Improving of knowledge and behaviors on nutrition and physical activities through health education of 3rd grade primary school students

The research which consist to improve nutrition and physical activities of 3rd grade students through health education is interventional research study. The sample size of the study is determined as 64 person for each group, for predicted the % 50 differences between the intervention group and control group after calculation of the 80% power, 95% confidence interval. 69 student in intervention school and 68 student in control school were reached. Research has continued for two years. In the intervention school, to the students, to their family and to their teachers were trained on nutrition health education. Health education is given to the students through interactive education methods for 14 weeks a year. Health education to the families and to the teachers was made by one hour presentation. Knowledge level of the students are evaluated by data collecting instrument, as rating 1 point for each correct answer that based on 20 point. Changing on nutrition behavior of the students were evaluated on regular meal, vegetable and fruit; milk and milk product; consuming frequency of meat, of chicken, of fish, of egg and non consuming of junk food and total nutrition behaviors. Physical activity behavior was evaluated on spending time by watching TV and staying on computer. Percentage distribution of points, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, Mann-Whitney U test were used for analyzing the datas. Nonconsuming of the junk food is increased significantly in intervention group students who have health training for two years (p<0.05). Consuming of vegetable, fruit, meat, chicken, fish, egg is significantly decreased in control group which have any intervention (p<0.05). There were not any changing on physical activity in both group. Knowledge status of the students is increased significantly in intervention group, but kept same level in control group. In this research, health training for two years applied through interactive education methods is changed the knowledge of the students and provided positive gains on nutrition behaviors, but it doesn?t have any effects on physical activity behaviors.