Barriers to the successful implementation of school health services in the Mpumalanga and Gauteng provinces (original) (raw)

South Africa case study: Building support and policy change for integrated school health

2019

This case study is implemented within the project ‘Fostering policy support for child and family wellbeing Learning from international experience’. Using a thematic and analytic framework for the project that draws on Kingdon’s multi-streams theory2 we are gathering and sharing evidence and learning on what has led to increased policy recognition of and policy change in family and child health and wellbeing (FCHW). In specific countries that have demonstrated policy recognition and change in FCHW post 2000, we are exploring within their context how different policy actors have come together to raise policy attention, develop policy options and promote their political adoption as processes for policy change, taking advantage of windows of opportunity for that change. The case studies were implemented with a local focal person with direct knowledge or experience of the policy process and include evidence from published and grey literature and interview of key informants involved in th...

Why child health policies in post-apartheid South Africa have not performed as intended: the case of the School Health Policy

2012

The unprecedented scale of health sector reform in the course of radical political transformation in post-apartheid South Africa is well-documented. This thesis examines child health policy reform as a crucial part of this process. The goals of broader health sector reform were to improve the overall health status of citizens, in particular those most vulnerable, and eliminate inequities in health service provision and health status outcomes. Although children were accorded explicit prioritisation during this time, child health indicators remain poor and some have worsened. Amidst the documented explanations for the poor progress with child health indicators, the specific role and contribution of child health policies had not been interrogated. The thesis examines the development, design and implementation of national child health policies, with particular focus on equity. The National School Health Policy serves as a case-study for the analysis. Three complementary policy analysis ...

The implementation of the Integrated School Health Policy in primary schools of Region C in the Gauteng Province

2016

Furthermore, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to my mother Constance Lenkokile, for taking care of my children while I was working on this research project. To my children, Atlegang and Bokang, thank you for your patience since I could not be with you all the time. I hope this work will be an inspiration and a challenge to the whole family. I would like to sincerely thank the University of South Africa for awarding me financial assistance in the form of a bursary without which I could not have been able to undertake my studies. I also thank the editor of this document, Marti Gerber for her professionalism and dedication. Moreover, I convey my gratitude to the school managers and primary healthcare facility managers of Region C for allowing me the opportunity to conduct my studies within their institutions. Finally I thank all my colleagues for their support and encouragement during my studies.

Factors affecting the provision of health service delivery in schools in Engela district, Ohangwena region, Namibia

Health Sa Gesondheid, 2022

The adoption of the initiative is regarded as a significant means to deliver on the Vision 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 and 4. Sustainable Development Goal 3 strives to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all ages, while SDG 4 emphasises ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all (National Planning Commission [NPC] 2018). The HPS initiative has been effective in improving several aspects of students' health through six pillars: school policies, physical environment, social environment, health curriculum, involvement with the community and health services (WHO 2021). Background: While health services have been offered at various schools in Namibia since independence in 1990, coverage has been limited and there has been a notable decline in recent years. This reduction of services is of great concern, with questions being raised regarding what factors are affecting the provision of these services. Aim: To explore the factors affecting the provision of health services to schools in Engela district, Ohangwena region, Namibia. Settings: Semistructured interviews were conducted at a public health care facility situated in the northern part of Namibia. Methods: A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual research design was utilised. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 15 nurses from a health centre, of whom five were enrolled nurses and 10 were registered nurses. The data were then analysed thematically. Results: The study revealed three themes: participants' understanding of school health services; factors affecting the delivery of school health services; and corrective measures for improving the delivery of school health services. Conclusion: The notable decline in health service provision to various schools within the district suggests that there might be factors affecting the provision of school health services, posing a serious challenge to the active implementation of the School Health Programme. Contribution: These findings could be used to make adjustments to the provision of school health services and will also serve as an information baseline to elicit suggestions for future research related to school health services.

School-based healthcare services in Cape Town, South Africa: When there’s a will, there’s a way

African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine

South African secondary schools do not deliver school-based healthcare services despite high rates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, sexually transmitted infections, and unplanned pregnancies among adolescents, ongoing sub-optimal uptake of healthcare services from public healthcare facilities by adolescents, and national policy support for such services. A pilot school health nursing programme (SHNP) was offered to 44 secondary schools in a single health sub-district within the Western Cape, South Africa. The programme included fortnightly nurse visits that offered a standard package of healthcare services, including sexual and reproductive health services tailored according to school preference.Of the 44 schools, 42 gave permission for the SHNP to operate, with the majority of schools selecting the full comprehensive package of services. Programme implementation was truncated such that delivery only occurred over two school terms (20 weeks); however, 344 students at...

