Implementation fidelity of the health promoting school programme in primary schools in the city of Tshwane, Gauteng

Abstract

The World Health Organisation’s Health Promoting Schools programme aims at creating school environments conducive to health  promotion in low income or disadvantaged communities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the implementation fidelity of the Heath  Promoting School programme in primary schools. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 11 of the 13 health-promoting primary schools  in the City of Tshwane, Gauteng, South Africa, between 2020 and 2021.The Gauteng Department of Education auditing method and tool  was used. After auditing schools, both item and composite scores were calculated for each of the nine Likert scales on the audit tool.  Barriers to successful implementation included a lack of policy knowledge; leadership; competence; and resources. All schools showed  weak multiple stakeholder collaboration. The study findings could inform the development and review of school health policies.