Review article
Does the school bag affect the health of the primary school children?
Mario Kasović
; Kineziološki fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu
Abstract
For children, the first steps in primary school represent major and significant changes in lifestyle. A large number of scientists agree that a school bag can have an impact on a child’s health in primary school. This is especially evident in the first grades where the worst ratio is the weight of the bag and the body weight of the child. In recent years, the number of primary school children and adolescents going to the doctor for symptoms of back pain has increased significantly. This problem, which is attributed precisely to an inappropriate school bag, is one of the most common reasons for visiting a doctor and a growing reason for dropping out of school. Research most often mentions atypical pain without clear causes, which today is a major public health problem that can no longer be ignored. In addition to the atypical occurrence of pain in the spine, pain in the lower extremities, and especially in the area of the feet, also occurs very often. The problem of the school bag is further exacerbated by the presence of combinations of several factors such as insufficient physical activity, weight, manner and time of carrying, which collectively further enhance the negative impact on health. An overview of the area shows that there are no clear views in the world and that the problem is approached differently from country to country. The guidelines are not clearly defined. Many countries have not recognized the importance of the problem despite WHO recommendations. Unfortunately, the Republic of Croatia is one of them.
Keywords
school bag, primary school, children, health
Hrčak ID:
270476
URI
Publication date:
13.8.2019.
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