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.