Zachowania prozdrowotne dziewcząt z wybranych szkół bialskich w kontekście obowiązku realizacji założeń edukacji zdrowotnej
Health-oriented behaviour of girls from selected Biała Podlaska schools in the context of the requirement to apply the principles of health education

Summary/Abstract: Numerous health problems of children and youth have obliged educational institutions to increase the activities of health education programmes and evaluate their functioning. A major role in this respect is assigned to physical education teachers, who face difficult challenges regarding the adaptation of the school’s physical exercise activities to students’ needs and psychomotor capabilities. Creating proper health habits, attitudes towards physical exercise and motor abilities are important for every individual from their earliest years. However, it is especially significant when working with girls at puberty. The objective of this project was to learn the opinions of girls about topics concerning personal health care as well as verifying the effectiveness of current school activities in meeting health education objectives and promoting a healthy lifestyle. The research was conducted in 2010 in Biała Podlaska. The study included 201 schoolgirls aged 13-18. It applied a diagnostic poll method and examination methods to evaluate the development and physical fitness of the girls. The obtained results indicate insufficient concern for one’s own health. Only the principles of proper nutrition were mentioned by the girls as those which were often applied. Half of the respondents took care to get proper sleep and rest, many of them used stimulants, including cigarettes, as well as alcohol. Although the girls perceived the value of physical activity, in practice they rarely attended to getting the proper amount of exercise in their free time. A worrying fact is that the school offers no incentives for schoolgirls to lead an active lifestyle and the source of their knowledge about health was not usually a teacher. Only 15% of the girls had a proper body weight. Also, the level of general physical fitness, including endurance and arm muscle strength, was unsatisfactory. Although the school documentation in force contained a rich health education curriculum, the actions of the institutions were not effective enough. In light of the information gathered, it seems necessary to increase interdisciplinary integration, synchronisation and evaluation of activities in the field of students’ health education as well as a regular assessment of their effects.

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