) across the KSA during the academic year 2018-2019. Among them, the most prevalent health problems identified were dental cavities (38.7%), eye refractory errors (10.9%), and overweight and obesity (10.5%); the less prevalent problems included ADHD (2.81%), auditory problems (0.6%), and scoliosis (0.48%). A greater prevalence of most health problems was observed in girls than boys. The NSBSP successfully aided the detection of health conditions with high and low prevalence among primary school students in the KSA, and thus, identification of health problems of specific concern. Implementation of effective school health services for the prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of these health problems is imperative.


2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 329-334
Author(s):  
Ahmed Salem Al-Dahi ◽  
Faisal Awad Albalawi ◽  
Saleh Saad Al Alwani ◽  
Moath Mohammed Al Balawi

Background: At present, obesity is considered a chronic disease which must be treated like any other medical condition, and if not treated it leads, insidiously, to the development of numerous diseases. It has an epidemic-like nature and is not only one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality, Adolescence represents a sensitive period in the development of obesity, and obesity in adolescence is known to track into adulthood and be associated with several health problems. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity and explore the association among the following variables: nutritional habits, physical activity, videogames, and the student perception towards obesity.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among primary school students in Tabuk city, Saudi Arabia. Study population: 6th year primary school in private and public school in Tabuk city, sample size 200 school students in private and governmental schools involving male and female equally, firstly two schools for each gender were selected randomly and the whole classes of the selected schools were taken, data was collected through a self- administered validated questionnaire. Height and weight of each selected student were measured and BMI was calculated. We used WHO growth charts and definition - that based on widely different ethnic backgrounds and cultural settings.Results: 200 self-administered questionnaires were distributed to the students and collected, giving a response rate of 100%. Their age ranged between 10 and 14 Years (Mean=11.96 years) and (SD=0.5 years). 50% were male and 50% were female, 99% were Saudi, their BMI ranged between 13 and 41.33 (Mean=23.34) and (SD=5.80 years). The prevalence of overweight among primary school students in Tabuk city, according to the CDC growth chart, was 15.5% and that of obesity was 22%. The prevalence of overweight and obesity among male students were 13% and 17% compared to 18% and 27% among female students; respectively, higher prevalence was shown with reduced physical activities and higher total media time. Also there was a significant association with some related perceptions like (considering obesity as an illness, availability of family obesity and trial of losing weight). Conclusion: Our study concluded that there is apparent increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in primary private and public schools in Tabuk city and evidence based data on considerable associated factors.Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.15(3) 2016 p.329-334


2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
SalemKhalil Al Dahi ◽  
IbrahimMohammed Al Hariri ◽  
WaleedHamoud Al-Enazy

Author(s):  
Rasheed Ali AlGhamdi

Background: Obesity in children is rapidly emerging as a global epidemic that will have profound public health consequences as overweight children become overweight adults particularly if obesity is present in adolescence. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity among school children between 6-12 years (males and females) at Taif primary schools and determine the associated dietary risk factors for overweight and obesity. Methods: A cross sectional analytic study was implemented included a representative sample of primary school students (boys and girls) enrolled in governmental schools in Taif, Saudi Arabia, 2014-2015. Data were collected by using valid self-administered questionnaire, with family help. It including socio-demographic characteristics and detailed dietary history. Body mass index-for-age percentiles of CDC were utilized in this study to diagnose obesity. Results: Among schoolboys, the prevalence of overweight was 10.7%, while prevalence of obesity was 7.6%; the problem seemed to be worse in girls, where the prevalence of overweight and obesity were 16.8% and 18.2%, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that girls were al almost double risk for developing overweight/obesity compared to boys ((aOR=1.93; 95%CI: 1.03-3.60, p<0.05). Habit of eating cheeps potatoes at school at abnormal rate was associated with almost three-folded risk for obesity or overweight compared to eating cheeps potatoes within normal (aOR=3.14; 95%CI: 1.17-8.41). School children who had the habit of taking fast foods at least three times/week were more likely to develop obesity or overweight compared to those who did not take fast foods (aOR=1.98; 95%CI:1.08-6.30). Conclusions: Overweight and obesity among primary school children in Taif city, Saudi Arabia is a public health problem affecting more than one-third of girls and almost one fifth of boys. It confirms the significant association between some unhealthy dietary habits and increase prevalence of childhood obesity.


Author(s):  
Beata Matusek

The presented publication is the result of qualitative research on the ideas of professions carried out among third-grade students of primary school. The subject is of interest to researchers all over the world. The aim of the research was to check how third-grade students imagine professional work in general and how they imagine the work of people in particular occupations. The main problem that included specific problems was the question: What are the ideas of the professions of third-year primary school students? The research results show a positive image of professional work of third-grade students. They are able to identify their own interests, see the practical side of their professional work (obtaining the means necessary for living), understand the work as a service to other people (they associate the profession with the responsible work of a firefighter, policeman, teacher, doctor, secretary),they also have general knowledge about the work of their parents, correctly associate objects (props) with professions, know the names of the professions and they are able to indicate the features of a good and bad employee. The publication is supplemented with works by third-grade students presenting work in various professions.


2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 229-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elise C. Brown ◽  
Duncan S. Buchan ◽  
Jonathan Cavana ◽  
Julien S. Baker ◽  
Frank B. Wyatt ◽  
...  

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