-Dr. Kapila Jayaratne
Senior Registrar in Community Medicine, Child Health Unit, Family Health Bureau, Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition
The glimpse of a child carrying a heavy schoolbag must have generated sympathetic thoughts among everybody. We all see and talk about the uneasiness and difficulties our children face in carrying school material. Is it our responsibility ? Can we do something ?
Competitive educational environment has posed a challenge to school children in carrying a heavy load of books and other materials to the school. This has become a major problem not only in urban sector, but also in rural sector. In a recent study carried out among school children by the Family Health Bureau, Ministry of Health, nearly 80% children carried a backpack as the schoolbag model. Only about 10% backpacks were compartmentalized. A waist-belt was present in 29% of bags and only 30% schoolchildren used the waist-belt. How ever, 97% carried the backpack on both shoulders. The average weight of schoolbag was 3.72 Kg. The mean school bag weight as a fraction of total body weight was 11.04%.This was above the international cut-off of 10%. This study further revealed that a bag weighing more than 10% of bodyweight was carried by 58% of school children.
Obviously, there should be negative health consequences due to carriage of heavy schoolbag in improper ways. Recent studies in ergonomics related to school children, both internationally and in Sri Lanka, have shown that children undergo several negative impacts. These include; musculoskeletal pain, high levels of general tiredness, schoolbag related injuries and postural displacements (shoulder level shifts and lateral deviation of the spine). Around 71% Sri Lankan school children reported musculoskeletal pain. Of them 36% suffered from recurrent pain. Among the associated factors, improper backpack behaviour was related to high risk of recurrent musculoskeletal pain.
Yes, we as parents, teachers or health professionals, do have a role to play in relieving such a burden. We have lot of opportunities to make all the stakeholders of health of schoolchildren knowledgeable on healthy schoolbags and related behaviour. We all can contribute to healthy schoolbag awareness campaign launched by the Family Health Bureau.
Following are the key messages;
Correct Selection
Correct model
Choose the healthiest model of the schoolbag –backpack model.
A backpack is a sack carried on one's back and secured with two straps that
go over the shoulders and below the armpits.
With this model, a higher weight could be carried with minimum stress to the body.
Correct size
Backpacks are available in different sizes in the market. The height of the backpack should be compatible with the back of the chest of the child. The lower edge of the bag should not go beyond the curve of the lower back.
Healthy features
Look for the healthy features of a back pack. The recommended features of a backpack include; two contoured and padded shoulder straps, movable straps, a waist belt, and multiple compartments.
The well-padded shoulder straps minimize the pressure on blood vessels and nerves which are many in the neck and shoulders. It reduces the occurrence of pain and tingling in the neck, arms and hands. Movable straps adjust the backpack snugly fits in to the body of the child. The weight is better and evenly distributed within a compartmentalized backpack. Apart from helping to fix the bag on to the body, a waist belt transfer part of the weight of the bag to the hip region.
Correct Behaviour
Not only the right school bag that matters. Healthy schoolbag behaviour is crucial.
Correct loading
Only take books and material that are necessary for the day according to the timetable. Packing of the school bag should be done in a way so that heaviest items to be closer to the back of the child. Do not allow items within the bag slide around. The ideal weight of the schoolbag should be less than 10% of the child’s body weight. It should never be more than 15%.
Right wearing
Both shoulder straps should be worn. By adjusting the shoulder straps and wearing the waist belt, the backpack should be positioned snugly to the body. The bag should not be worn only in one shoulder or hung loosely from the back. The bottom of the bag should never go beyond four inches below the waistline. Loose backpacks on the back can pull the child backwards and strain musculoskeletal system.
Health professionals, when ever they get an opportunity could enlighten schoolchildren, parents and teachers with these simple and clear instructions to help choosing a healthy schoolbag and inculcate ergonomic bag behaviour among future productive generations. It is also essential to translate this knowledge to bag manufacturers. If healthy bags are not available in the market, the consumers –school children- have no option to choose from.
The Family Health Bureau has taken many steps to promote healthy schoolbag throughout the country. The Ministry of Education works in collaboration with this initiative. A media seminar was conducted in association with Health Education Bureau to disseminate information. This project was funded by the Health Sector Development Project of the World Bank.
Reference:
1. Goodgold SA, (2005). Backpack Intelligence: Implementation of a Backpack Safety Program with Fifth Grade Students. Orthopaedic Practice Vol. 15;3:03
2. Jayaratne ILK, Fernando DN and Jayanetti JMJSK (2007). Prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and contributory factors among school-going early adolescents -Thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Community Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo.
