Perceptions of health among school-aged children living in socially vulnerable areas in Sweden

• Introduction: According to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, all children have the right to health. Since good health is a decisive factor for children's future, investing in children's health is important, especially children from vulnerable areas. The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of health among school-aged children from socially vulnerable areas.Methods: The study has an explorative mixed-method design with a participatory and inductive approach based on focus group interviews with children and youth leaders, respectively, at Multi-activity Centers in three of the vulnerable areas in Malmö Municipality, as well as results from the Multi-activity Centers' own questionnaire. The data has been analyzed with inductive and deductive content analysis.Results: The children and the youth leaders described health in terms of well-being, participation, and activity. Well-being included feeling good and safe, having a healthy body, and having fun by doing things together with friends and leaders. Participating in activities was described as having a feeling of involvement, being able to have an influence on the organization of the activities and participating on one's own terms.Discussion: The result of this study shows that participating in activities increases the child's sense of well-being.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

Keyword

multi-activity center

health

well-being

participatory design

schoolchildren

socially vulnerable area

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)