Percepciones de escolares sobre sus hábitos de vida en establecimientos educativos de la ciudad de Cuenca, distrito 01D02, 2023

Abstract

Background: the alterations in the lifestyle habits of the school population have increased chronic diseases, representing a concerning public health problem. Inappropriate lifestyle habits have been identified, determined by family and social patterns. General Objective: to identify the perceptions of students regarding their lifestyle habits in educational institutions in the city of Cuenca, district 01D02, in 2023. Methods: Qualitative, phenomenological study. It was conducted with students in two schools, one public and one private, in the city of Cuenca, district 01D02. Informed consent and assent were obtained, after which semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted and recorded. The recorded data were transcribed into a Word file. The Atlas.ti program was used for information analysis. Results: In the students' perceptions of their lifestyle habits, the importance of consuming healthy foods, engaging in physical activity for the prevention of chronic diseases, avoiding the use of digital entertainment during meals, and reducing the frequency of digital device use stands out. Conclusions: Students identify and recognize a healthy diet, are familiar with the foods they consume, emphasize the importance of engaging in physical activity, and advocate for reducing the consumption of sweets and digital devices.