The effectiveness of School Health Services delivery related to the Care and Support for Teaching and Learning (CSTL) and Integrated School Health Policy (ISHP) in the Western Cape’s formerly disadvantaged schools

University of the Western Cape, 2019

Provision of effective school health services is fundamental to learners' health and learning. It is obvious that ineffective or absent school health services would ultimately jeopardize the health of learners, core school activities and results. Hence, it is vital for the government departments and schools concerned, to ensure effective school health services delivery, for the benefit of all learners and to alleviate health problems in schools. The purpose of the study is to understand the effective provision of school health services related to the Care and Support for Teaching and Learning (CSTL) and Integrated School Health Policy (ISHP) frameworks in the selected Western Cape formerly disadvantaged schools located in both the Metro East and Metro North Districts. A qualitative research procedure was chosen utilizing qualitative research methods, individual interviews, focus group interviews and non-participant observation. The study focused on three schools, including two public primary schools and one public secondary school that were purposefully sampled to participate in the study. The research concentrated only on the views of the parents, educators, and principals. This investigation revealed that parents, educators, and principals find themselves incapacitated and helpless in addressing health issues due to inadequate school facilities, information, and support for effective school health services delivery in their schools. This study concludes by recommending that principals, teachers, and parents should be carefully trained on how to deal with learners' health problems that may arise either from home or at school. http://etd.uwc.ac.za/ x DESCRIPTION OF KEY TERMS School Health Services-are parts of the school health program provided by physicians, nurses, dentists, social workers, teachers, and other skilled health personnel, to appraise, protect and promote the health of students and the school personnel (Baru 2009). School Health Problems-refer to health problems of school children which vary from one place to another and may include malnutrition, stomach parasites, injuries and infectious disease including skin, eye, or ear diseases amongst others illnesses (Sonawane 2017). Integrated School Health Policy (ISHP)-is a recognized advancement of the school health agenda and the recognition of school health services as a national priority programme, offered through the integrated involvement of the Departments of Basic Education (DBE) and Social Development (DSD) (Integrated School Health Policy 2012). School Health Program-includes maintenance of the school environment, protection, and promotion of health, as well as health education (Currie & Vogl 2013). Health Promoting School-is defined as a school that is constantly strengthening its own capacity as a healthy setting for living, learning and working (Struthers et al. 2013).

IMPLEMENTATION FIDELITY OF THE HEALTH PROMOTING SCHOOL PROGRAMME IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN THE CITY OF TSHWANE, GAUTENG

Gender and Behaviour , 2023

The World Health Organisation's Health Promoting Schools programme aims at creating school environments conducive to health promotion in low income or disadvantaged communities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the implementation fidelity of the Heath Promoting School programme in primary schools. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 11 of the 13 health-promoting primary schools in the City of Tshwane, Gauteng, South Africa, between 2020 and 2021.The Gauteng Department of Education auditing method and tool was used. After auditing schools, both item and composite scores were calculated for each of the nine Likert scales on the audit tool. Barriers to successful implementation included a lack of policy knowledge; leadership; competence; and resources. All schools showed weak multiple stakeholder collaboration. The study findings could inform the development and review of school health policies.

Intergrated Approach to Health Promotion: The South African Schools’ Role

Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 2014

This research sought to examine the schools' role in integrated health promotion. The key focus was on the understanding of the integrated policies and the implications of practical implementation of such policies in schools. This research was explorative in nature and involved a stratified sample of 16 participants from one of the municipalities under Sedibeng District Municipality. The findings revealed that the schools' ineffectiveness in their role is a barrier to efficient health services by health teams. There is lack of coordination and collaboration of health services due to lack of training and accountability.

Moving from conversation to commitment: Optimising school-based health promotion in the Western Cape, South Africa

Background: Recent evaluation of the Interdisciplinary Health Promotion (IHP) course offered by the University of the Western Cape (UWC) at schools revealed that the needs expressed by the schools had not changed in the last five years. Objectives: This paper describes the process that was undertaken to identify specific interventions that would have an impact on the schools and, in turn, the broader community, and provides an overview of the interventions conducted in 2011 - 2012. Methods: A stakeholder dialogue explored notions of partnership between the university and the schools, sustainability of health promotion programmes in the schools, and social responsiveness of the university. An action research design was followed using the nominal group technique to gain consensus among the stakeholders as to which interventions are needed, most appropriate and sustainable. Results: A comprehensive plan of action for promoting health in schools was formulated and implemented based on the outcome of the stakeholder dialogue. Conclusion: The study’s findings reiterate that an ongoing dialogue between schools and higher education institutions is imperative in building sustainable partnerships to respond to health promotion needs of the school community.