Association of Demographic Variables with Health Behaviors among Rural Primary School Children in Kanpur

Abstract

Health behaviors established during childhood lay the foundation for lifelong well-being. In rural settings, demographic factors such as age, gender, parental education, and socioeconomic status strongly influence children’s hygiene, nutrition, and physical activity practices. To determine the association between selected demographic variables and health behaviors among rural primary school children in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. A quasi-experimental design was adopted, involving 500 primary school children aged 5–10 years. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire covering domains of hygiene, dietary habits, and physical activity. A nurse-led cognitive reading intervention was implemented for two weeks, and pre- and post-test assessments were conducted. Associations between demographic variables and health behaviors were analyzed using chi-square and one-way ANOVA at a 0.05 level of significance. Statistically significant associations were found between parental education and hygiene practices (p < 0.05), socioeconomic status and dietary habits (p < 0.01), and gender and physical activity (p < 0.05). Age was positively correlated with overall health behavior scores. Demographic characteristics substantially influence health behaviors among rural school children. Targeted health promotion strategies should prioritize parental education and gender-sensitive interventions to foster sustainable behavioral change in rural populations.