10 School Health Services

Learning Objectives
After completing this
chapter, the learner will be able to:
.Define School Health Services
.Describe the Aims and Objectives of School Health
Services
Discuss the Importance of School Health Services
Describe the Philosophy of School Health Services
Describe the Principles of School Health Services
Discuss the Common Health
Problems of School Children
Discuss the Behavior Problem of School Children
Explain in Briefly about Components/Activities/Aspects of School Health Programme
Explain the Nurses' Role in School Heath Programme.

Keywords
School health: School health refers to a state of complete physical, mental social and spiritual
well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity among pupils, teachers and other
school personnel
School health programme: The school procedures that contribute to the maintenance and
improvement of the health of pupils and school personnel including health services heaithful
living and health education
School health services: A service concerned with the early detection of health and social
problems in schoolchildren and their subsequent treatment and surveillance.

INTRODUCTION
than anywhere else except home. Schools
OChool health: Child spends more time at school
dn have a major effect on children's health. Schools can teach children about health,
education classes give children a chance to get
apromote healthy behaviors. Physical
exercise.
188 The Short Textbook of Community Health Nursing (Volume I)

Schools work to
Prevent risky behaviors such as alcohol and tobacco use, or bullying

Encourage healthy habits like exercise

and healthy eating
Deal with specific health problems in students, such as asthma, obesity and infecti
tiou
diseases.
The school building and environment should be a safe and healthy place for your child
School health service is the most important aspect (branch) of community health, It i
possible to increase future generations through school heath service. This is special healts
welfare of school children.
service, which includes complete health care and

SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES

The school health services were taken after the Bhore committee report in 1946 that schol
health services are nonexistent and where they existed they were in an under developed
state.
In 1953 secondary education committee emphasized the need for medical examination
of pupils and school feeding programmes.
In 1960 school health committee constituted by government of India suggested ways
and means to improve nutrition of school children and suggested comprehensive school
health services, which should be part of general health services of the community.
During five year plans in school health services, midday meal programme was
included.

Definition
School: School is defined as an educational institution where groups of pupils pursue
defined-studies at defined levels, receive instructions from one or more teachers, frequenty
interact with other officers and employees such as principal, various supervisors/instructo
maintenance staff usually housed in a single building.
School health: School health refers to a state of
complete physical, mental social and spiritual well-being
and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity among
pupils, teachers and other school personnel
School Health Programme is defined as 'the school
procedures that contribute to the maintenance and
improvement of the health of pupils and school personnel
including health services healthful living and health
education'.

School Health Services: "School Health services refers to

need based comprehensive services rendered to pupils,
teachers and other personnel in the school to promote
and their health, prevent and control diseases and
protect
maintain their health."
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School Health Services

DURPOSE OF THE SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAMME

PU

The primary purpose of the School Health Services Programme is to promote the physical
and emotional health of students and staff thereby maximizing the educational process.
School Health Services are intended to play an integral part in support of the health care
TOvided
pro by parents; indeed, the School Nurse often serves as the students vital link to
medical and other community resources.

COMMON HEALTH PROBLEMS OF THE SCHOOL CHILDREN

countries is very high. Health

The prevalence of morbidity conditions in developing
in India revealed the prevalence of more or less
surveys conducted in various schools
similar conditions which are as under:
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190 The Short Textbook of Community

calories malnutrition,
vitamin deficiencies, etc.
Malnutrition: Anemia, protein bad odor, irregular teeth, etc.
Dental problems: Dental caries, bleeding gums,
diarrheal diseases, constipation, etc.
Gastrointestinal: Intestinal parasites,
dermatitis, pigmentation, depigmentation. eh
etc.
Skin conditions: Scabies, lice,
eczema,
etc.
defects, squint, conjunctivitis, dryness,
Eye diseases: Refracting asthma, etc.
Respiratory: Tuberculosis, pneunmonia,
inattentiveness, headache, congenital heart problemo
s,
O t h e r s : Tiredness, defective postures,
urinary infection, etc.

