Articles

Epidemiological study of school pathologies: physical education exemptions for pupils in the Beni Mellal-Khenifra region

Physical inactivity in students with pathologies

Abstract

Context. The term "school pathologies" encompasses two distinct categories of health disorders: those that are caused or exacerbated by a lack of physical activity, and those that predominantly affect children of school age. The objective of this epidemiological study is to ascertain the physical capacity of students with pathologies to engage in physical education and sports (PES) classes. Methods. The methodology employed in this study is based on an analysis of 93,870 medical records. This study is based on a survey conducted in the Beni Mellal-Khénifra region, which included 69 public secondary schools. The data were derived from 93,870 medical records of students aged 13 to 18. These records were analyzed to identify 918 confirmed pathological cases, with a detailed breakdown by gender and urban/rural area. The measurement instrument included the use of international references for the classification of health anomalies, followed by statistical analysis of the data using SPSS version 27 software. Results. The results indicate a notable variation in the prevalence of different diagnosed and confirmed school pathologies, with no discernible difference between the sexes. The majority of cases were found in urban areas (64.38%), and the most dominant age group was 16-18 (59.59%; p < .05). A prevalence of 40.20% of pupils, or 3.93‰ of the diagnosed population, are totally exempt from physical practice in PES, varying according to the types and characteristics of the pathology. Three out of every 1,000 children are unable to participate in physical education at school due to medical restrictions. This phenomenon is not influenced by sex, but varies according to area and age. This indicates a trend of association between urban area and age for physical inactivity. Conclusion. This work underscores the necessity of measuring the physical activity of these students, whether at school or elsewhere, in order to gain a more comprehensive understanding of their physical, social, and mental well-being, as well as their experience of physical education.

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school health physical inactivity prevalence physical education exemption diseases

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BEN RAKAA O, BASSIRI M, LOTFI S. Epidemiological study of school pathologies: physical education exemptions for pupils in the Beni Mellal-Khenifra region. JBE. 2025;10(4):406-420.