Research of socioeconomic status and school-based health screening results of study with children after two years of COVID-19 pandemic

Year 2022, Volume: 5 Issue: 4, 1002 - 1008, 20.07.2022

Ufuk Ünlü , Nagihan Yıldız Çeltek , Elif Erdoğdu Ceylan , Osman Demir

https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1100294

Abstract

Aim: Schools are the most effective environments for health screenings for children and adolescents. The aim of school health screenings is to contribute to the protection and maintenance of children's health status by early diagnosis and treatment of diseases. We aimed to reveal the health screening findings of children whose lifestyles changed during the pandemic period, and to compare according to socioeconomic status.
Material and Method: Students from three different schools which were grouped as low, middle and high socioeconomic status were included. Hearing test, visual acuity examination, orthopedic examination, blood pressure measurements, height, weight and anthropometric measurements were performed. Descriptive statistical methods were used in the evaluation of the data.
Results: 1322 students with parental consent were included in our study. 667 (50.5%) of the students were female, mean age was 11.4±1.1, and mean body mass index score was 19.6±4.0. When body mass index scores were evaluated, 202 (15.3%) students were overweight and 189 (14.3%) were obese. Visual acuity defect was found in 257 (19.4%) of the students and hearing loss in 309 (23.4%). As a result of orthopedic examination and blood pressure measurements, 67 (5.1%) scoliosis and 131 (9.9%) high blood pressure were determined. The rate of hypertension was found to be significantly higher in school students with high socioeconomic status compared to the others (p<0.001).
Conclusion: The health problems detected at a high rate in our study emphasize the importance and necessity of school health screening practices. We would like to emphasize the importance of health screenings especially for children and adolescent age groups and the need for studies with broad participation and screening of many parameters.

Keywords

Child health, health, schools, socioeconomic factors

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