Health Promotion In The Secondary Bulgarian Schools

Abstract

Introduction: The school is a key place to promote the health of adolescents. The combined efforts of the entire school community, aimed at developing policies, practices, and building a health-supportive environment, form a sustainable health behavior in the pupils.
Aim: The aim of this article is to study the conditions and activities for health promotion in the Bulgarian secondary school.
Materials and Methods: A study was conducted among first-year students from the Medical University of Varna in December 2017 on the conditions and activities for health promotion in the secondary schools, which they had graduated from. Information was gathered through a direct individual survey, including 18 closed-ended questions. A descriptive analysis was conducted and the verification of hypotheses on the link between the qualitative variables was tested by the chi-square criterion. The data were statistically processed through SPSS v. 23.0, and a Microsoft Office Excel 2007 software package was used to draw the graphics.
Results and Discussion: The survey covered 75 freshmen presenting over 20 secondary schools, 44% from large cities, and 56% from small towns. Men were 28% of the respondents, 72% were women. The mean age was 21 years (SD = 5.6). Student health education activities were conducted at 62.7% of the secondary schools according to the respondents, but there was a lack of consistence in attendance - 38.4% of the students did not attend discussions and lectures during the last school year. Conditions for healthy work and rest and for physical activity have been created. There were no good conditions for observing personal hygiene. According to the students, 52.6% of the schools lacked possibilities for healthy eating, and access to unhealthy food and drink for the pupils was provided in 77.3% of the schools. Over 67% of the students determined the health awareness they received in the secondary school as incomplete and missing.