Estrategias para que los profesores adhieran a los programas de educación escolar para la salud

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine strategies to improve teacher’s commitment to school health education programmes. Strategies were studied through the application of an incremental health programme starting from the first elementary school grade until the fourth elementary school grade, involving 114 teachers belonging to 14 public schools from the District of Renca in Santiago, Chile. During the first year, strategies were focused on teacher’s training in health topics. During the second year emphasis was made on their involment in the programe evaluation and during the third and fourth year strategies for facilitating their daily educational task, were implemented. A significant improvement in theacher’s adherence to the programme is noted, specially during the last two years. Progress indicators show that, during the last year 62% had a health wall chart in their class room, 53%had adequate class room toothbrush boxes, 43% had class room libraries and 84% had implemented toothbrushing and handwashing during school hours amongst their pupils, a least three tomes a week. It may be concluded that facilitating teacher’s daily tasks and motivating their active participation in the implementation-evaluation process of the activities, allows their adherence to school health education programmes.