Sanitary and Epidemiologic Wellbeing and Health of School Children in Modern Conditions

Inadequate physical activity, eating disorders, irrational factors of the educational environmentand a poor motivation for a healthy lifestyle are often observed among youngsters and act as their health risk factors. Atthe present stage, they hamper ensuring optimal living conditions and achieving better health of schoolchildren and requirea new approach to solving the tasks. The objective of the study was to assess provision of sanitary and epidemiologicwellbeing at schools and health of schoolchildren to substantiate priorities for management decision making. Materialsand methods: The study was conducted in two comprehensive schools of the city of Penza and involved 2,672 childrenand 720 parents. We used sanitary, hygienic, physiological, sociological, and statistical methods of research. Results: Thelevel of sanitary and epidemiologic wellbeing in the experimental school with an up-to-date model of hygienic educationand development of a healthy lifestyle integrated in the educational process where students have the opportunity toreceive health-improving and rehabilitation medical care, was significantly higher than in the control one. Introductionof the new model of upbringing and functioning of the department for disease prevention and rehabilitation contributedto an increase in students’ motivation for a healthy lifestyle and skill consolidation in the behavior of youngsters asconfirmed by a larger proportion of such students in the experimental school compared with the control one (75–89%against 50–74%, respectively; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Implementation of management decisions including the upgrade ofthe system of hygiene education, creation of a healthy lifestyle of students, and organization of the department for diseaseprevention and rehabilitation on the basis of the educational establishment had a positive effect on students’ health.