Abstract
The prevalence of chronic diseases, including allergies, is increasing in schoolchildren, making school nurses essential in managing students’ health. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of chronic conditions in schoolchildren within a network of Spanish educational centers with school nurses. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in May 2023, covering 25,951 students from these centers. Schoolchildren and educational center data were collected from the school health records to document health information and nursing activities. Mean age of students was 10.11 years (50.20% female). A total of 9.45% had chronic disorders, including disorders of the respiratory (4.14%), neurological (2.94%), digestive (2.28%), musculoskeletal (1.25%), and cardiovascular (1.14%) systems. A total of 12.5% had allergies (6.10% food allergies), and 2.81% had food intolerances. Identifying and recording these diseases are key responsibilities of the school nurse, supporting improved care quality and informing policies to ensure school nurse availability and enhanced health management protocols for students.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
