2003:102 CIV

MASTER’S THESIS

Evaluation of Fitness Between School Furniture and Children Body Size in Two Primary Schools in Haiphong, Vietnam

Nguyen Bich Diep

MASTER OF SCIENCE PROGRAMME M.Sc. Programme in Industrial Ergonomics Department of Human Work Sciences Division of Industrial Ergonomics 2003:102 CIV • ISSN: 1402 - 1617 • ISRN: LTU - EX - - 03/102 - - SE

Luleå University Of Technology Department of Human Science Division of Industrial Ergonomics

EVALUATION OF FITNESS BETWEEN SCHOOL FURNITURE AND CHILDREN BODY SIZE IN TWO PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN HAIPHONG, VIETNAM

BY

NGUYEN BICH DIEP MSc. Students in Ergonomics

Supervisors:

A/Prof. Stephen Legg Massey University, Newzeland Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Nga National Institute of Occupational & Environmental Health, Vietnam

March 2003

Acknowledgement First of all, I would like to express my special thanks to Prof. Houshang Shahnavaz, Director of Center for Ergonomics of Developing Countries, Head of Division of Industrial Ergonomics, Department of Human Work Science, Lulea University of Technology, for granting me the scholarship to attend the Master of Science Program on Ergonomics in Lulea University of Technology. I am greatly indebted to him for his kindness. My special thanks also to Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Nga, Vice Director of the National Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health in Vietnam for nominating me to attend the Master of Science Program on Ergonomics in Lulea University of Technology and for giving me an opportunity to carry out the research on school ergonomics for my thesis. My sincere gratitude and thanks to Associate Professor Emma Christine Lonoroth, Program Coordinator for devoting her precious time helping and encouraging me to over come every difficulties I met during my staying in Lulea , Sweden. My special gratitude and thanks to all professors and lecturers in the Master of Science Program on Ergonomics for giving me knowledge and experiences on ergonomic science as well as devoting their precious time imparting me with needed knowledge and skills. My thanks to all my classmates and my friends from different countries as China, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Iran, South Africa, Ghana, Pakistan, Egypt, Canada, Colombia, Sweden, India and Hungary for their cooperation and participation with whom I spend very nice time during study time, group work, field trips, and also during spare time getting together in party. Their friendly dealings given me the opportunity to bear my homesickness. My thanks also to all my colleagues in Department of Psycho-physiology of Work and Ergonomics, Department of School Health, the National Institute of Occupational & Environmental Health, and medical staffs in Haiphong Preventive Medicine Center for helping me to collect the data for my thesis. Finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude and thanks to my husband: Do Quang Binh and my children: Do Bich Ngoc & Do Nhat Quang for devoting their time to help me to accomplish the Master of Science Program on Ergonomics in Lulea University of Technology. I also would like to express my admiration to the Swedish people, the most kind and lovely people I have ever met.

1

TABLE OF CONTENT Pages ACKOWLEDGEMENT

1

ABSTRACT

3

I

INTRODUCTION

4

II

LITERATURE REVIEW

5

2.1. Sitting position

5

2.2. School furniture

8

2.2.1. School furniture design

8

2.2.2. Body size and furniture design

11

2.3. Effects of designed school furniture and sitting positions on children behaviour and health

15

III

OBJECTIVES 3.1. General objective

18

3.2. Specific objective

18

SUBJECTS AND METHODOLOGY

18

4.1. Subjects

18

4.2. Methodology

18

RESULTS

22

5.1. General information of studied schools

22

Figure 3: School furniture style in Urban Primary School

23

Figure 4: School furniture style in Suburb Primary School

24

5.2. Table/desk and chair characteristics in two primary schools

32

5.3. Anthropometric measures for 240 students (Grade 1, 3 and 5)

33

5.4. Mismatch between children body dimensions and classroom furniture

36

5.4.1. Mismatch between seat height/depth and popliteal height/buttockpopliteal length

36

5.4.2. Mismatch between Knee height and desk/table clearance

37

5.4.3. Mismatch between Elbow rest height and Desk/table height

37

5.5. Musculoskeletal complains among students

39

VI

DISCUSSION

48

VII

CONCLUSION

55

REFERENCES

56

ANEXEX

62

IV

V

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EVALUATION OF FITNESS BETWEEN SCHOOL FURNITURE AND CHILDREN BODY SIZE IN TWO PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN HAIPHONG CITY, VIETNAM By Nguyen Bich Diep MSc.Students Industrial Ergonomics, Department of Human Work Sciences, Luleå University of Technology Key words: children body size, school furniture, mismatch, fitness, anthropometry SUMMARY Children spend a large time on school furniture in the classroom. However, very few studies evaluate the extent of a possible mismatch between school furniture and schoolchildren’s body dimensions 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. 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. 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 99% or