ABSTRACT

Jalmasco, Cindy D., Jaucian, Maria Theresa P., Nuiiez, Flourince N., Supelana, Shannon Mae B. “HEALTH PROMOTION PRACTICES AMONG GRADE 6 PUPILS OF DAP-DAP ELEMENTARY SCHOOL” (An Undergraduate Thesis, Aquinas University College of Health Sciences, Rawis, Legazpi City, SY 2013 — 2014)

This research focused on health promotion practices among early adolescents. Assessing their health promotion practices along physical activity, lifestyle, and emotional and social aspects; problems they encountered regarding health promotion practices; and the measures that can be proposed to enhance their health promotion practices. Adolescence is a very important period in one’s life, a transitional period from dependent childhood to independent adulthood. In this period maturity develops. Changes occur such as the body, emotion, values, attitude, behavior, interpersonal relationship, freedom, and responsibility. In this stage, health problems may be detected at an early age so they can be treated early as well. Adolescents should also be oriented and knowledgeable about positive health practices to maintain a state of well-being that they can bring in adulthood period.

The present undertaking identified the Health Promotion Practices of the high school students of Dap-Dap Elementary School. It specifically sought answers to the following questions: (1) What is the demographic profile of the respondents in terms of a. age, b. religion, c. sex, d. rank/order in the family, and e. monthly family income?; (2) What are the health promotion practices of the respondents along a. physical activity, b. lifestyle, c. emotional aspect, and d. social aspect?; (3) What are the health problems encountered by the respondents? and; (4) What measure can be proposed to improve the health promotion practices of the High School students? The study focused on the health promotion practices of the thirty four (34) Grade 6 students of Dap-Dap Elementary School. Other grade levels in the mentioned school were not included as respondents of this study. Based on the gathered and analyzed data, significant findings have been drawn by the study. As per the respondents’ profiles, the study found out that: (a) on age, 16 or 47.05% of the 34 respondents are 11 years old, 14 respondents or 41.17% are 12 years old, three (3) or eight point eighty-two percent (8.82%) of the respondents are 13 years old, and one (1) or two point ninety-four percent (2.94%) of the respondents is 14 years old; (b) on religion, except for two (2) or five point eighty-eight percent (5.88%) of the respondents who respectively belong to Born Again Christians and Mormons, the rest are Roman Catholics; (c) of the 34 respondents, 16 or 47.05% are male, and 18 or 52.94% are female; (d) in terms of rank/order in the family, seven (7) or 20.58% of the respondents are eldest among their siblings in their respective families; nine (9) or 26.47 are the youngest among their siblings; and the rest are second to fifth or middle member of their respective families; (e) finally, in terms of family income, 29 or 85.29% of the respondents belong to a family whose monthly family income range from 5,000 — 10,000 pesos; while two (2) or five point eighty-eight percent (5.88%) of the respondents belong to a family whose monthly income range from 11,000 — 15,000 pesos; two (2) more respondents or five point eighty-eight percent (5.88%) is in a family whose income range from 16,000 — 20,000 pesos monthly; and only one (1) or two point ninety-four percent (2.94%) of the respondents has family who earns 30,000 and above.

In terms of physical activity the following are health promotion practices of the respondents: participation in sports activities in school; recreational activities such as watching movies and attending parties; spending time to relax each day; playing basketball or volleyball; walking or jogging for at least 15 minutes or one(1) hour once or twice every week; participating in school activities especially on aerobics activities; gardening, climbing, lifting weights at least once a week; exercising vigorously at least 20 or 30 minutes a day or per week; brisk walking with pets; and, doing difficult task without complain.

In terms of lifestyle, the study’s findings on health promotion practices are: eating fruits and vegetables at least once a day; minimizing on sweet food and beverage with more sugar; avoiding intake of alcohol; avoiding salty foods; limiting consumption of processed meat that are high in saturated fats; maintaining balanced and proper diet without skipping meals; avoiding use of and exposure to tobacco products; being aware of the caloric content of food and; sleeping for at least six(6) to eight(8) hours a day.

In terms of emotional aspect, the following are the health promotion practices of the respondents: feeling proud to be a student of Dap-Dap Elementary School; being honest and bold about what they feel; regularly participating in a physical activity that allows releasing nervous energy; periodically re-evaluating experiences with distressful events in anticipation of future events of the same type; sharing feelings and problems with others; purposefully confronting problems and not avoiding them; turning to a friend for counsel and assistance during periods of disruption in life; relieving problems by going out and taking a break from school and/or the cause of stress; seeking assistance of guidance counsellor for professional help in terms of emotional problems and; seeking the counsel of professional advisers when stress becomes difficult to manage.

Meanwhile, in terms of social aspect, the following are the health promotion practices indicated by the respondents: spending time with family and friends; participating in a social group like recreational and occupational groups; feeling comfortable and confident when meeting people; mingling with co-students; having specific trusted group/peers; being open and accessible to others; seeking opportunities to become proficient at a variety of socially related skills; establishing social relationships with both genders; adjusting easily to new environment and; adjusting to difficult situations.

As to the health problems encountered by the respondents, significant findings of this study are the following: toothache; stomach ache; dizziness; fracture; fatigue; chest pain; insomnia; shortness of breath; malnutrition and; asthma.
The researchers took the responsibility of identifying and proposing measures orplans of action to improve the health promotion practices of the respondents by using the findings of the study as basis. Hence, the following proposed measures: regular checkups for minors; strong government and social responsibility; and strengthened clinical services in communities.

Further, based on the findings, the study has drawn the following conclusions:
1. There is an apparent mismatch between the respondents’ family income and its number of family members and such mismatch may play a crucial factor in their health and nutritional concerns;

2. School-based activities and facilities play a very important factor in the health promotion practices of the respondents in terms of physical activity. Although majority of the respondents have a fine lifestyle, there are few respondents who, considering their young age, are already involved in the use of tobacco products and alcoholic beverages. Majority of the respondents displayed emotionally healthy and balanced personalities, which may be attributed to the role played by the Guidance program of the school in which they are a part of. Family also plays a very important role in the health promotion activities of the respondents in terms of their social aspect;

3. Most of the identified health problems of the respondents may be considered as common household illnesses-the types that may be considered as non-life-threatening health problems. However, there were few respondents who have identified serious illnesses such as asthma, insomnia, and malnutrition-illnesses that need preferential attention by parents and;

4. The joint efforts and cooperation of parents, concerned government agencies and the society in general are important factors in the improvement of health promotion activities of the respondents.

Premised on the conclusions, the study forwards the following recommendations:
1. The respondents’ parents and the society in general must adhere to a family planning method so as to maintain the equilibrium or balance between their income and number of children;
2. Schools should continuously improve their facilities and programs that cater to the improvement or enhancement of their student’s physical, social, and emotional well-being so as to contribute to their overall health and well-being as individuals. Parents must also vigilantly and religiously monitor the social activities of their children to be aware of the risks that their children might be facing outside their home as they are influenced by their environment and their peer groups. Families must foster and/or enhance their quality time with their children since the fundamental socialization process of their children begins at their own homes;
3. The Local Health Authorities must institute and/or strengthen their campaign in monitoring the health of the children in their localities, so as to provide medical care and attention to the families and to prevent further complications of diseases and;
4. Families, Health Authorities, concerned Government Agencies must work together under the spirit of commitment and cooperation in improving the health and overall well-being not only of the respondents of this study but of the individual members of the society in general.