Classroom-embedded two-phase add-on program for fall-injury prevention in rural primary schools

Area of Science:

• Pediatric injury prevention
• Public health interventions
• Motor control and development

Background:

• Falls are a significant cause of injury in rural Chinese children.
• Existing health education programs may not adequately address fall prevention.
• A novel approach integrating behavioral science and physical training is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a classroom-embedded, two-phase program for fall injury prevention in rural primary schoolchildren.
• To assess the program's impact on fall-related injuries and balance performance.
• To integrate Health Belief Model (HBM) principles with supervised balance training.

Main Methods:

• A controlled, before-and-after evaluation was conducted in two rural schools.
• The intervention group received 12 months of HBM-guided education and 6 months of balance training.
• Fall-related injury rates, injury proportions, and balance metrics were compared between groups using difference-in-differences analysis.

Main Results:

• The intervention significantly reduced the rate of fall-related injuries (IRR 0.54).
• Balance performance improved in the intervention group, evidenced by increased eyes-closed marching-in-place time and one-leg standing duration.
• No significant difference was found in the proportion of students experiencing at least one fall-related injury.

Conclusions:

• A 12-month, classroom-embedded program integrating HBM education and balance training is effective in reducing fall injury rates.
• The program demonstrated improvements in key balance metrics among primary schoolchildren.
• This intervention offers a promising strategy for pediatric injury prevention in similar settings.