Health Education and Behavior Change in Adolescents in India
MLC Voyager | Created by Arogya World
Arogya World’s two-year Healthy Schools Program provides critical health education to middle schoolers across India at an important stage - before their lifestyle habits are fully set. The 10 age-appropriate games/activities delivered in are fun and have demonstrated effectiveness in improving knowledge, attitudes, and healthy behaviors.
941,000 Lives Impacted
The Healthy Schools program is a scientific and activity-based participatory intervention and has reached over 1 million adolescents across 13 states, with content available in multiple local languages. This program is delivered by teachers and peer leaders, educating 11-to 14-year-olds about diabetes and its prevention, using compelling, age-appropriate games and activities.
The program’s effectiveness is measured through pre and post comparisons of the students’ self-reported knowledge, attitudes and behavior, and data has been validated by Stanford Center for Asian Health Research and Education. Impact analysis has demonstrated a 10-15% increase in awareness and behavior change. Comprehensive knowledge scores improved by 15.9% (with gains in knowledge of nutrition (14.6%), physical activity (13.1%), and diabetes awareness (24.5%) [p<0.01]. Improved adoption of healthy behaviors was also shown with composite healthy food consumption improving by 7.4% (i.e.- fruits/vegetable intake increased and junk food consumption decreased).
The Innovation
The Healthy Schools Program is an innovative and well-designed solution to the NCD crisis in India. The compelling program teaches 6th and 7th graders, primarily in government schools in rural India, the basics of healthy living using engaging games that resonate with the middle-school children.. The content is culturally competent, has been digitized for increased accessibility, and is available in 9 Indian languages digitally - English, Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, Telugu, Tamil and Punjabi.
Arogya World collaborates with mission-aligned, local implementation partners that have gained the trust and respect of the local school authorities and communities for on-the-ground program delivery.
About Arogya World
Arogya World works to prevent diabetes in India through health education and lifestyle change, leveraging technology and partnerships to help people lead healthier lives. Our innovative, community-based doorstep health model delivers prevention programming outside of traditional healthcare systems to reach people where they live, learn, and work.
