Review of Related Literature

One article suggests that Health-promoting lifestyle is (HPL) is a major health

concern among adolescents and Family Function (FF) has potential effects on
adolescents' life style and health. It is stated that it consists of six main dimensions:
nutrition, physical activity, health responsibility, stress management, social support, and
life appreciation. "The adolescents spend more time at family and set family members
as role models, then, family is strongly linked to their health and wellbeing". Therefore
the family has a responsibility on the adolescents' lifestyle. (Naeimeh Sarkhani et. al.,
2020)

Health can affect many aspects of a school aged child. One of these aspects is
behavior. As stated in “The Effects of illness and pain on child development” by
Mildmay, Ugunda:

 Being seriously ill during this time can affect independence, causing a sense of
inadequacy.
 Development of poor self esteem if scholastic skills are not mastered.
 The presence and approval of friends are important during this time.
 Most likely, the illness will cause separation from peers, causing distress for the
school-age child.

(Armstrong-Dailey & Zarbock 2001 cited Mildmay U. 2017)

Health also affects a person’s habits, when a person is less likely to practice a
healthy behavior, they are highly likely to develop bad habits. “We find that females
and non-athletes are more likely to be "stressed," and that "stressed" students are less
likely to practice healthy behaviors and are more prone to practice bad habits (e.g.,
eating junk food)”. (Hudd S. S. et al., 2000)

There are many health risk factors especially to children as unsupervised children
tend to get diseases as they grow. As stated in the Millennium Development Goal
(MDG) 4 in the Philippines, “The target for Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 4 is to
reduce the mortality rate of children under 5 years old (under-5 mortality) by two-thirds
between 1990 and 2015”. (“MDG 4: Reduce Childe Morality”, 2015). One example is
immunization, by this we can reduce the spreading rate of viruses and diseases such as
measles, dengue, etc.

Fit for School program was implemented in the Philippines that promotes an
Essential Health Care Package (EHCP) that focuses on the common diseases of children
in schools. (Bella Monse et. al.,2010)

There are many leading causes of diseases in children, one of the common
diseases is Common Childhood Infections. “Infectious diseases like diarrhoea and
respiratory tract infections are among the top three mortality causes in the Philippines
for children below 10 years of age. The Philippine Department of Health (DOH)
estimates that every year 82,000 children die due to pneumonia, diarrhoea and
respiratory tract infections. According to the DOH report, respiratory tract infection,
diarrhoea and influenza are the three leading causes of morbidity for all age groups in
the Philippines”. (Bella Monse et. al.,2010). Proper washing of hands might reduce
infection rate proper washing of hands eliminates germs up to 99.9%.

Another common disease that children get is Soil-transmitted helminth infections

(STH). It refers to intestinal worms that infects humans transmitted through
contaminated soil. Infection rate of STH in schools is 54%. STH infections affects the
nutrition by reduced food intake, mostly due to poor-appetite and malabsorption. (Bella
Monse et. al.,2010). Annual de-worming is recommended by the Integrated Helminth
Control Program to isolate further infections, they recommend de-worming twice yearly
every January and July each year in the school setting.

Untreated Dental Caries is also one of the common diseases among children.
About 85% and 56% of odontogenic infections affect grade I and VI and an average of
9 / 3 decayed theeth. Chronic inflammation from odontogenic infection may affect
metabolic pathways leading to anaemia. The WHO and the FDI World Dental Federation
clearly state that:
 1. Prevention of tooth decay by using fluoride is the most realistic way of reducing
the burden of tooth decay in populations
2. Fluoride toothpaste remains the most widespread and significant form of fluoride
used globally and the most rigorously evaluated vehicle for fluoride use
3. Fluoride toothpaste is safe to use
4. Promoting the use of effective fluoride toothpaste twice a day is strongly
recommended.

(Bella Monse et. al.,2010)