Complaints arising from a mismatch between school furniture and anthropometric measurements of rural secondary school children during classwork.
OBJECTIVE
The present investigation aimed to evaluate the extent of mismatch between different dimensions of school furniture and the respective anthropometric measures of school children. Assessment of health problems as well as postural pattern among the school children while attending their classes in relation to the classroom furniture was the other aim of this study.


METHODS
For this purpose, 621 male school children (age range 10-15 years) were selected at random from rural secondary schools (n = 20) in nine districts in the state of West Bengal, India. The subjective evaluation of health problems of the school children was made by questionnaire technique. Postural analysis of the children during classwork was made by video-photographic method as well as direct observation method. Anthropometric measures of the school children were taken by an anthropometer.


RESULTS
School children suffered from various discomforts/problems during classwork because of the school furniture. Anthropometric dimensions of the school children were found to increase with age, but most of the dimensions of the school furniture in different grades (V to X) remained more or less the same. The school children were found to change postures frequently while using such classroom furniture.


CONCLUSIONS
Mismatches between the dimensions of school furniture and body dimensions might be the reason for the occurrence of discomfort/problems in various parts of school children's bodies. It can be concluded that an ergonomic intervention is required to redesign the classroom furniture for school children of different age groups in order to reduce furniture-related health complaints.
Dhara
Prakash Chandra
PC
Ergonomics and Sports Physiology Division, Department of Human Physiology with Community Health, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, 721102, West Bengal, India, prakashdhara@rediffmail.com
Khaspuri
Gurucharan
G
Sau
Soudeep Kumar
SK