Positive attitude towards behaviour change
Although our study was not intended to measure change in behaviour, we asked teachers and students whether there were any changes after the implementation of the education sessions. Findings reflect a change in attitude and behaviour regarding vegetable consumption, exercise, handwashing, reducing junk food, tea, tobacco, alcohol consumption and an increase in the demand for IFA tablets. For example, teachers as well as students mentioned that there was more acceptance of eating vegetables after the sessions:
“…before this project began, we used to make sure that they ate all the vegetables…but now, they are doing it voluntarily.” (Teacher, IDI)
“I used to not eat vegetables at school, but now I eat. After the lessons we have started eating properly. Earlier our teachers used to repeatedly tell us, but we used to ignore.” (Student, FGD)
Similarly, a teacher shared an incident where a student showed her father the pictures and spoke to him about the negative effects of tobacco: “See, if you continue to drink and chew tobacco, you will get all these diseases.” The teacher further mentioned:“He rang me up immediately that night and thanked me. He said his daughter has “changed my mind in this manner” (Teacher, IDI).