Senior Registrar in Community Medicine, Child Health Unit, Family Health Bureau, Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition
The glimpse of a child carrying a heavy schoolbag must have generated sympathetic thoughts among everybody. We all see and talk about the uneasiness and difficulties our children face in carrying school material. Is it our responsibility ? Can we do something ?
Competitive educational environment has posed a challenge to school children in carrying a heavy load of books and other materials to the school. This has become a major problem not only in urban sector, but also in rural sector. In a recent study carried out among school children by the Family Health Bureau, Ministry of Health, nearly 80% children carried a backpack as the schoolbag model. Only about 10% backpacks were compartmentalized. A waist-belt was present in 29% of bags and only 30% schoolchildren used the waist-belt. How ever, 97% carried the backpack on both shoulders. The average weight of schoolbag was 3.72 Kg. The mean school bag weight as a fraction of total body weight was 11.04%.This was above the international cut-off of 10%. This study further revealed that a bag weighing more than 10% of bodyweight was carried by 58% of school children.
Obviously, there should be negative health consequences due to carriage of heavy schoolbag in improper ways. Recent studies in ergonomics related to school children, both internationally and in Sri Lanka, have shown that children undergo several negative impacts. These include; musculoskeletal pain, high levels of general tiredness, schoolbag related injuries and postural displacements (shoulder level shifts and lateral deviation of the spine). Around 71% Sri Lankan school children reported musculoskeletal pain. Of them 36% suffered from recurrent pain. Among the associated factors, improper backpack behaviour was related to high risk of recurrent musculoskeletal pain.
Yes, we as parents, teachers or health professionals, do have a role to play in relieving such a burden. We have lot of opportunities to make all the stakeholders of health of schoolchildren knowledgeable on healthy schoolbags and related behaviour. We all can contribute to healthy schoolbag awareness campaign launched by the Family Health Bureau.
Following are the key messages;
Correct Selection
Correct model
Choose the healthiest model of the schoolbag –backpack model.
A backpack is a sack carried on one's back and secured with two straps that
go over the shoulders and below the armpits.
With this model, a higher weight could be carried with minimum stress to the body.
Correct size
Backpacks are available in different sizes in the market. The height of the backpack should be compatible with the back of the chest of the child. The lower edge of the bag should not go beyond the curve of the lower back.
Healthy features
Look for the healthy features of a back pack. The recommended features of a backpack include; two contoured and padded shoulder straps, movable straps, a waist belt, and multiple compartments.
The well-padded shoulder straps minimize the pressure on blood vessels and nerves which are many in the neck and shoulders. It reduces the occurrence of pain and tingling in the neck, arms and hands. Movable straps adjust the backpack snugly fits in to the body of the child. The weight is better and evenly distributed within a compartmentalized backpack. Apart from helping to fix the bag on to the body, a waist belt transfer part of the weight of the bag to the hip region.
Correct Behaviour
Not only the right school bag that matters. Healthy schoolbag behaviour is crucial.
Correct loading
Only take books and material that are necessary for the day according to the timetable. Packing of the school bag should be done in a way so that heaviest items to be closer to the back of the child. Do not allow items within the bag slide around. The ideal weight of the schoolbag should be less than 10% of the child’s body weight. It should never be more than 15%.
Right wearing
Both shoulder straps should be worn. By adjusting the shoulder straps and wearing the waist belt, the backpack should be positioned snugly to the body. The bag should not be worn only in one shoulder or hung loosely from the back. The bottom of the bag should never go beyond four inches below the waistline. Loose backpacks on the back can pull the child backwards and strain musculoskeletal system.
Health professionals, when ever they get an opportunity could enlighten schoolchildren, parents and teachers with these simple and clear instructions to help choosing a healthy schoolbag and inculcate ergonomic bag behaviour among future productive generations. It is also essential to translate this knowledge to bag manufacturers. If healthy bags are not available in the market, the consumers –school children- have no option to choose from.
The Family Health Bureau has taken many steps to promote healthy schoolbag throughout the country. The Ministry of Education works in collaboration with this initiative. A media seminar was conducted in association with Health Education Bureau to disseminate information. This project was funded by the Health Sector Development Project of the World Bank.
Reference:
1. Goodgold SA, (2005). Backpack Intelligence: Implementation of a Backpack Safety Program with Fifth Grade Students. Orthopaedic Practice Vol. 15;3:03
2. Jayaratne ILK, Fernando DN and Jayanetti JMJSK (2007). Prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and contributory factors among school-going early adolescents -Thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Community Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo.
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