Lifestyle of Saudi girls

and the Impact

of Health Promoting Schools

Dr.Sulieman Nasser Al-Shehri

MD, PhD, MPH,DCH

Health Promoting School (HPS) is the school where all its members work together to provide students with integrated and positive experiences and structure which promote and protect their health . This includes the formal and the informal curriculae in health ,the provision of a safe and healthy school environment , the provision of appropriate health services and the involvement of the family and community in efforts to promote health .

Health Promoting Schools

The concept of Health Promoting School (HPS) is international in its development , with many countries around the world implementing programs which support schools and their communities in better health actions ,It complements the WHO school health initiative , which provides an impetus for mobilizing and strengthening school health promotion and education activities at local ,national , regional and global levels .

Health Promoting Schools

Why we focus on students ?

Students represent about 25 % of population allover the world .

The students usually spend several hours of their day in schools , during which many health messages can be offered to them.

The students can transfer their knowledge and skills to their colleagues as well as their families and communities .

Why the School Promoting School Program ?

The program aims at making «Everyone is working for better health », and promote this concept in all ways and practices.

Involve all the school and community members in health promotion efforts.

Provide a model for the preservation of the environment , nutrition support, the application of safety systems, and encourages physical activities.

Why the School Promoting School Program ?

Take the initiative to promote mental and emotional health.

Develop life skills of students , giving them a sense of responsibility, self-confidence, and appreciation of their efforts and achievements .

Accordingly , the Ministry of Education, adopted this program in its 10 years plan.

To explore lifestyle of HPS and non-HPS students.

To assess the effect of (HPS) program on the students lifestyle.

To come up with recommendations for HPS program implementation to MOE .

Objectives

The study sample was :Third year intermediate and third year secondary girl students studying in Health Promoting Schools (HPS) and non- (HPS) as a control group, and who spent three years at the same school

Education departments (ED) : Riyadh, Jeddah, Medina, Mecca , Dammam and Qasuim

Students were proportionally allocated according to the number of schools implementing the (HPS) program in the ED using the cluster sampling method .

Methodology

Number of students in sample size

Response rate was 83%

Students were asked to answer questions about their dietary pattern , health habits , physical activities and behavior after providing a parent consent to participate in the study.

Statistical analysis was carried out using Statistical Epi-Info program version 3.4.3 (2007) , frequency and proportions were used to analyze the data where P value of <0.05 was considered significant.

Methodology (cont..)

Results

State of School Environment

Clean sufficient W.C.s Clean drinking water

fire extinguishers rodents and /or insects

HPS non-HPS

State of School environment

Presence

Students according to BMI Percentiles

Obese Over weight Normal weight Under weight

Students according to BMI Percentiles

Non- Health promoting schools

Health promoting schools Overweight and

obesity 26.4% 21.5%

N.B

Students according to Breakfast intakeNot-taking Sometimes Daily

HPS non-HPS

Students according to Breakfast intake

Students according to type of food consumption

Fresh f. juices Fresh fruits Fresh vegetables. Dates Milk

DatesStudents

according to type of food consumption

Fast meals Energy drinks Carbonated drinks

Sweets

Students according to type of food consumption

Students according to type of food consumption

Fast foods

Student personal hygiene

HPS non- HPS

washing hair 3 or more / week Bathing 3 or more / week

Use of Swak daily

Teeth brushing daily

Student personal hygiene

Student physical activity

S Screen time more than 2 h. daily Reading for more than 2h. daily Practicing walking sport daily Practicing physical activity daily

HPS non-HPS

Student physical activity

Time spent in Watching T.V. or video or computer ( screen time)

Student Behavior

HPS non- HPS

Follow traffic lights Follow Pedestrian crossing signs

Bullying by other students Insult by teachers

Student Behavior

Recommendations

The findings of the present study indicated that the implementation of (HPS) program had an evident impact on the lifestyle of students .So, we suggest many recommendations : Raise the efficiency and

effectiveness of school health programs specially the Health Promoting School Program to promote skills and behavior of students .

The coordination of school health, and relevant departments of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, and all relevant sectors to develop this program and the rationalization of efforts and resources.

.

Providing the means of health education in all units, especially in the sub-units regarding dietary pattern , physical activity .

Develop the skills of health workers to ensure the school to raise the level of physical and psychic school environment .

Promote the education personnel to develop their health knowledge and skills, and activate their participation in(HPS) programs.

Support and dissemination of ( health supervisor program) whose idea is to train one teacher in each school to carry out health surveillance, and to be responsible for the activation of the preventive aspect of the school health.

Increasing focus on teachers and students about the importance of physical education and physical activity as a considered way of life and behavior of life-long, .

Thank you