Health Status of Primary School Children: Study in Rural Areas of Lucknow

Children are open to a variety of influences. The most important influence comes from their homes and communities. Health values, attitudes and behaviours are shaped from the early childhood years. School is defined as an educational institution where groups of students pursue their studies at defined levels, receive instructions from one or better qualified teachers. It is estimated that every third child has some sign if ill health manifesting in the form of dental, visual and hearing problems, nutritional deficiencies, respiratory infections, skin disorders, loco-motor disabilities etc. Methods: The present study was a school based descriptive cross-sectional study. The study was conducted in selected primary schools at Sarojini Nagar, Lucknow. The sample consist of 150 preschool children. the samples were selected by non- probability convenient sampling technique. The data was analyzed and inferences were drawn. Results: The study revealed that majority of the boys (55.05%) were normal weight and (25.8%) were underweight, were as 44.3% of girls were normal weight and 24.6% were underweight. 14.6% boys and 16.3% of girls had dental caries, 10.1% of boys and 11.4% girls had refractive errors, 17.9% of boys and 27.8% of girls had upper respiratory infections, 23.6% of boys and 27.8% of girls had pallor, 35.9% of boys and 39.3% of girls had pediculosis. Conclusion: The study concluded that the school health education should mainly target at these problems with special focus on good nutrition, personal hygiene care of pediculosis should be emphasized.