School health and nutrition program implementation, impact, and challenges in schools of Nepal: stakeholders’ perceptions
Abstract Background The School Health and Nutrition (SHN) program is a cost-effective intervention for resource-poor countries. SHN program aims to provide timely support and preventive measures to improve the health of school children, which can be associated with their cognitive development, learn...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-05-01
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| Series: | Tropical Medicine and Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41182-019-0159-4 |
| _version_ | 1811296881679007744 |
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| author | Rachana Manandhar Shrestha Mamata Ghimire Prakash Shakya Rakesh Ayer Rolina Dhital Masamine Jimba |
| author_facet | Rachana Manandhar Shrestha Mamata Ghimire Prakash Shakya Rakesh Ayer Rolina Dhital Masamine Jimba |
| author_sort | Rachana Manandhar Shrestha |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The School Health and Nutrition (SHN) program is a cost-effective intervention for resource-poor countries. SHN program aims to provide timely support and preventive measures to improve the health of school children, which can be associated with their cognitive development, learning, and academic performance. Stakeholders at different tiers can play significant roles in the program implementation and its success. Their perceptions are equally important to provide information on the factors influencing the implementation process and help to identify the gaps in the process. However, the evidence is scarce on the school health and nutrition policy and program implementation in developing countries. No study has yet explored stakeholders’ perceptions on the SHN program implementation process in low-income countries, including Nepal. Therefore, we conducted a qualitative study to explore (1) the SHN program implementation, (2) its impact, and (3) challenges in Nepal. Methods We conducted a qualitative study through 32 in-depth interviews of the key informants who were actively involved in SHN program implementation in Nepal. The key informants were identified through personal network and snowballing procedure. We adopted a thematic approach for the data analysis. Results We categorized interview data into three broad themes: (1) SHN program implementation, (2) its impact, and (3) challenges during implementation. Almost all the key informants appreciated the program for its positive impact on students, schools, and communities. The positive impacts included improved students’ health and school environment and enhanced community awareness. However, the key impediments in implementing the program included a lack of coordination between stakeholders, lack of resources, limited training opportunities, and doubts regarding the sustainability of the program. Conclusions This study provided a deeper understanding of the linkage between the SHN program implementation, impact, and challenges in Nepal. Despite the challenges, all the stakeholders acknowledged that the SHN program had positive impacts on students, schools, and communities. Our findings highlighted that stakeholders from all tiers should coordinate, collaborate, and continue their efforts to effectively implement and expand the program nationwide. Awareness campaigns and advocacy for the program are indispensable to pull more resources from relevant stakeholders. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T05:56:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9c525d3e721841e5bbf78acfab4fb5a8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1349-4147 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T05:56:12Z |
| publishDate | 2019-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tropical Medicine and Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-9c525d3e721841e5bbf78acfab4fb5a82022-12-22T02:59:38ZengBMCTropical Medicine and Health1349-41472019-05-0147111110.1186/s41182-019-0159-4School health and nutrition program implementation, impact, and challenges in schools of Nepal: stakeholders’ perceptionsRachana Manandhar Shrestha0Mamata Ghimire1Prakash Shakya2Rakesh Ayer3Rolina Dhital4Masamine Jimba5Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of TokyoDepartment of Health Care Policy and Management, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of TsukubaGraduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kyorin UniversityDepartment of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of TokyoDepartment of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of TokyoDepartment of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of TokyoAbstract Background The School Health and Nutrition (SHN) program is a cost-effective intervention for resource-poor countries. SHN program aims to provide timely support and preventive measures to improve the health of school children, which can be associated with their cognitive development, learning, and academic performance. Stakeholders at different tiers can play significant roles in the program implementation and its success. Their perceptions are equally important to provide information on the factors influencing the implementation process and help to identify the gaps in the process. However, the evidence is scarce on the school health and nutrition policy and program implementation in developing countries. No study has yet explored stakeholders’ perceptions on the SHN program implementation process in low-income countries, including Nepal. Therefore, we conducted a qualitative study to explore (1) the SHN program implementation, (2) its impact, and (3) challenges in Nepal. Methods We conducted a qualitative study through 32 in-depth interviews of the key informants who were actively involved in SHN program implementation in Nepal. The key informants were identified through personal network and snowballing procedure. We adopted a thematic approach for the data analysis. Results We categorized interview data into three broad themes: (1) SHN program implementation, (2) its impact, and (3) challenges during implementation. Almost all the key informants appreciated the program for its positive impact on students, schools, and communities. The positive impacts included improved students’ health and school environment and enhanced community awareness. However, the key impediments in implementing the program included a lack of coordination between stakeholders, lack of resources, limited training opportunities, and doubts regarding the sustainability of the program. Conclusions This study provided a deeper understanding of the linkage between the SHN program implementation, impact, and challenges in Nepal. Despite the challenges, all the stakeholders acknowledged that the SHN program had positive impacts on students, schools, and communities. Our findings highlighted that stakeholders from all tiers should coordinate, collaborate, and continue their efforts to effectively implement and expand the program nationwide. Awareness campaigns and advocacy for the program are indispensable to pull more resources from relevant stakeholders.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41182-019-0159-4SchoolSchool childrenSchool health and nutrition programImplementationImpactChallenges |
| spellingShingle | Rachana Manandhar Shrestha Mamata Ghimire Prakash Shakya Rakesh Ayer Rolina Dhital Masamine Jimba School health and nutrition program implementation, impact, and challenges in schools of Nepal: stakeholders’ perceptions Tropical Medicine and Health School School children School health and nutrition program Implementation Impact Challenges |
| title | School health and nutrition program implementation, impact, and challenges in schools of Nepal: stakeholders’ perceptions |
| title_full | School health and nutrition program implementation, impact, and challenges in schools of Nepal: stakeholders’ perceptions |
| title_fullStr | School health and nutrition program implementation, impact, and challenges in schools of Nepal: stakeholders’ perceptions |
| title_full_unstemmed | School health and nutrition program implementation, impact, and challenges in schools of Nepal: stakeholders’ perceptions |
| title_short | School health and nutrition program implementation, impact, and challenges in schools of Nepal: stakeholders’ perceptions |
| title_sort | school health and nutrition program implementation impact and challenges in schools of nepal stakeholders perceptions |
| topic | School School children School health and nutrition program Implementation Impact Challenges |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41182-019-0159-4 |
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