Health status of school children of costal areas of rural Tamil Nadu (India)

Background: School health programme is the important branch of community health, and economical & powerful means of raising community health of future generations. Objectives: To assess the health status of school children in coastal area and various socioeconomic factors. Methodology: This was a cross sectional study. Results: Majority of children 61% (806) between 3-10 years of age and near equal in both sex, according to religion majority of them were Hindu 68% (906) followed by Muslims 30.58% (408). Majority of children 66.5 % (887) were studying in government school, in private school male children 37.54 % (250) were higher than female 29.50 % (197). During the survey common complaint was upper respiratory tract infection 40 %(531) followed by fever 33.40 % (445). Vitamin A deficiency were common 5.2 % (70) among school children followed by Vitamin C 4.6 %(62) and Vitamin B 4.4 % (59). Percentage of underweight was higher in Govt. School children 81% in compare to private school children 67.56% in contrast over weight percentage was higher in private school 9.4% in compare to Govt. School 2.25%. Most common problem among students were dental caries 44.3 % (591) followed by respiratory and ear problems 23.40 %(312) and 17.90 %(239) respectively. 8.80% of students had refractive error in the time of survey. Diarrhoea and respiratory infection were significantly higher among government school children in compare to private school, vitamin A; B and D were significantly higher among female students in compare to male. Conclusion: In the present study observed that preference was given to MALE CHILD to study in private SCHOOL, upper respiratory tract infection common among school children, Underweight common in government schools than private school, overweight common in private schools, personal hygiene is poor among government school, caries commoner in government schools than private. On the basis of present study finding further study to be planned with laboratory investigation support to further confirmation and diagnosis.