Title : Empowering communities through classrooms: Outcomes of the School Health Agency Resources and Education (SHARE) pilot program in Kenya
Abstract:
Background: Global health organizations champion school health programs to improve community-wide health literacy. However, no standardized, multi-component program exists globally. Schools provide direct economic and educational benefits, making them ideal venues for health education and basic healthcare services. Education and care benefiting students and families best impact community health behaviours.
Objective: This study evaluates the implementation, health outcomes, and scalability of the School Health Agency, Resources, and Education (SHARE) pilot program in Kenya.
Methods: The SHARE Program was piloted at 43 Kenyan schools, educating 191 School Health Officers (SHOs) and impacting over 10,000 students. The curriculum was based on the World Health Organization’s top causes of illness and death for school-aged youth from their 2021 Guideline on School Health Services. An 18-month longitudinal study done between (2023-2024) evaluated target learning interventions, including staff blood pressure, student malnutrition screenings, wound care, menstrual pain education, oral rehydration solution, and parent education.
Results: Significant improvements in diverse health actions and behaviours were demonstrated, reducing health-related absences and increasing quality health education. Over the two-year pilot, skills-based practice of every intervention and low-dose, high-frequency reinforcement proved necessary. Uniting educators from various schools built community and shared knowledge. Challenges included transportation, school health supplies, reading glasses, work-absence stipends, and frequent teacher transfers.
Conclusion: We conclude that health education is a backbone of improved health in schools and communities. Recommendations for ongoing implementation and scale-up of SHARE include assuring an interactive community of SHOs, preparing trainers with standardized education material, using a standardized, well-referenced curriculum, and incorporating digital tools to reinforce training sessions. Most importantly, SHOs need opportunities to practice new skills and demonstrate ongoing activities in a supportive environment where correct skills are reinforced.
