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Health and Wellness of Children in Group Homes Regarding Healthy Life Choices and Principles
WALENKOVÁ, Veronika
Abstract Lifestyle is one of the most important factors influencing health of population. Adherence to principles of healthy lifestyle in children and subsequently healthy adult persons are an important contribution to the future of children and our whole society. Inadequate lifestyle in children may lead to some civilization diseases, especially cardiovascular, tumor and metabolic diseases in their adulthood. In this thesis I focused on lifestyle in children living in children´s homes, and compared their adherence to the principles of healthy lifestyle to that in children living in families. The research was conducted with children aged 12{--}16 years, attending basic school. The objective of the thesis was to assess lifestyle of children in children´s homes, to what extent the lifestyle of children in children´s homes is different from that of children growing up in families and what is these children´s relationship to the prin-ciples of a healthy lifestyle. In relation to the objectives I stated three hypotheses in which I assume that lifestyle of children living in children´s homes is different from that of children living in families, that children living in children´s homes are more effected with negative influence of their neighbourhood and more often have negative attitude to adherence to the principles of healthy lifestyle than children living in families. In my thesis I chose the methodology of quantitative research using question-naires. The survey was conducted in children from four children´s homes in the Central Bohemian region ( CHH Solenice, CHH Přestavlky, Sedlec-Prčice CHH and CHH Korkyně) and in children living in families, attending both the school implementing the program ``School supporting health{\crqq} (ZŠ Jiráskovy sady Příbram), and the school not participating in that program (ZŠ 28. října Příbram). I addressed a total of 93 children from children´s homes and 95 children living in families to fill in identical questionnaires. The questionnaires were anonymous and the questions were focused on evaluating children´s attitudes to principles of healthy lifestyle. There were 35 questions focused on knowledge of healthy lifestyle principles, healthy diet, drinking regime, physical activity, leisure time, smoking, alcohol con-sumption and drug abuse. On the basis of completed questionnaires analysis I compared the two groups of children regarding their attitude to adherence to principles of healthy lifestyle.
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The incidence of poor posture at the primary school in the district of Pribram.
WALENKOVÁ, Veronika
The causes of musculoskeletal disorders, at present affecting a considerable pro-portion of the adult population and leading to poor posture, are to be looked for as early as in childhood. In recent decades an enormous increase in poor posture in the children of younger and older school-age has occurred, which is in most cases the result of a bad lifestyle. The lack of physical activity, an inappropriate school regime, unsuitable school furniture or heavy backpacks the children carry on their backs every day are the in-fluencing factors. Another aspect that can lead to poor posture in children is a relatively high number of children with flat feet. An inappropriate lifestyle and one-sidedness of modern life also leads to obesity and thus the restriction of movement in children. In my thesis I focused on poor posture in pupils of selected primary schools in the district of Příbram. The monitored group was children aged 8-15 years, attending 3-9 primary school grades. The purpose of my diploma thesis was to assess the prevalence of poor posture in primary school pupils in relation to their lifestyle and physical activity, to survey the risk factors leading to poor posture in these children, and to map the connection of poor posture in primary school children with prevalence of flat feet in children. In relation to the purpose I stated three hypotheses, assuming that children with a wrong lifestyle and an insufficient physical activity are more prone to poor posture, that the children influenced by more risk factors suffer more often from musculoskeletal disorders and poor posture and also that the children with flat feet are more predisposed to poor posture. To conduct the research, I chose the methodology of quantitative descriptive study through questionnaires. The research was carried out in two schools differently specialized, one of the schools is focused on mathematics and computer science and implements the program the Health Promoting School (Primary School Jiráskovy sady in Příbram), the second is focused on sports, particularly volleyball (Primary School Pod Svatou Horou Příbram). A total of 340 children from both schools were addressed by identical question-naires. The questionnaire was anonymous and the questions were directed primarily at these children lifestyle assessment. The questionnaire contained 37 questions in total, focused primarily on the principles of healthy lifestyle, physical activity, leisure activi-ties, school furniture, the school work regime and the prevalence of poor posture and flat feet. The return rate of the completed questionnaires was 85,3%, which means 290 questionnaires from the two schools. Based on the results from the completed questionnaires, I compared the two groups of examined pupils in terms of their compliance with the principles of healthy lifestyle, the prevalence of poor posture and the prevalence of flat feet.
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