CAN EDUCATION THROUGH POSTER IMPROVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE OF PRESCHOOLERS ABOUT HEALTHY LIFESTYLE? IHHP-HHPC

• Main Authors: Roya Kelishadi, Mojgan Soghrati, Mahmoud Mohammadzadeh, Effat Najafpour, Mahfar Arasteh, Idin Ahangar-Nazari
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Vesnu Publications 2010-12-01
• Series: ARYA Atherosclerosis
• Online Access: http://arya.mui.ac.ir/index.php/arya/article/view/182

<p>Abstract<br />INTRODUCTION: Lifelong behavior and risk factors of chronic diseases extend from early<br />life to adulthood. It seems that dietary habits and unhealthy food consumption, as well as<br />passive smoking play an important role in the development of such diseases. Multiple<br />studies have shown that healthy lifestyle education in preschool children improves their<br />knowledge, attitude and practice about healthy lifestyle. This study was conducted to<br />evaluate the effect of lifestyle education with educational posters in daycare centers on<br />preschool children.<br />METHODS: In an interventional study, 250 preschool children were selected via 2-stage<br />random cluster sampling and taught tips on healthy lifestyle via educational posters. Their<br />knowledge on healthy lifestyle was assessed before and after (1 week and 3 months)<br />education via a picture-questionnaire, and their practice and behavior were assessed before<br />and after education via their favorite choice of snack in daycare centers. Collected data<br />were analyzed using SPSS13 by paired t-test and Man Whitney test.<br />RESULTS: The knowledge and practice scores of the studied subjects improved<br />significantly one week after intervention compared with baseline, and persisted until the third<br />month after education.<br />DISCUSSION: Healthy lifestyle education via poster for preschool children can significantly<br />improve their knowledge and practice towards healthy lifestyle.</p>Keywords &bull; Healthy life style &bull; Education &bull; Preschool children