What are the importance of school health programme

Effectiveness, financial protection, equity and responsiveness are important objectives of health systems, and implicitly, health services.1The World Health Report 2010: Health systems financing. The path to universal coverage. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2010. Evidence from high income countries suggest that school health services have the potential to perform well across a range of health systems’ objectives.

First, school health services operate where most adolescents are, and are accessible to families. They overcome barriers such as transportation, inconvenient locations or appointment systems. They can act on multiple determinants of health, including public health interventions and environmental change strategies.2Clayton S et al. Different setting, different care: integrating prevention and clinical care in school-based health centers. American Journal of Public Health, 2010, 100(9):1592–1596.

Second, there is some evidence, mostly from high income countries, that school health services are effective3Guttu M, Engelke MK, Swanson M. Does the school nurse-to-student ratio make a difference? Journal of School Health, 2004, 74(1):6–9. especially for sexual and reproductive health,4Denny S et al. Association between availability and quality of health services in schools and reproductive health outcomes among students: a multilevel observational study. American Journal of Public Health, 2012, 102(10):e14–e20. improvements in obesity and physical activity,5Wright K et al. Impact of a nurse-directed, coordinated school health program to enhance physical activity behaviors and reduce body mass index among minority children: a parallel-group, randomized control trial. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 2013, 50(6):727–737. self-care among youth with chronic health conditions such as asthma or diabetes,6 76. Levy M et al. The efficacy of asthma case management in an urban school district in reducing school absences and hospitalizations for asthma. Journal of School Health, 2006, 76(6):320–324.

7. Taras H et al. Impact of school nurse case management on students with asthma. Journal of School Health, 2004, 74(6):213–219.

Third, they are free at the point of use. Services also appear to have cost benefits in terms of adolescent health and society as a whole by reducing health disparities and attendance at secondary care facilities.9Mason-Jones AJ et al. A systematic review of the role of school-based healthcare in adolescent sexual, reproductive, and mental health. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2012; 1:49.

Fourth, they are highly valued by pupils, parents and communities and can provide links between schools and communities.10 1110. Mason-Jones AJ et al. A systematic review of the role of school-based healthcare in adolescent sexual, reproductive, and mental health. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2012; 1:49.

11. National Research Council and Institute of Medicine. Adolescent health services: Missing opportunities.Washington, DC, The National Academies Press, 2009.

Fifth, reports suggest that school health services have the potential to reach the underserved, low-income, and high-risk populations with basic health care.12National Research Council and Institute of Medicine. Adolescent health services: Missing opportunities.Washington, DC, The National Academies Press, 2009.

Sixth, evidence from high income countries suggests that school health services demonstrate the capacity to address the critical needs of adolescents in a holistic way. Broad-based, holistic services in schools offer the strongest basis for protecting young people's privacy and confidentiality—performing better in this respect than regular primary care services.13Denny S et al. Access to private and confidential health care among secondary school students in New Zealand. Journal of Adolescent Health, 2012, 51(3):285–291. Also, school services can counter perceived stigmatization when, for example, a narrow range of sexual and reproductive health or mental health services is provided.14 1514. National Research Council and Institute of Medicine. Adolescent health services: Missing opportunities.Washington, DC, The National Academies Press, 2009.

15. Owen J et al. School-linked sexual health services for young people (SSHYP): A survey and systematic review concerning current models, effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and research opportunities. Health Technology Assessment, 2010, 14(30):1–iv.

References:

1. The World Health Report 2010: Health systems financing. The path to universal coverage. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2010.
2. Clayton S et al. Different setting, different care: integrating prevention and clinical care in school-based health centers. American Journal of Public Health, 2010, 100(9):1592–1596.
3. Guttu M, Engelke MK, Swanson M. Does the school nurse-to-student ratio make a difference? Journal of School Health, 2004, 74(1):6–9.
4. Denny S et al. Association between availability and quality of health services in schools and reproductive health outcomes among students: a multilevel observational study. American Journal of Public Health, 2012, 102(10):e14–e20.
5. Wright K et al. Impact of a nurse-directed, coordinated school health program to enhance physical activity behaviors and reduce body mass index among minority children: a parallel-group, randomized control trial. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 2013, 50(6):727–737.
6. Levy M et al. The efficacy of asthma case management in an urban school district in reducing school absences and hospitalizations for asthma. Journal of School Health, 2006, 76(6):320–324.
7. Taras H et al. Impact of school nurse case management on students with asthma. Journal of School Health, 2004, 74(6):213–219.
8. Pbert L et al. Effectiveness of a school nurse-delivered smoking-cessation intervention for adolescents. Pediatrics, 2011, 128(5):926–936.
9. Mason-Jones AJ et al. A systematic review of the role of school-based healthcare in adolescent sexual, reproductive, and mental health. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2012; 1:49.
10. Mason-Jones AJ et al. A systematic review of the role of school-based healthcare in adolescent sexual, reproductive, and mental health. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2012; 1:49.
11. National Research Council and Institute of Medicine. Adolescent health services: Missing opportunities.Washington, DC, The National Academies Press, 2009.
12. National Research Council and Institute of Medicine. Adolescent health services: Missing opportunities.Washington, DC, The National Academies Press, 2009.
13. Denny S et al. Access to private and confidential health care among secondary school students in New Zealand. Journal of Adolescent Health, 2012, 51(3):285–291.
14. National Research Council and Institute of Medicine. Adolescent health services: Missing opportunities. Washington, DC, The National Academies Press, 2009.
15. Owen J et al. School-linked sexual health services for young people (SSHYP): A survey and systematic review concerning current models, effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and research opportunities. Health Technology Assessment, 2010, 14(30):1–iv.