Health in School Program in elementary municipal and state education institutions

Abstract

In 2007 the Federal Government established the "Health in School" program to develop intersectoral health actions in school based on integrality, intersectoriality and health promotion. The present study aimed to compare the implementation of the Health in School Program, in Municipal and State elementary schools in five Municipalities in the state of Paraná, Brazil. This was an exploratory study, with a qualitative approach carried out among teachers, principals and other professionals who were interviewed according a structured script in which there were essay questions and also multiplechoice questions. The data were submitted to thematic analysis with the help of the Nvivo software program. In the municipal schools, the emphasis on the content worked was directed to nutritional activities and habits for a healthy life. In the state schools, those activities were directed to sexuality, pregnancy and violence prevention. In the municipal schools, the intersectoriality emerged as a contributing factor in caring for the demands of the students and health promoting activities, through actions improving the quality of life of the students and their relatives. In the state schools, we noticed the distancing and lack of understanding between the health and education sectors, damaging the quality of actions performed. Both, the municipal and state schools, claim a lack of teacher training. It was concluded that it is necessary do strengthen intersectoriality, integrality and professional training of those involved to act in the program.