Disease Prevention in School Health Care Services

Abstract

School health services are the most appropriate settings for primary prevention, early detection and secondary prevention of diseases. School health services in collaboration with school setting guarantees easy access to population of school children. The schools are also important environments for preventive actions directed to the group in this setting and population-oriented approach. The regular medical check-ups, as a part of the school health programme, are ideal opportunities to detect majority of health problems of school children in early stage as: growth and developmental problems, risky behaviour (smoking, drinking, drug use), unhealthy eating habits, psychosocial problems, reproductive health status sexual behaviour, contraception), school achievement, speech and learning disabilities, visual and hearing problems, cardiovascular risk factors (obesity, overweight, physical activity, blood pressure).