Health Among Schoolchildren From the School Nurse's Perspective

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pediatrics
• School Health

Background:

• School nurses play a crucial role in monitoring and promoting child health.
• Understanding variations in perceived child health is vital for targeted interventions.
• Previous data collection methods may not adequately capture regional disparities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate Swedish school nurses' perceptions of schoolchildren's physical and mental health.
• To compare these perceptions between high-risk and low-risk areas.
• To identify potential needs for improved data collection and support.

Main Methods:

• The study utilized data from two national surveys of school nurses in Sweden.
• Surveys were conducted in 2005 (n=129) and 2015 (n=181).
• Statistical comparisons were made between high-risk and low-risk areas.

Main Results:

• Schoolchildren's physical and mental health were perceived as worse in high-risk areas compared to low-risk areas.
• No significant gender-based differences were found in spontaneous visits or reasons for consultation in either area type.
• The findings highlight potential regional disparities in child well-being.

Conclusions:

• A national framework for collecting and reporting schoolchildren's health data is recommended.
• This framework can help demonstrate the need for increased support in high-risk areas.
• Targeted health promotion and interprofessional cooperation can improve child health outcomes.