The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

4318.0: Tuesday, November 18, 2003 - Board 8

Abstract #62389

School health knowledge and attitudes among school personnel

Ameena Batada, MPH1, Beth Marshall2, Lisa Hohenemser, MPH2, and Ayodola Anise2. (1) Population and Family Health Sciences/ Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, 2007 E. Monument St., Baltimore, MD 21205, (2) Center for Adolescent Health, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, 2007 East Monument Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, 410-614-3953, bmarshal@jhsph.edu

For over a decade the Centers for Disease Control’s Division of Adolescent and School Health (CDC/DASH) has promoted a model of Comprehensive, Coordinated School Health Programs (CSHP), highlighting ways in which schools can and do address the health of their students. In addition, several national organizations have advocated for the integration of health priorities within education reform. However, the success of such school health efforts depends heavily on contributions of individuals at the school level. Yet there currently exists little information about the knowledge of school health program models or attitudes toward promoting health in schools among school-site personnel. Thus, the purpose of this study was twofold: 1) To determine the extent to which schools conduct health activities and staff workshops around health; and 2) To determine awareness and knowledge about the coordinated school health program model and attitudes towards health programming among school personnel. Staff and volunteers at 12 randomly selected schools in a large, urban school district completed a two-page self-administered questionnaire in the second half of the 2002-03 academic year. The participating school district is in a state that has not received CSHP infrastructure funds from the CDC. Findings from this study will inform the scope and direction of efforts to disseminate information about school health programming and the CSHP.

Learning Objectives:

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Student-Performed Research

The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA