TMSS Medical College Journal

Background: The morbidity patterns and growth/nutritional status of school children need to be detected and corrected in early childhood for a healthy and economically productive future generation. Objective: The study was conducted to assess the health problems and growth status of primary school children in an upazilla of Bangladesh. Materials and Methods: This school-based cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in October 2022 in selected primary schools of Akkelpur upazila of Jaipurhat district. A purposive sampling technique was adopted for selecting respondents from third to fifth standard. The total number of students was N-537 and who were present during data collection were included in the study (n 410). Data was collected by face-to-face interview by a pre- designed, pre-tested, and structured questionnaire. Results: In this study the response rate was 76% Among 410 respondents, 52% were girls and 48% were boys; 51% were in 9-10 years, (38%) were in 11-12 years and 24.6 % were in 12+ year age group. 29% of them were in class III, 36% in IV and 35% in V . 39%, of their monthly family income was 10,001-20,000 taka, 21% income was 20,001-30,000 taka and 20% income was <10,000 taka . Respondents ‘mothers’ education was up to class V 34% and SSC 32%. The common health problems were fever, cough and cold 36%; redness and watering of eyes 28%, lice infestation 28%, toothache 21%, bleeding with ulceration of gum 16%: joint pain 15%, ear ache 10%, diarrhoea 9%; fever with difficulty in breathing /asthma 8% and ulceration of tongue 6%. Among 410 respondents 76% were undernourished, 23% were in normal weight and only < 1% were in over weight and obese category. Conclusion: Our study identified that one student suffered from more than one health problems and almost more than three quarters (76%) were underweight. Proper education and creation of awareness amongst the school children and their families about prevention and control of health problems and under nutrition is necessary.

Children are the capital of any nation because they are one of the population's essential segments. School is a centre that plays an essential role in children's physical, social, mental, and emotional development.' School-age is the active growing phase of childhood especially primary school age is a dynamic period of physical growth and mental development of a child.? One of the major problems faced by school children is different types of infections. Repeated infections are mainly responsible for poor health of children specially between 6-11 years in primary school children. The situation gets worse in rural community with poor socio-economic conditions and compromised living situations. The common problems seen in this age group are malnutrition, vitamin A deficiency, dental caries, upper respiratory tract infection and anaemia. Childhood disease and disorder is defined as any illness, impairment, or abnormal condition that affects primarily infants and children that is those in the age span that begins with the fetus and extends through adolescence.* Malnutrition due to deficiency or excess or imbalance of nutrients is putting children at high risk of early development of chronic diseases and growth retardation.’ Nowadays under nutrition remains a major public health concern affecting children in developing country.