BIOPSICHOSOCIAL RISK FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE SCHOOL FAILURE VULNERABLE STUDENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN SAN PEDRO DE LA PAZ, 2005

Abstract

This is a descriptive correlational study whose overall purpose was to know biological and psychosocial characteristics of elementary school students from highly vulnerable areas. The relationship between these characteristics and school failure was also examined. The study group was formed by 148 grade two students from two high risk schools in San Pedro de la Paz, Concepcion, Chile. According to the National School Support and Scholarships Board (JUNAEB) vulnerability indices for these schools were 62% and 46.3% respectively. Data collection was done through a health assessment session and an interview based on a questionnaire developed for a FONDECYT-funded research grant No 1040622. Results showed that in the biological dimension, girls tended to be overweight, 43.7% of boys had dental cavities, and 26.8% did not have good sleep habits. These variables were significantly related to both students’ performance in Mathematics and the student’s grade point average. In the psychosocial dimension, 16.9% of students lived in single-parent families, 34.5% of them suffered from psychological abuse in their homes, and 17.6% did not receive any help at home to do their homework. Students reported enjoying both their school and their school teacher as a learning model. We conclude that the health
status of both boys and girls was acceptable and that students enjoyed going to school. Among risk factors for school failure were lack of support to do school homework and family factors including domestic violence, alcohol consumption, and unemployment.