الفهرس 
AIM OF THE STUDYOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Over the past few decades, the success of child survival programs and the expansion of basic education coverage have resulted in greater number of children reaching school-age with a higher proportion of these children attending primary schools. The young children spend a major part of each day for at least nine months in school. There are many who believe that the health and well-being of the child during school hours is the responsibility of the school.
The current study aimed to study types of food available for children in primary schools in Alexandria. This work specifically aimed to identify sources of food available as well as types of food consumed by students during school day in the schools, and to determine role of the nurse in educating students about importance of having some food during the school day.
This study was conducted in primary schools in Alexandria Governorate, 1000 students (boys and girls) were selected from three educational zones chosen randomly from the seven educational zones in Alexandria governorate. from each selected educational zone, two public and two private primary schools were chosen randomly. from each selected school three classes from the sixth grade will be chosen randomly. A total of 36 primary school classes will be included in the study sample. Also, all nurses in the selected schools will constitute the nurses study sample.
Three techniques were applied in collecting the information required:
A structured interview sheet for students, a structured interview sheet for school nurse, and observation sheet to identify the different types and sources of food available in schools.
The result of the present study revealed the number of usual daily meals, the table shows that only 70.1% of the studied sample reported having three meals daily and those constituted 73.8% of private schools and 65.5% of governmental schools. As regards breakfast it was found that half of the students sample (50.5%) were always keen to have breakfast (more 59.3% in private than governmental 39.3%).
Concerning taking snacks between meals it was found that nearly half of the studied sample (49.2%) stated they sometimes eat snacks between meals with higher percentage among private than governmental schools, concerning soft drinks it was found that about two thirds (67.3%) of the studied students sometimes dranke soft drink during the day and it was equal percentage in private and governmental schools. Related to fast foods outside home it was found that 64.7% of the studied students reported sometimes eating outside home with higher percentage among governmental than private schools.
As regards having free school meal the table also shows that 34.7% of the studied students always had free meal with higher percentage among governmental schools78.9% of the students compared to private schools, and 98.6% of the free meal was in the form of biscuits.
According to type of school and ways of breakfast consumption, the table reveals that37.5% of the studied students usually have breakfast at home with taking pocket money
Summary
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with higher percentage among governmental school students than private schools, while 85% of the studied students ate sweets from school canteen during break with higher percentage in private school students than governmental school students.
The study also showed that 61% of the studied student always bought from canteen with higher percentage among private schools students than governmental school and the preferred time to buy from canteen almost (99.2%) of the studied students preferred to buy during the break time and the same percentage preferred sweets and biscuits, followed by chips (79.2%), hot dog (79.1%), karate (78.4%) and chocolate (77.9%).
The study revealed the majority of nurses (80%) usually reported that they supervise school canteen with higher percentage among private schools than governmental schools (83.3% and 75% respectively) , 80% of nurses usually explained the importance of healthy food for students, the same percent of nurses usually used audio visual materials for students about healthy food, and the same percent of nurses usually encouraged the students to bring fresh foods from home, while Half of nurses (50%) were usually supervised the food provided at school canteen, followed by 40% of them were sometimes supervised the food provided at school canteen with higher percentage among private schools than governmental schools.
The study also revealed that items of food available in the school canteen as observed was Biscuits and Sweets which were available in all schools followed by chips and soft drinks75% with higher percentage among private schools than governmental schools. In contrast the study showed that fruits and vegetables were not present in all schools.
In order to improve child health and food habits the following proposed recommendations are suggested:
7. Nutrition educational program should be planned for and offered on regular basis to all students to be increased with higher school classes to update their knowledge.
8. Posters may be used at schools to be distributed to encourage all students to play more attention to the nutritional health.
9. Cooperation between Ministry of Health and qualified nutritional organization to offer healthy food for both governmental and private schools with suitable fees not burden the student‟s family.
10. Practical training courses should be given to the school nurses to improve their skills and information about students‟ health.
11. The school nurse should encourage the students to take responsibility for choosing healthy snacks and avoid junk food.
12. Further studies in maintaining students‟ nutritional health are needed.