YES
HEALTHY KIDS – Health Promoting Material for Primary School, Day Care and Health Care Centres in the FIN-D2D-project in the Hospital District of South Ostrobothnia, Finland
Background Southostrobothnians are the most obese people in Finland, their food patterns are unhealthy and they are physical inactive. About 26 % of primary school pupils are overweight in South Ostrobothnia (study includes 4054 pupils in 9 municipalities, number of inhabitants 40949). Healthy life style is learned in the childhood, and health education is important at day care and the schools. Methods Due to needs found in their practises 3 pilot schools and 2 day care centres started planning and preparing of Healthy Kids material. The multi-professional group consisted of representatives of pilot schools and day care, experts of physical and nutrition education, dental care and school catering. The material was distributed to school organs, day care organs and health care centres in 26 municipalities. The goal is to help and stimulate health education. The themes of the material are nutrition, physical activity, sleep, rest and dental health. Material have been introduced and distributed to local schools, day care personal and health care nurses in 26 communities. About 1400 people have participated in the presentations of Healthy Kids material. Results Pilot schools and day care centers have carried out health promoting programs and have delivered in a wide audience. The nutritional quality of food at school catering has been studied in ostrobothnian schools in the years of 2004 and 2007. Food preparing patterns and food stuff purchase had changed. The proportion of vegetable fats and fat-free milk had increased and the schools served high-fibre bread and vegetables more often. As early as in the autumn 2005 had 45 schools organized parent's evenings. Material has been used at lessons, parent's evenings, in the weight management groups, fair and events. Material is a practical tool, which gives ideas and reliable guide-lines for daily work and living. Healthy Kids material could be used more widely also in education.
Healthcare without walls - a vision for health promotion in health care?
parallel_paper_session
Please consider this abstract for poster presentation if it cannot be accepted for oral presentation: