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Effectiveness of a School Based Intervention for Prevention of Non-communicable Diseases in Middle School Children of Rural North India: A Randomized Controlled Trial

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Abstract

Objective

To assess the effectiveness of a multi-component school based intervention in improving knowledge and behavioral practices regarding diet, physical activity and tobacco use in middle schoolchildren of rural-Ballabgarh, North-India.

Methods

A total of 40 middle schools were grouped into two, based on geographic proximity and randomly assigned to the intervention or control group in a cluster randomized controlled trial. The target population consisted of 2,348 children studying in 6th and 7th grades in these schools. The intervention consisted of a school component (policies), a classroom component (activities) and a family component [Information Education & Communication (IEC) material]. The main outcome measures were knowledge and behavioral changes in physical activity, diet and tobacco which were self- reported.

Results

Post-intervention, a significant number of intervention schools adopted the tobacco policy (16/19), physical activity policy (6/19) and healthy food policy (14/19) as compared to the control schools (n = 21). Knowledge about physical activity, diet and tobacco improved significantly in the intervention group as compared to the control group. Proportion of students attending Physical Training (PT) classes for five or more days in a week in the intervention group compared to the control group increased significantly (17.8 %; p < 0.01). Proportion of students consuming fruits increased in the intervention group compared to the control group (10 %; p < 0.01). Pre-post decrease in the prevalence of current smoking was significantly more in the intervention group as compared to the control group (7.7 %; p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Healthy settings approach for schools is feasible and effective in improving knowledge and behavioral practices of non-communicable diseases (NCD) risk factors in adolescents in rural India.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank all the students and teachers of various middle schools in the region and the school administration for their cooperation in carrying out the intervention.

Contributions

The study was conceptualized by AK, SKG, BN, DSS, CSP and SKK. Subjects were enrolled by DSS under supervision of AK, SKG and BN. Implementation of the intervention was done under the guidance of AK, SKG, BN, CSP, SKP, SKK. Data was analysed by DSS. All authors contributed to the manuscript. AK will act as guarantor for this paper.

Conflict of Interest

None.

Source of Funding

All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Community Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India

    Deepika Singh Saraf, Sanjeev Kumar Gupta, Chandrakant S. Pandav, Baridalyne Nongkinrih & Anand Krishnan

  2. Department of Community Medicine, St. Stephens Hospital, Tis Hazari, New Delhi, India

    Suresh Kumar Kapoor

  3. Department of Community Medicine, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India

    Shishir Kumar Pradhan

Authors
  1. Deepika Singh Saraf
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  2. Sanjeev Kumar Gupta
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  3. Chandrakant S. Pandav
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  4. Baridalyne Nongkinrih
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  5. Suresh Kumar Kapoor
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  6. Shishir Kumar Pradhan
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  7. Anand Krishnan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Deepika Singh Saraf.

Additional information

Trial registration agency: Clinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI)

Trial registration number: CTRI/2012/08/002882

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Saraf, D.S., Gupta, S.K., Pandav, C.S. et al. Effectiveness of a School Based Intervention for Prevention of Non-communicable Diseases in Middle School Children of Rural North India: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Indian J Pediatr 82, 354–362 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-014-1562-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-014-1562-9

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