Implementation of Kenyan comprehensive school health program: improvement and association with students ’ academic attainment

This study aimed to clarify the improvement of school health during the project years and th e association between school health and students’ academic attainment. Primary schools in Mbita sub-county were selected as study sites. We assessed 44 schools’ scores on a school health checklist developed from the Kenyan Comprehensive School Health Program, the students’ mean score on the Ke nya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE), and absenteeism during the project years (2013–16). The mean school health checklist score (n = 44 schools) was 135.6 in 2013, 169.9 in 2014, 158.2 in 2015 and 181.3 in 2016. The difference of the mean score between 2013 and 2016 was significant. In addition, correlation analysis showed a significant association between mean KCPE score in the project years and school health checklist sc ore (Pearson’s coefficient was 0.43,p = 0.004). The results of this study suggest improvements of school health by the implementation of the Kenyan Comprehensive School Health Program and students’ academic attainment.
Source: Health Promotion International - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research