Combined education course on nutrition, hand-washing and dental care in primary schools in Yaoundé, Cameroon
# Background Poor nutritional habits and related hygiene and sanitation practices impair food and nutrition security, and increase the risk of foodborne diseases and related school absenteeism. While the WASH program promoted by the UNICEF boosts water, sanitation, and hygiene, only a few studies t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Inishmore Laser Scientific Publishing Ltd
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of Global Health Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.29392/001c.33812 |
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| author | Philomina Fankam Yamgai Guy B. Pouokam Brice U. Saha Foudjo Francesca Mazzanti Joel T. Sando Chi Samuel Aristide G. Kamda Silapeux Elie Fokou Chiara Frazzoli |
| author_facet | Philomina Fankam Yamgai Guy B. Pouokam Brice U. Saha Foudjo Francesca Mazzanti Joel T. Sando Chi Samuel Aristide G. Kamda Silapeux Elie Fokou Chiara Frazzoli |
| author_sort | Philomina Fankam Yamgai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | # Background
Poor nutritional habits and related hygiene and sanitation practices impair food and nutrition security, and increase the risk of foodborne diseases and related school absenteeism. While the WASH program promoted by the UNICEF boosts water, sanitation, and hygiene, only a few studies thus far encouraged healthy eating habits and safe and nutritious meals at school. This study aimed at combining education of schoolchildren on nutrition and hygiene (nutrition knowledge, attitudes, practices; food choices; nutrient sources; dental care; handwashing), and at boosting the engagement of parents and teachers in the promotion of nutrition-related behaviors conducive to health and well-being.
# Methods
Four primary schools in different Yaoundé Urban Councils and 71 schoolchildren aged 7-12 years enrolled in the study. In this paper we report on the i) administrative and ethical clearance, ii) sensitisation and demonstration activities, iii) donation of WASH equipment, disposable materials for hand and teeth hygiene, toolkit policy, and guidebook, iv) baseline assessment by structured questionnaire, v) combined course (1 hour/week, 6 weeks), and vi) measured impact. Scores were analysed using paired z- and t-tests with SPSS 23.0 for windows.
# Results
In the four schools, handwashing showed the best improvement. Older children benefited more from the whole course, while the improvement in younger children focused more on practices. The school that scored lowest at baseline obtained marked general improvement. Interestingly, general improvement in food choices coupled with persistent difficulty in recognising nutrient sources. Although sociocultural and socioeconomic parameters were not included in the questionnaire, these emerged as possible modifiers. Despite limited hours of direct training and limited resources invested, this short-term intervention significantly changed habits of children and the school community. Availability of hand and teeth hygiene materials facilitated and motivated the proactivity of the school community to boost good nutrition and hygiene practices sustainably.
# Conclusions
Preventive medicine is a balance of awareness and affordability. Having this in mind, more coordinated efforts (WASH, food safety, food security) will enforce proper nutrition and hygiene of children at school in the different Cameroonian sociocultural and socioeconomic settings. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3c4cb155cf9145fcb8b93e9280538094 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2399-1623 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | Inishmore Laser Scientific Publishing Ltd |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Global Health Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-3c4cb155cf9145fcb8b93e92805380942025-08-20T02:40:06ZengInishmore Laser Scientific Publishing LtdJournal of Global Health Reports2399-16232022-05-01610.29392/001c.33812Combined education course on nutrition, hand-washing and dental care in primary schools in Yaoundé, CameroonPhilomina Fankam YamgaiGuy B. PouokamBrice U. Saha FoudjoFrancesca MazzantiJoel T. SandoChi SamuelAristide G. Kamda SilapeuxElie FokouChiara Frazzoli# Background Poor nutritional habits and related hygiene and sanitation practices impair food and nutrition security, and increase the risk of foodborne diseases and related school absenteeism. While the WASH program promoted by the UNICEF boosts water, sanitation, and hygiene, only a few studies thus far encouraged healthy eating habits and safe and nutritious meals at school. This study aimed at combining education of schoolchildren on nutrition and hygiene (nutrition knowledge, attitudes, practices; food choices; nutrient sources; dental care; handwashing), and at boosting the engagement of parents and teachers in the promotion of nutrition-related behaviors conducive to health and well-being. # Methods Four primary schools in different Yaoundé Urban Councils and 71 schoolchildren aged 7-12 years enrolled in the study. In this paper we report on the i) administrative and ethical clearance, ii) sensitisation and demonstration activities, iii) donation of WASH equipment, disposable materials for hand and teeth hygiene, toolkit policy, and guidebook, iv) baseline assessment by structured questionnaire, v) combined course (1 hour/week, 6 weeks), and vi) measured impact. Scores were analysed using paired z- and t-tests with SPSS 23.0 for windows. # Results In the four schools, handwashing showed the best improvement. Older children benefited more from the whole course, while the improvement in younger children focused more on practices. The school that scored lowest at baseline obtained marked general improvement. Interestingly, general improvement in food choices coupled with persistent difficulty in recognising nutrient sources. Although sociocultural and socioeconomic parameters were not included in the questionnaire, these emerged as possible modifiers. Despite limited hours of direct training and limited resources invested, this short-term intervention significantly changed habits of children and the school community. Availability of hand and teeth hygiene materials facilitated and motivated the proactivity of the school community to boost good nutrition and hygiene practices sustainably. # Conclusions Preventive medicine is a balance of awareness and affordability. Having this in mind, more coordinated efforts (WASH, food safety, food security) will enforce proper nutrition and hygiene of children at school in the different Cameroonian sociocultural and socioeconomic settings.https://doi.org/10.29392/001c.33812 |
| spellingShingle | Philomina Fankam Yamgai Guy B. Pouokam Brice U. Saha Foudjo Francesca Mazzanti Joel T. Sando Chi Samuel Aristide G. Kamda Silapeux Elie Fokou Chiara Frazzoli Combined education course on nutrition, hand-washing and dental care in primary schools in Yaoundé, Cameroon Journal of Global Health Reports |
| title | Combined education course on nutrition, hand-washing and dental care in primary schools in Yaoundé, Cameroon |
| title_full | Combined education course on nutrition, hand-washing and dental care in primary schools in Yaoundé, Cameroon |
| title_fullStr | Combined education course on nutrition, hand-washing and dental care in primary schools in Yaoundé, Cameroon |
| title_full_unstemmed | Combined education course on nutrition, hand-washing and dental care in primary schools in Yaoundé, Cameroon |
| title_short | Combined education course on nutrition, hand-washing and dental care in primary schools in Yaoundé, Cameroon |
| title_sort | combined education course on nutrition hand washing and dental care in primary schools in yaounde cameroon |
| url | https://doi.org/10.29392/001c.33812 |
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