Are our rural adolescents eating healthy?: Implications for redesigning school health interventions – A cross sectional study in rural Coimbatore

Background: Adolescence is a period of transition where independence in thinking and behavior is established and food choices that are made are followed for several years, and this can influence their health in adulthood. Hence, understanding the eating habits are necessary to plan effective nutritional interventions in adolescents. Objectives: The main objective of the study is to find out the extent of malnutrition among rural adolescents as well as evaluate their eating habits against recommended dietary food groups and to compare eating habits across gender and age groups. Methods: A cross-sectional study was done among 1425 adolescents from 13 rural schools from 2014 to 2015, and the variables considered in this study were age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and the eating habits of the adolescents. Results: Undernutrition was seen among 23% and overweight/obesity among 8% of adolescents. The habit of taking milk and milk products, fruits, and green leafy vegetables were very poor among the adolescents. Significant association was found between eating habits and BMI. Furthermore, late adolescents had better eating habits, and significant gender difference was seen in certain eating habits. Conclusions: The study shows that it is possible to understand the gaps in eating habits of adolescents, and this can be used to plan tailor-made nutritional interventions to adolescent groups as their eating habits are different and have long-term nutritional and health implications.

Effectiveness of multi-strategic health screening cum educational intervention model in promoting health of school children in rural Coimbatore

Background: Schools are the best setting for health promotion activities, and in India, for many, the schools are in fact the only nurturing and supportive place where they learn health information and have positive behavior consistently reinforced. Therefore, health promotion addressing the nutrition and personal hygiene habits among school children would improve health of school children and mold them into healthy productive citizens of tomorrow. Objectives: The objective of the study is to find the effectiveness of multi-strategic health screening cum educational intervention model in promoting the health of school children. Methods: A school-based intervention was designed using multi-strategic approach to promote the health of 2500 school children in 13 schools in rural Coimbatore. Logic model was used to plan the intervention, and the approach included health screening, nutrition and personal hygiene assessment and educational intervention in three phases over a period of 1 year. The multi-strategic approach comprised of approach through doctors, teachers, and through peer educators. The effectiveness of the intervention was assessed with improved nutrition and personal hygiene habits, improved body mass index status, and reduction in sickness absenteeism. Results: There was a significant improvement in nutrition and personal hygiene habits among school children. There was also significant reduction in the proportion of underweight category. Furthermore, a slight increase in sickness absenteeism was observed. Conclusion: Our study shows evidently that a multi-strategic health screening cum educational intervention model can be implemented and can be effective in bringing changes in the nutrition and personal hygiene habits thereby promoting the health of school children.

Developing a Learning Need Assessment Tool (LNAT) to Teach Epidemiology for Medical Students.

Background: The Department of Community Medicine of PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research has been training the medical students to become competent community physicians for improving Community Health. Epidemiology is the subject within community medicine which teaches them the principles of medical research. Objective: This study intends to develop a tool to identify the student learning needs in learning Epidemiology and thereby improves their learning by bridging the knowledge and competency gaps through reinforcing sessions and also to measure the learning outcome using the same tool after the reinforcing sessions. What was done?: LNAT was developed using a matrix which lists cognitive domains and practical skills in Epidemiology and the level of understanding and competency were measured using this matrix containing John P Reiling and G.E Millers Framework on assessment of learning. This Learning Need Assessment Tool was administered to 71 students in Final MBBS Part 1 phase over a period of 3 months. Pre and post self-assessment data were analyzed and proportions were calculated. Results: There was student per-ceived improvement in cognitive domains and computing skills in various measurements used in Epidemiology. Conclusion: This LNAT on Epidemiology identified the gaps and also the learning needs of UG medical students through pre test. The Post test enabled the teacher to measure the change in learning need after the completion of reinforcing epidemiology classes using the LNAT.