School-Based Health Assessments: Uncovering Prevalent Health Issues to Enhance The Wellbeing Of School Children In Pune

Introduction: Schools play a vital role in promoting children's health through early detection and intervention for issues like undernutrition, obesity, vision and hearing impairments, and dental health. Localized studies in Pune are essential to address region-specific challenges and develop evidence-based strategies for improving child health. This study assessed anthropometric data to estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity and conducted screenings for refractive errors and ENT complaints.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in an urban school in Pune, involving 395 students aged 12-18 years. Standard equipment was used to measure weight and height, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated and plotted on appropriate charts. Vision was assessed using a Snellen chart.Results: Out of the 395 children screened, 305 (51%) were females and 90 (22%) were males. Short stature was observed in 85 children (11.3%), and 122 children (31%) were identified as undernourished. Additionally, 177 children (45%) had undetected refractive errors.Conclusion: The study findings reveal a higher prevalence of undernutrition compared to overweight and obesity among school children in Pune. Moreover, a notable proportion of children had undetected refractive errors. These results underscore the importance of addressing nutritional deficiencies and implementing routine vision screening programs to improve the overall health and well-being of school children.