CHILDREN: MAY BE CLASSIFIED

BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS OF SCHOOL

Antisocial problem: Stealing, lying, and gambling, cruelly, sexual offences, destrue
tiveness.
Habit disorder: Thumbsucking, nail biting, bedwetting, masturbation.
Personality disorder: Jealousy, temper tantrums, timidity, shyness, daydreamug
fears andanxiety, unsociability, hysterical manifestations.
Psychosomatic complaints: Tremors, headache, asthma, depression, delusi
hallucination.
Educational difficulties: Backwardness in studies, school phobia, school failures, et
to
Some of the behavioral disorders are due to mental deficiency; some are due
ent
organic disease and some due to failure in adjustment to external environmenar
etter
The answer to this problems lie in the
improvement of living conditions De
social environment and education.
 School Health Services 191
IMPO nORTANCE/NEED OF SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES OR
SC
CHOOL HEALTH SERVICES REASONS FOR GIVING
of India has
Government of)
overnment given an important place to
school healt services in five year
for following
plan and 20 point
rammes,
points/reasons can prove
#he necessityand
inmportance of school health services:
. School involves a large number of of
children between 5-14 of
groups
years age
.This period of 5-14 years is the period of
and development
growth
There is arapid growth in physical, mental,
emotional changes occur
It provides an
oportunity for the nurse to supervise and provide guidance, whenever
they require
The children's are more susceptible to nutritional
problems, communicable diseases
School health provides an opportunity to identify such diseases at earlier stage
This school population is in easy reach, so it is
easy to implement and assess health
problem among them
School is the best place to provide health education and moulding the attitude and
practice of children.
 To prevent and control communicable diseases
To promote school health so that children may develop favorable attitude towards
health.

OBJECTIVES OF SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES

Promotion of
positive health

Prevention and control

of communicable diseases

Early diagnosis,
treatment and follow-up
of defects
Awakening health
consciousness in children
Provision of healthful
environment

PRINCIPLES OF SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES

School health services should

Be based on health needs of school children
Be well-planned in coordination with school, health personnel, parents and communy
people
Be part of community health services
Emphasize on promotive and preventive aspects
Emphasize on health education to promote, protect, improve and maintain healt
children and staff. Rather, health education should be integrated in regular scno
curriculum
 School Health Services
hasize on learning through active 193
and
an ongoing and
continuous program desirable participation
Jave an effective system of record
keeping and reporting.
ECHOOL HEALTH TEAM

The school health team consists of:

The school principal
. The school teacher
The parents
The community
.The children
The medical officer
.The school health nurse/community
health nurse.

cOMPONENTS/ASPECTS/ACTIVITIES OF SCHOOL HEALTH PROGRAMME

The aims and objectives can be achieved by implementing various activities. These are as
follows:
Health appraisal
Treatment and follow-up
Immunisation
First aid
Health education
Mental health
Dental health
Eye health services
Healthful school environment
School health records.
1. Health apprai[al

,199
11. Scho6I |

Health record of each student

must be maintained properly
Health record should contain:
Name, date of birth and address
Past health histopry
examination and screening.
Record of findings of physical
Record of services provided.
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200 The Short Textbook of Community
ROLE OF THE SCHOOL HEALTH NURSE/COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSE R
PROGRAMME
NURSES ROLE IN SCHOOL HEALTH

General physical
examination

ldentify
abnormalities/def-
Health records ects/diseases

School Health education

environment

Nurses o e in school
health ogramme

Periodic visit
First aid services

Immunisation
records

The community health nurse must perform following work for school in rural areas:
General physical examination: School health nurse to conduct general physici
examination of children, which includes head to foot examination (inspection
checking of ht, wt, teeth, testing of vision, hearing and other tests, etc. and recordingu
these observation before medical examination.
Identify any abnormalities/defects/diseases: School health nurse identify and treatan
abnormalities/defects/diseases as early as possible and do the necessary referrala
follow-up.
Health education: Health education of children, their parents and teachers regarau
Maintenance of personal hygiene
Growth and development
Prevention of communicable diseases
-Balanced diet and good nutrition, etc.
First aid services: Provide first aid services and emergency care ftor
injury O and
Periodic visit: Periodic visit with her team for medical check-up, follow-up
immunisation programme.
Immunisation records: Proper record of all immunisations should be maintained and
this should be given to child, when the child leaves the school.
School environment: Examination of school environment, identify safety hazards and
report to the authority.
Health records: Health record of each student must be maintained properly.
Health record should contain:
Name, date of birth and address
Past health history
Record of findings of physical examination and screening
Record of services provided.