Aukšto ir žemo socialinio statuso šeimose augančių vaikų sveikatos saugojimo kompetencija

Abstract

Social status of a person, role of family and education may determine certain peculiarities of health protection competence and unequal effect of family and education institutions on protection and strengthening of pre-primary children's health. The above-mentioned aspects of development of children's health protection competence have not been investigated intensively in Lithuania. The goal of the research is to investigate peculiarities of health protection competence of 5-7 year old children from low and high social status families. 5-7 year old children attending pre-primary education groups were investigated in years 2003-2005. The sample included 90 children from poverty environment and 134 children from high social status families. The research methods comprised interviews with children, collision and problemic situations for children. Research have revealed that health protection competence of 5-7 year old children from low and high social status families differs: financial conditions in high social status families allows for more favourable possibilities to a child to satisfy his/her need of movement, s/he feels more secure. However, it should be noted that one fifth of children from high social status families have suffered from violence of their immediate family, whereas children from low social status families do not retrace any cases of it. They may have got used to violence as a usual phenomenon and may not consider it an offence. The majority of children from both groups are familiar with and have formed a certain opinion about taking of medicine. Children from high social status families have more knowledge regarding effect of medicine on people as well as harmful consequences of their improper usage. A big number of children from families of both social statuses have already tasted beer and wine