Abstract:
Surveys was to know intellectual level, growth and health status of school-age children in Central region of Thailand. The sample were children, aged 6-12 years from the list of a survey of population change during 1995-1996 in 8 provinces of Central region, using multi-stage sampling. Intellectual level and growth were assessed by using the Test of Nonverbal Intelligence, second edition. (TONI 2) and Waterlow's classification, respectively. Health status was evaluated by using health interview and examination survey. The results showed that intellectual level of school-age children were classified as below average 45.3%, average 46.4%, and above average 8.2%, respectively. Factors associated with intellectual level were age, period of watching television, education and occupation of parents, marital status, income, residential areas, altercation or assault of parents and number of children (p<0.05). Growth were classified as normal about 89% and 11% were abnormal. Factors associated with growth were sex, development record, father occupation, income and number of children (p<0.05). Health examination survey found that most of school-age children's health status was normal but 56.4% of them were dental caries. Factors associated with health status were religion, age, guardian, parents' education, fathers' occupation, marital status, income, residential areas and family characteristic (p<0.05). Results from this study can be the guideline to develop strategies to improve physical, mental and intellectual level of school-age children.