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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Assessing the Impact of Health Education on Physical Measurements of Children in Bangladesh: A Non-Randomized
Aivey Sadia Alam1, Rahman Md Moshiur1, Ahmed Ashir1,2
1Hiroshima University, Japan.
Insights
Health education improved children's physical measurements in Bangladesh. School nurse-led programs enhanced height, weight, and BMI, while lowering systolic blood pressure, indicating better child health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Public Health Interventions
- Health Education
Background:
- Children in Bangladesh face significant health threats due to disease vulnerability and inequitable healthcare access.
- Regular physical measurements and healthcare resources are inconsistently available to children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of health education on the physical measurements of school-aged children in Bangladesh.
- To assess changes in vital signs, anthropometric measurements, and vision screening post-intervention.
Main Methods:
- A non-randomized controlled trial with a pre- and post-test design was conducted over 9 months.
- School-aged children were divided into an intervention group (receiving health education) and a control group.
- Data collected included questionnaires, vital signs, height, weight, BMI, mid-upper arm circumference, skinfolds, vision screening, and blood tests.
Main Results:
- Children in the intervention group showed statistically significant increases in height, weight, BMI, mid-upper arm circumference, and skinfolds compared to the control group (P < .001).
- Systolic blood pressure was significantly lower in the intervention group (P = .023), while diastolic blood pressure showed no significant difference (P = .120).
Conclusions:
- School nurse-based health education and regular physical assessments can effectively address children's health challenges.
- Sustainable school health initiatives require continuous monitoring and engagement with parents, teachers, and local health authorities to ensure long-term benefits.
Abstract:
Children remain vulnerable to several diseases posing a significant threat to their lives, while inequitable access to regular physical measurement, healthcare services and resources is unsteady. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the physical measurements and effects of health education on changes in the physical measurements of children in Bangladesh. A non-randomized controlled trial and pre- and post-test design, conducted in Chandpur, Bangladesh, from September 2021 to September 2022. The school-aged children were enrolled and allocated into the intervention group (IG) and control group (CG), while the IG received 9 months of school nurse-based health education. Data were collected by a questionnaire and physical measurements such as vital signs, height, weight, body mass index, mid-upper arm circumference measurement, triceps and subscapular skinfold, vision screen, and blood test. A total of 455 children completed the study. Among them, 107 (53.2%) and 94 (46.8%) were 7 to 8 years old in IG and CG, respectively. In IG, 140 (53.2%) and in CG 123 (46.8%) children were female. Since several physical assessments differed at baseline, repeated measures ANCOVA was performed with endline data as the dependent variable, group as a fixed factor, and baseline data as a covariate. The mean of the participants' body height, weight, BMI, MUAC and skinfolds were greater among IG than the CG, which were statistically significant (P < .001). Systolic blood pressure was significantly lower in the IG than in the CG (P = .023), while diastolic blood pressure did not differ significantly (P = .120). Integrating regular physical assessments and evidence-based health education by school nurses can reduce health challenges. For the sustainability of school-based health initiatives, establishing a continuous monitoring system and engaging parents, teachers, and local health authorities is needed to assess whether these health benefits persist over time.
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