ASSESSING HEALTH PROMOTION ACTIVITIES THROUGH SCHOOL HEAD MASTER’S PERSPECTIVES: CROSS SECTIONAL DESCRIPTIVE STUDY OF CBSE SCHOOLS IN INDIA.

*Dr. Vikram Niranjan, MSc DPH, DDPH, BDS and Dr. Ana Gamboa, Ph.D.

ABSTRACT

Purpose: With the advent of Health Promoting Schools (HPS) concept worldwide, theoretical framework of HPS is observed with CBSE schools of India since 2007. This study aimed to describe current general & oral health promotion activities/policies in CBSE schools of Maharashtra state. Considering socio-economic and geographic differences, it is hypothesised that private CBSE schools are more likely to report health promoting activities (HPA). Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted with school headmasters of all public and private CBSE Schools in Maharashtra State (n =156). A validated postal questionnaire addressing socio-demographic characteristics, HPS components - physical environment; school health policies; health services; personal health skills; social environment; community relationships; nutrition services, health promotion for staff, oral health promotion and action plan was used. A pilot study was conducted in 15 CBSE schools of two neighbouring States. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and Chi-square test. The level of significance was set at 5%. Results: The response rate was 77.56% (N=121), including 32 (74.41%) public and 89 (78.76%) private CBSE schools. Action plan of HPS was present in 57.9% (70) schools and oral health education was 100% (121). Statistically significant (P value ≤ 0.05) difference noted among public and private schools for family income, school health policies for substance abuse, healthy tuck shop and food availability. Conclusions: The socio-economic and demographic aspects cause HPA implementation difference among public and private CBSE schools which needs attention and further research. Allocating equal HPA programmes is essential to address such disparity.

Keywords: School health, Health promotion, Health education, Oral health, Prevention, Health promoting schools.