School health education programs in Cret

ICPHSP1003

“School Health Education Programs in Crete: Evaluation of behavioral and Health Indices a decade after initiation” Click here to download Pdf file.

Authors: Christos M . Hatzis MD.,PhD. , Anthony G. Kafatos MD.,PhD.,Professor Emeritus

Affiliation: Department of Social Medicine, Preventive Medicine and Nutrition Clinic, Medical School, University of Crete.

Abstract:

Prevention of chronic disease should start in childhood since the risk factors related to these disease make their appearance at early ages. The objective of this presentation was to assess the long-term effectiveness of a health education intervention program applied to primary school pupils, 10 years after the initiation of the program. The 6-year-long school-based intervention program was applied to all students (5681) who registered in the first grade of primary school in three counties of Crete ( intervention group : 4171, control group :1510) in 1992. A number of biochemical and behavioral parameters (somatometric measurements, serum lipoproteins, blood pressure, physical activity, dietary record , health habits) were measured in 1046 students from 40 schools randomly selected (602 intervention group and 444 control group ).Re-evaluation of the intervention program was performed at 3, 6 and 10 years after the initiation of the program.

Ten years after the initiation of the program, the results showed that the body mass index (BMI) had increased significantly less (p < 0.001) and performance in the shuttle run test was significantly better (p < 0.001) in the intervention group as compared to the control group. The reduction in total cholesterol (TCHOL) noted in both groups was significantly greater in the intervention group than in the control group (p < 0.00). The LDL-cholesterol decreased significantly in the intervention group, but increased in the control group (p < 0.001). The incidence of smoking was also significantly lower in the intervention group (intervention group : 7% , control group 13% , p < 0.005 ) . This health and nutrition education program appears to improve children’s health and to decrease risk factors for chronic diseases. If these positive effects are maintained in the forthcoming decades , the risk of chronic diseases may well be reduced.

Keywords:

children, health and nutrition education, lipoproteins, anthropometric measurements, fitness.

Reference:

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