The status of health-promoting schools in Hong Kong and implications for further development
Author(s)
Author(s)
St Leger, L.
Cheng, F. F. K.
Hong Kong Healthy Schools Team
Date Issued
2007
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Journal
Health Promotion International
Volume
22
Issue
4
Start page
316
End page
326
Abstract
An evaluation framework, called the Hong Kong Healthy Schools Award, has been developed to enable comprehensive collection and analysis of data reflecting the status of health-promoting schools (HPS) in Hong Kong. The key findings revealed a high prevalence of emotional problems, unhealthy eating habits, physical inactivity and risk-taking behaviours, leading to both intentional and unintentional injuries among students with higher prevalence among secondary school students. The results indicated a substantial lack of health policies in schools; it also indicated health services in schools not readily accessible to students and staff, and insufficient staff training in health promotion and education. However, most schools have made initiatives in environmental protection, established safety guidelines and strategies for managing students with emotional problems. The success of HPS depends largely on teachers' understanding of its building blocks. Evidence from the comprehensive mapping of the status of HPS in Hong Kong and from student surveys does show encouraging outcomes as well as identifying priority issues to be addressed in the next 5 years.
SFU Affiliated Publication
No
Availability at SFU Library
No database links found.