ابوالفضل برخورداری
محمد حسن احرامپوش
مهدی برخورداری
فاطمه درخشی
محسن میرزائی

Introduction: The carry of heavy backpacks by school children may be associated with several potential health consequences. The aim of this study was to determine the percentage of body weight represented by school backpacks and other related factors. Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional study has been done in eight primary schools in Yazd city in which a total of ۷۸۳ students’ boys (۲۱۷ subjects in boys’ private schools and ۵۶۶ ones in boys' governmental schools), grades ۱ to ۵, were studied. Measures included body mass and school bag weight of students and then the relative backpack weight (RBW) was calculated as percentage of body weight. Results: The average backpack weight was ۴.۶ kg (range, ۱.۳ kg to ۲۰.۶ kg) and represented ۱۲.۹% (range, ۵.۵% to ۳۷%) of the subjects’ body weights. In private schools, about ۴۳.۷% of the students carried backpacks weighing less than ۱۰ percent, ۳۸.۴% between ۱۰ – ۱۴% and ۱۷.۹% of the students ۱۵ percent or more of their body weights versus ۶۶.۲%, ۲۳.۵% and ۱۰.۳% in governmental schools, respectively. The majority of students carried their bags over one or two shoulders and only ۴% used roller bags. The contents of backpacks were mainly text books, exercise books or test books. Conclusion: In conclusion the result of this study indicated that the students of private schools carried heavier backpacks than those of governmental ones and therefore it appears to be reasonable to lighten the load of backpacks and educate students for carrying correctly school backpacks.

Backpain, Equipment Safety, Schools, Students, Public Health, Students, Health Occupations, Backpain, Equipment Safety, Schools, Students, Public Health, Students, Health Occupations