ICD-10 health profiling of school-attending children in the field practice area of a medical college in south India: A Cross-sectional study

Background The health of school children is crucial for academic performance and overall well-being, influencing their capacity to learn and thrive. Understanding the health dynamics in school settings can help mitigate long term public health issues. This study aims to ascertain the health status of school children residing in slum areas of an urban locality in the southern part of India using International Classification of Diseases-10 (ICD- 10) codes, which can inform policies and interventions to promote better health outcomes and educational attainment. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted in a school in urban slum of Hyderabad city to evaluate the health status of school children. Data were collected using a standardized proforma, capturing information such as student demographics (name, age, sex, grade), anthropometry and physical examination findings. Results The study encompassed 3,157 children, comprising 1,840 girls (58%) and 1,317 boys (42%), aged between 5 to 16 years. The mean ± SD age of menarche was found to be 13.1 ± 1.2 years. Among the participants, 62.2% reported at least one health-related issue, with dental caries being the most prevalent (38.1%), followed by skin problems (14.3%) and malnutrition (9.4%). Conclusion In this study, health problems were found to be more common in boys compared to girls. More than half of the children were suffering from at least one health-related issue. Regular school health checkups help to identify and prevent health complications.