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Survey of schoolchildren to help plan health policies

Dubai — Thousands of schoolchildren are taking part in a global survey that will provide data on their health behaviour and will help formulate adolescent health programmes in the country.

This is the second time the UAE Global School Health Survey is being implemented in the UAE with the support of the World Health Organisation and US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

The previous survey held in 2005 had found risk-taking behaviour of youth to be alarming. While the sedentary lifestyle was found to be a major challenge, wide socio-cultural differences were found to have weakened role of the family. Children accepted they were suffering from mental problems and were involved in physical fights occasionally. Tobacco use and smoking too was found to be highly prevalent among the youth. Based on these results, the health ministry developed a number of programmes targeting youth.

“School health programmes aim at promoting the health of students and preventing diseases through early detection, promoting health awareness and providing healthy and safe school environment,” said Dr Mariam Al Matroushi, Director of Central School Health Department at the Ministry of Health, which is spearheading the programme in coordination with health authorities in other emirates.

“Promoting student awareness and adoption of healthy lifestyles are considered one of the main objectives of school health programme,” she said.

Students are being asked questions ranging from their daily eating habits to tobacco use and whether they have been physically assaulted recently. Their knowledge on violence and injury is also being probed as well as their mental health. Alcohol and drug use, and knowledge of HIV/AIDs is also being assessed.

In 2005 — the last time when the survey was carried out — some 15,790 students in 194 government and private schools from grades 7 to 10 (aged 13-15 years) were asked a set of 80 questions.

As per the survey, 33.6 per cent of the students were either overweight or at risk of becoming overweight.

Overall, 38.8 per cent of the students spent three or more hours per day doing sitting activities during a typical or usual day. Around 31.9 per cent of the students were physically attacked one or more times.

Overall, 43.2 per cent of the students were involved in physical fights one or more times during the past 12 months. Thirteen per cent of the students seriously considered attempting suicide and 9.8 per cent worked out a plan on how to attempt suicide.

Compared to female students, males are significantly more likely to smoke or use tobacco.

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com