The effect of health-oriented educational intervention for care providers with the health outcomes in toddlers

  Children are the most vulnerable groups in society, whose health needs particular attention. However, children in kindergartens are more vulnerable to being infected than other children who are kept at home. The present study aimed to determine the effect of implementing a health-oriented program developed for care providers on the health outcomes of toddlers in kindergartens.

In the present interventional study, four kindergartens were non-randomly selected from among four districts in Semnan city, and then were randomly and equally divided into intervention and control groups. All eligible toddlers were selected by census (30 in the intervention, and 32 in the control group). Data collection tools included a demographic questionnaire and a checklist for toddlers' health problems. We developed, implemented, and evaluated a health-oriented program, based on recognition, protection, and planning to maintain and improve physical aspects of healthy behaviors to promote the health of toddlers in kindergartens. The results obtained were analyzed and compared to the control group in SPSS-21.

The chi-square test showed that the two groups matched in terms of demographic variables such as age, education, and marital status (P>0.05). The chi-square test also showed significant differences between intervention and control groups before and after intervention in terms of health outcomes (digestive P=0.007, respiratory P=0.003, skin P=0.001).

The present study results confirmed the effectiveness of implementing the health-oriented program on caregivers associated whit toddler health outcomes.