Health action schools in Pakistan a case study

This investigation is a case study focusing on how a community based primary school in Pakistan has tried to implement the Comprehensive School Health Promotion (CSHP) model after one year of intervention. The aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of the process the school had gone through to became a ‘’Health Action/ Health Promotion School’’, and of the constraints that were faced by the school. In order to explore the above mentioned process, this study was carried out using a qualitative paradigm, employing semi-structured interviews, focused group discussion, observation, document study and photography. The findings of the study illustrate that the IED health team has attempted not only to assist the school in gaining new knowledge and skills but has also given them ownership of the programme, a factor which has played an important role in developing enthusiasm and confidence among the teachers and Headmistresses of the school. As the findings of the study revealed, during the implementation process of the CSHP model, teachers faced constraints such as work load, understanding of the health education content and Child-to-Child methodology, use of an integrated approach to health education, and creating awareness in the community about the innovation. Teachers overcame some of these initial constraints by attending teacher education workshops on the Child-to-Child approach. In addition, the use of a separate teaching approach for health education was more effective than an integrated approach due to the lack of teachers\u27 knowledge and experience in the area of integration. The findings have shown that the support of the Head is crucial in bringing about change in a primary school. Implications of the study are presented together with some recommendations for other Pakistani schools in the case that they decide to become health promoting schools