Unit 5 Appraisal of Health Status of School Children

APPRAISAL OF
HEALTH STATUS OF
SCHOOL CHILDREN
ANGELHYN CACHOLA
KATHRINE ASIRIT
Objectives of Appraisal of
Health Status
To determine the health status of school children:
(the level of health / wellness). In cases of deviation:
to institute quick intervention thereby limiting
disability and to inform parents of child’s
impairment or disability for medical, physical and
social services.
Appraisal of Health Status
This is the evaluation of the health status of school
children by a variety of procedures. It is the quality of
health that is assessed through the use of teachers,
observations, screening tests, health history, dental
inspection, medical examination and psychological test.
Different Techniques of Health
appraisal
Health History
• This is the technique used in school to determine the present and
past health history of the child.
• The information is usually obtained from parents or from the child
Use a questionnaire to get information from parents through the
child
Health Examination
Medical examination
Dental examination
• This should be done by the teachers and the health workers when
looking for evidence of ill health and conditions that affect health.
Medical examination is case finding rather than just diagnosis.
• Health Examination includes personal interview whereby you can
determine child’s interest, recreational abilities and his choice of
friends.
Health Observation
• Health observation in schools involves monitoring students'

physical, mental, and emotional well-being to identify any
potential health issues or concerns.
• This process is essential for promoting a healthy and safe
learning environment. Here are some aspects of health
observation in schools:
Health Screening
• This is described as investigations carried out by teachers,
community health officer, physicians to assess children in order to
determine those who need further treatment.
• Health Screening consists of those preliminary evaluations of
vision, hearing and other functions and conditions administered by
teachers or health workers to screen out those children needing
further examination and diagnosis by qualified specialists.

Physical inspection of the
 1.child
Vision Testing: Different instruments are used for measuring the
sight/ vision. Look for obvious eye diseases in a child and these are
evidenced by Swelling of the eye Inflammation Redness Pain
Burning sensation Photophobia.
 2. Explain purpose and procedure: Stand or sit patient six metres
from the eye test chart (Snellen’s) Test one eye at a time.
 3. Weight and Height Test: Weighing machine is used for weight
while metre ruler for height. Weight measures should be done at least
three times in the year.

4. Mantoux Test: Has been described under
Diagnostic Services
5. Physical Inspection of the Child: This is to assess
the general fitness of a child to find out whether the
child is fit to perform the school work and physical
activities.
Screening for Epilepsy
A child with epilepsy occasionally manifests with the
following:
• Sudden insensibility
• Momentary loss of memory
• Convulsive movements (fits)
• Production of foaming saliva from the mouth during
the fits.
CONCLUSION
In this unit you have learnt that appraisal of health status
of school children is the evaluation of health status of
school children by health workers, teachers and parents.
You studied the objective of appraisal of health status as
well as the different techniques involved in health
appraisal of school children –including history taking
physical examination, health observation and health
screening. You should at this point be able describe the
different techniques used in health appraisal.
SUMMARY
 This unit has focused on the definition of health appraisal which is the
evaluation of health status of school children. It can be carried out by
health workers, teachers and parents. The objective of performing
health appraisal is to determine child health status, to treat if child is
unwell or to inform parents of any defect or disability. The different
techniques of health appraisal include history taking, medical and
dental examination, daily inspection and observation of school
children and various health screening such as vision test, hearing loss
test, growth and weight assessment ,chest x-ray, Mantoux test, etc.

Unit 5 Appraisal of Health Status of School Children

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Unit 5 Appraisal of Health Status of School Children

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Unit 5 Appraisal of Health Status of School Children

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

APPRAISAL OF

• Health observation in schools involves monitoring students'

You might also like