AN ANALYSIS OF HEALTH PROBLEMS OF PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN CUDDALORE DISTRICT OF TAMIL NADU

This study investigates the health problems faced by primary school children in selected schools of Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu. Based on primary data collected from 313 students across eight Panchayat Union Primary Schools using simple random sampling, the findings reveal that common illnesses such as anaemia (25 cases), fever (20), cold (20), stomach pain (20), and skin infections (15) are widely prevalent, particularly in schools like PUPS Thotti and PUPS Thittagudi. The direct costs included medical fees, medicines, and diagnostic tests, while indirect costs involved travel expenses and parental wage losses. The study highlights that poor hygiene, malnutrition, and lack of access to basic healthcare are major contributors to these health issues. It concludes that strengthening school-level health interventions, especially anaemia prevention and regular medical check-ups, can significantly improve child health and reduce the financial burden on families.