Assessment of an Educational Intervention to Improve Healthy Life Habits in Children Living in Vulnerable Socioeconomic Conditions

María López, Irene Alcoceba, María-José Castro, María-José Cao, Sara García, Manuel Frutos and José-María Jiménez
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María López: Nursing Faculty, University of Valladolid, 47005 Valladolid, Spain
Irene Alcoceba: Nursing Faculty, University of Valladolid, 47005 Valladolid, Spain
María-José Castro: Nursing Faculty, University of Valladolid, 47005 Valladolid, Spain
María-José Cao: Nursing Faculty, University of Valladolid, 47005 Valladolid, Spain
Sara García: Nursing Faculty, University of Valladolid, 47005 Valladolid, Spain
Manuel Frutos: Nursing Faculty, University of Valladolid, 47005 Valladolid, Spain
José-María Jiménez: Nursing Faculty, University of Valladolid, 47005 Valladolid, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 9, 1-11

Abstract: Nutritional condition impacts academic performance and cognitive development. In Peru, the prevalence of chronic undernutrition in children is 6.9%, increasing the risk of mortality and morbidity. This study aimed to develop an educational intervention to achieve an improvement in the healthy habits of children in a primary education school in Lima who live in vulnerable socioeconomic conditions. We conducted a prospective quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test study of an educational intervention. The information was collected through the adaptation of the WHO questionnaire “Global School-based Student Health Survey” (GSHS), with anthropometric variables, socioeconomic level, hygiene and eating habits. One hundred eight students from 5 to 13 years old from Arenitas del Mar School in Lima (Peru) participated. The educational intervention improved eating habits. Fruit and vegetable consumption 3 or more times/day (50.9%) increased after the educational intervention (49% vs. 62.9%,) p < 0.0001. There was an improvement in hygiene habits, such as the frequency of handwashing with soap (32.4% vs. 63.9%) and the frequency of weekly bathing 4–6 times/week (25% vs. 47.5%) p < 0.0001. The educational intervention promoted better healthy living behaviors, eating habits and hygiene. This kind of initiative is a crucial tool to establish healthy living habits.

Keywords: health education; schools; lifestyle; hygiene; nursing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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