Science Journal of Public Health

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Carrying Heavy Backpacks and Handbags Amongst Elementary Students: Causes and Solutions

Received: 07 January 2014    Accepted: 30 June 2014    Published: 10 July 2014
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Abstract

Backpack is the best type of bag for students as the weight of the pack is evenly distributed across the body. But backpacks that are overloaded or not used properly can make health problems. Injuries may occur when a child tries to balance for the extra weight by leaning forward, bending his or her back or leaning to the side. Over time this can cause the shoulders to become rounded and the upper back to become curved. Because of the heavy weight, there's a chance of developing shoulder, neck, and back pain. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of heavy backpacks amongst elementary students. A case study was designed with participation of all students (n=60) from first and fourth grade students. A researcher’s constructed questionnaire was used to gather the required data. The weight of bag, the students’ weight and ratio of load to body weight was measured and then assessed with standards issues. Several interviews were also conducted with teachers to interrogate the reasons of using heavy backpacks and possible solutions. The results showed that 87 % of students carried a weight that is more than 10 percent of their body weight. Interestingly, first grade students’ backpacks were heavier than fourth grade students’ backpacks. It is recommended that the necessary facilities such as locker should be obtained to students in schools.

DOI 10.11648/j.sjph.20140204.20
Published in Science Journal of Public Health (Volume 2, Issue 4, July 2014)
Page(s) 305-308
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Heavy Backpack, Primary Schools, Tabriz

References
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Author Information
  • Dept of Health Education and Promotion, Faculty of Health Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran

  • Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

  • Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

  • Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

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  • APA Style

    Hossein Matlabi, Hamidreza Hamedi Behtash, Ahmad Rasouli, Nasrin Osmani. (2014). Carrying Heavy Backpacks and Handbags Amongst Elementary Students: Causes and Solutions. Science Journal of Public Health, 2(4), 305-308. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140204.20

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    ACS Style

    Hossein Matlabi; Hamidreza Hamedi Behtash; Ahmad Rasouli; Nasrin Osmani. Carrying Heavy Backpacks and Handbags Amongst Elementary Students: Causes and Solutions. Sci. J. Public Health 2014, 2(4), 305-308. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20140204.20

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    AMA Style

    Hossein Matlabi, Hamidreza Hamedi Behtash, Ahmad Rasouli, Nasrin Osmani. Carrying Heavy Backpacks and Handbags Amongst Elementary Students: Causes and Solutions. Sci J Public Health. 2014;2(4):305-308. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20140204.20

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  • @article{10.11648/j.sjph.20140204.20,
      author = {Hossein Matlabi and Hamidreza Hamedi Behtash and Ahmad Rasouli and Nasrin Osmani},
      title = {Carrying Heavy Backpacks and Handbags Amongst Elementary Students: Causes and Solutions},
      journal = {Science Journal of Public Health},
      volume = {2},
      number = {4},
      pages = {305-308},
      doi = {10.11648/j.sjph.20140204.20},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140204.20},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjph.20140204.20},
      abstract = {Backpack is the best type of bag for students as the weight of the pack is evenly distributed across the body. But backpacks that are overloaded or not used properly can make health problems. Injuries may occur when a child tries to balance for the extra weight by leaning forward, bending his or her back or leaning to the side. Over time this can cause the shoulders to become rounded and the upper back to become curved. Because of the heavy weight, there's a chance of developing shoulder, neck, and back pain. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of heavy backpacks amongst elementary students. A case study was designed with participation of all students (n=60) from first and fourth grade students. A researcher’s constructed questionnaire was used to gather the required data. The weight of bag, the students’ weight and ratio of load to body weight was measured and then assessed with standards issues. Several interviews were also conducted with teachers to interrogate the reasons of using heavy backpacks and possible solutions. The results showed that 87 % of students carried a weight that is more than 10 percent of their body weight. Interestingly, first grade students’ backpacks were heavier than fourth grade students’ backpacks. It is recommended that the necessary facilities such as locker should be obtained to students in schools.},
     year = {2014}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Carrying Heavy Backpacks and Handbags Amongst Elementary Students: Causes and Solutions
    AU  - Hossein Matlabi
    AU  - Hamidreza Hamedi Behtash
    AU  - Ahmad Rasouli
    AU  - Nasrin Osmani
    Y1  - 2014/07/10
    PY  - 2014
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140204.20
    DO  - 10.11648/j.sjph.20140204.20
    T2  - Science Journal of Public Health
    JF  - Science Journal of Public Health
    JO  - Science Journal of Public Health
    SP  - 305
    EP  - 308
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-7950
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140204.20
    AB  - Backpack is the best type of bag for students as the weight of the pack is evenly distributed across the body. But backpacks that are overloaded or not used properly can make health problems. Injuries may occur when a child tries to balance for the extra weight by leaning forward, bending his or her back or leaning to the side. Over time this can cause the shoulders to become rounded and the upper back to become curved. Because of the heavy weight, there's a chance of developing shoulder, neck, and back pain. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of heavy backpacks amongst elementary students. A case study was designed with participation of all students (n=60) from first and fourth grade students. A researcher’s constructed questionnaire was used to gather the required data. The weight of bag, the students’ weight and ratio of load to body weight was measured and then assessed with standards issues. Several interviews were also conducted with teachers to interrogate the reasons of using heavy backpacks and possible solutions. The results showed that 87 % of students carried a weight that is more than 10 percent of their body weight. Interestingly, first grade students’ backpacks were heavier than fourth grade students’ backpacks. It is recommended that the necessary facilities such as locker should be obtained to students in schools.
    VL  - 2
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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