Evaluation of fitness between school furniture and children body size in two primary schools in Haiphong, Vietnam

AIM: This study was carried out in order to determine the level of mismatch between students’ body size and the furniture (chair/desk) that they use at two primary schools including urban and suburb primary schools in Haiphong city, Vietnam. SUBJECTS: A total of 240 student participants (2 schools x 3 form levels x 40 students per form) were investigated (120 boys and 120 girls). They were divided into age groups (6, 8 and 10 years) according to the grade of each child at the moment of the survey. METHODOLOGY: The body size of each student was assessed using standard anthropometric measurement techniques including measurements of sitting elbow height, shoulder height, upperarm length, knee height, popliteal height, buttock-popliteal length, stature and weight. The existing furniture dimensions were also measured, including seat height, depth, and slope: table/desk height, depth and slope. The comparison between student body size and furniture dimension were done by using the following criteria of mismatch: seat height = >99% or <80% of popliteal height: seat depth = 99% of the buttock-popliteal length: desk/table is <2cm higher than knee height: maximum desk height is determined by: he =0.8517 hev + 0.1483 hs, where hev is vertical elbow height: and hs is shoulder height. and this value was added by existing seat height and compared with existing desk height. in addition, the questionnaire on musculo-skeletal discomfort was applied to assess musculoskeletal discomfort among students. results: the results of study showed that there was a gradual increase in students’ body dimensions by age, but not significant differences by gender and locations (urban or suburb schools). the stature was significantly and highly correlated to almost body dimensions (r=0.52-0.88, p