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Submitted
January 2, 2024
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June 3, 2025
Published
June 30, 2025
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Abstract

Background: Public school teachers play a critical role in the success of education systems, particularly in developing countries. Despite their importance, the health and well-being of these educators are often neglected. This study sought to evaluate elementary school teachers' nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and health practices in a developing country.


Method: A survey research design was employed to gather data from elementary school teachers. The survey assessed their nutrition knowledge, attitudes toward nutrition, and related health practices.


Results: The findings indicated a high level of agreement among the participants regarding their nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and health practices. Correlation analysis revealed statistically significant relationships among these three variables. Furthermore, socioeconomic characteristics were significantly associated with teachers’ nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and health behaviors.


Conclusion: Enhancing nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and health practices of public-school teachers is vital for improving their overall well-being and, by extension, the quality of education. Continued research and sustained intervention are necessary to promote a holistic approach to teacher health, contributing to the broader advancement of education in developing countries.

Keywords

Attitude health practices knowledge nutrition public school teachers

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Copyright (c) 2025 Rica Joy M. Ortega, Ruth A. Ortega-Dela Cruz

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Author Biographies

Rica Joy M. Ortega, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines

Rica Joy M. Ortega studied Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics at Laguna State Polytechnic University–Los Baños.

Ruth A. Ortega-Dela Cruz, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Philippines

Dr. Ruth A. Ortega-Dela Cruz is an Associate Professor at the College of Public Affairs and Development, University of the Philippines Los Baños. She has led numerous studies in education and social sciences, earning International Publication Awards for her work published in indexed journals. In addition to her research, Dr. Ortega-Dela Cruz actively contributes to extension services and serves as a trainer, reviewer, and editor for both local and international academic journals.

How to Cite
Ortega, R. J. M., & Ortega-Dela Cruz, R. A. (2025). Nutrition Knowledge, Attitude, and Health Practices Among Public School Teachers in the Philippines. Pan-African Journal of Health and Environmental Science, 4(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.56893/ajhes2025v04i01.01
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