SCHOOL HEALTH PROMOTION -INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES AND ROLE OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS

Authors

  • Munira Prasla
  • Shameer Ali Prasla

Abstract

Background: Schools have great potential in health promotion; however, this is often neglected area
and fewer efforts are done in exploring status of school health promotion in Pakistan. This paper
attempts to outline brief historical background of school health promotion in Pakistan; presents critical
review of some international school health promotion perspectives; and finally explore opportunities
and role of healthcare professionals in Pakistan's context. Methods: A critical review of peer-reviewed
literature divided into two broad themes of international perspectives on school health promotion, and
role of healthcare professionals. Results are presented in cross-cutting themes and in narrative style.
Results: School health promotion is very diverse phenomenon, situated in respective cultural contexts.
Programmes present a range of characteristics from focusing on integrated approach to health education
to behavioural changes; and from involving youngsters to policy advocacy. Like the programmes, role
of healthcare professionals is also varied and dynamic and without clearly defining their role,
development of effective health promotion programmes is difficult. Conclusion: School health
promotion could be facilitated by appropriate trainings for healthcare professionals and evidence-based
policy changes.
Keywords: School health promotion, healthcare professionals' role, Pakistan, effective programmes

References

WHO. World Health Statistics 2010. Retrieved from

http://www.who.int/whosis/whostat/EN_WHS10_Full.pdf

Nutbeam D. Health promotion glossary. Health Promotion

International 1998;4:349-64.

Farooq O. Pakistan economic survey 2010-11. Retrieved from

http://www.finance.gov.pk/survey/chapter_11/10-Education.pdf

WHO. Promoting Health through Schools: Report of a WHO

Expert Committee on Comprehensive School Health Education

and Promotion. WHO Technical Report Series. 1997.

Whitman CV, Aldinger C, Levinger B, Birdthistle I. World

education forum. Education for All 2000 Assessment: Thematic

Study School Health and Nutrition. 2000.

Racette SB, Cade WT, Beckmann LR. School-based physical

activity and fitness promotion. Physical Therapy

;90:1214-8.

MoE and UNESCO. School health programme: a strategic

approach for improving health and education in Pakistan.

Ministry of Education, Curriculum Wing, Government of

Pakistan and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural

Organization 2010.

Ronis KA, Nishtar S. Community health promotion in Pakistan:

a policy development perspective. Promotion and Education

;14(2):98-9.

Whitehead D. Reconciling the differences between health

promotion in nursing and '˜general' health promotion. Int J Nurs

Stud 2009;46:865-74.

PHSRP. School health programme 2009. Retrieved from

http://www.phsrp.punjab.gov.pk/shns.asp

Inman DD, Bakergem KM, LaRosa AC, Garr DR. Evidencebased health promotion programs for schools and communities.

Am J Prev Med 2011;40:207-19.

Michaud P. Prevention and health promotion in school and

community settings: a commentary on the international

perspective. J Adolesc Health 2003;33:219-25.

Hochbaum GM. Changing health behavior in youth. Am J Health

Educ 2010;41(3):130-3.Joronen K, Rankin SH, Astedt-Kurki P. School-based drama

interventions in health promotion for children and adolescents:

systematic review J Adv Nurs 2008;63(2):116-31.

Botvin GJ, Schinke S, Orlandi MA. School-based health

promotion: substance abuse and sexual behaviour. Appl Prev

Psychol 1995;4:167-84.

Tall H. Developing health services designed for young people. Br

J Sch Nurs 2011;6(4):193-8.

Shandley K, Austin D, Klein B, Kyrios M. An evaluation of

'˜Reach Out Central': an online gaming program for supporting

the mental health of young people. Health Educ Res

;25:563-74.

Pommier J, Jourdan D, Berger D, Vandoorne C, Pioecka B, De

Carvalho GS. School health promotion: organisation of services

and roles of healthcare professional in seven European countries.

Eur J Public Health 2009;20:182-8.

Gugglberger L, Dür W. Capacity building in and for health

promoting schools: results from a qualitative study. Health Policy

;101:37-43.

Akram M, Khan FJ. Healthcare services and government

spending in Pakistan. Islamabad: Pakistan Institute of

Development Economics. PIDE Working Paper 32. 2007.

Available at: http://www.pide.org.pk/pdf/Working Paper/

WorkingPaper-32.pdf

Johnson AM. Partnering for health education: pairing clinical

students with school nurses. J Specialists Pediatr Nurs

;13(1):53-5.

Downloads

Published

2011-03-01

How to Cite

Prasla, M., & Prasla, S. A. (2011). SCHOOL HEALTH PROMOTION -INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES AND ROLE OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS. Journal of Ayub Medical College Abbottabad, 23(1), 150–153. Retrieved from https://jamc.ayubmed.edu.pk/index.php/jamc/article/view/2632