Health Policy Archives - Health Behavior and Policy Review

Establishing an Integrated School Health Program at Public Sector Schools: A Mixed-Method Study from Islamabad, Pakistan

A Fast Track Open Access article published in the Health Behavior and Policy Review Journal.

Authors:

Syeda Aimen Abbas, MSPH
Babar Tasneem Shaikh, PhD, FRCP (Edin)
Mariam Ashraf, MBBS, PhD

Objective:

Many countries integrate school health programs for early detection and intervention for certain health risks. In this study, we assessed school policies and practices regarding the health of the students in public schools, and determined the possibility of establishing an integrated school health program.

Methods:

We studied personnel at 67 schools, and conducted a detailed evaluation of children in two public schools in Islamabad, including a survey of school health policies, teachers’ training, and a NEEDS (Nutrition, Eye, Ear, Dental & Skin) screening by trained teachers and healthcare professionals.

Results:

Among 67 schools, none provided on-site health services, with no designated school health coordinator, and most lacked a school health policy. All expressed willingness to implement a school health program. Screening revealed 33% of students with nutrition problems, 8.5% vision problems, 5% hearing difficulties, 45% dental issues, and 39% skin and hygiene concerns. Teacher training was effective, and most of agreed to take the responsibility of health screening children.

Conclusions:

Implementing an integrated school health program can be a challenge because of resource constraints; yet, it can enhance student health and learning outcomes through teachers’ training and systematic screenings. Such a model can yield positive outcomes and improved students’ well-being.

Source: Health Behavior and Policy Review
Publisher: Paris Scholar Publishing Ltd.
Article Link: https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/psp/hbpr/pre-prints/content-psphbpr_1233

Steven Rowe2025-09-15T21:35:59-06:00September 15th, 2025|Health Policy, School Health|

A Reflection on 10 Years of Health Behavior and Policy Review

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An Open Access article published in the Health Behavior and Policy Review Journal.

Authors:

Robert J. McDermott, PhD
Annie L. Nguyen, MPH, PhD

Objective:

In this historical brief about the journal, we examine the original and future intentions of Health Behavior and Policy Review as a contributor to the scholarly literature and look back at some of the challenges faced by academic journals.

Methods:

We review the purpose and principles upon which the journal was founded and offer some of the journal’s highlights of the past decade.

Results:

We report some specific benchmarks of achievement – notably major coverage of historically relevant and emerging public health issues, linkage with World Health Organization and Healthy People 2030 objectives, articulation of health behavior and policy, and recognition of the journal’s impact factor and rank among peer journals in social sciences and humanities.

Conclusions:

The journal has evolved into an outlet for reporting the results of scientific research and learned opinion that is international in scope.

Source: Health Behavior and Policy Review, Volume 11, Number 1, February 2024
Publisher: Paris Scholar Publishing Ltd.
Article Link: https://doi.org/10.14485/HBPR.11.1.7

Steven Rowe2024-03-27T15:56:25-06:00March 27th, 2024|Health Policy, Healthy People 2030|

Weight Perception and Weight Control Behavior among Florida High School Students

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An Open Access article published in the Health Behavior and Policy Review Journal.
The full article is available as a PDF download.

Authors:

Deana A. Hildebrand, PhD, RD
Jeremy Humphrey, MS
Lindsi Lemons, MPH

Objective:

Actions adopted by adolescents to control their weight are motivated by their body weight perception. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between body weight perception and weight control behavior among Florida public high school students.

Methods:

We analyzed data from the 2015 Florida Youth Risk Behavior Survey (N = 3798). We used chi-square test to detect group differences among survey respondents and multivariate logistic regression to assess the association between weight perception and weight control behavior.

Results:

Most survey respondents adopted healthy actions such as exercise and diet, 75.3% and 55.0%, respectively, and few used unhealthy ones as weight control means, such as fasting, use of diet products, and purging, 15.6%, 7.3%, and 6.5% respectively. Compared to respondents who considered themselves as having the right weight, there were higher odds of engaging in healthy activities only in respondents who considered themselves as being overweight while there were higher odds of engaging in unhealthy actions in respondents perceiving themselves as underweight and in those viewing themselves as overweight.

Conclusions:

High school health education courses should include modules educating students on the importance of having accurate knowledge about body weight and adopting a healthy weight control behavior.

Source: Health Behavior and Policy Review, Volume 9, Number 2, March 2022, pp. 815-827(13)
Publisher: Paris Scholar Publishing Ltd.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14485/HBPR.9.2.8

Steven Rowe2022-04-11T11:30:35-06:00April 11th, 2022|Health Policy, Lifestyle, School Health|

American Women’s Perceptions of Pandemic Policies and Regulations

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An Open Access article published in the Health Behavior and Policy Review Journal.
The full article is available as a PDF download.

Authors:

Christine G. Cardinal, JD, MPH
Jennifer A. Bunn, PhD
Isaac Schley, MPH
Daphne S. Fulton, DrPH
Rosanne Keathley, PhD

Objective:

We surveyed 287 American women from April 2020 until the November 2020 presidential election to evaluate their primary news source, beliefs on the constitutionality of mask-wearing and stay-at-home orders, government’s ability to implement public health orders, and political affiliation.

Methods:

Qualtrics surveys were distributed on social media. Using a chi-square test of independence, we evaluated differences by age groups, ethnicity, and education.

Results:

Age, ethnicity, and education were all statistically related to beliefs about public health initiatives.

Conclusions:

These results can help tailor public health interventions, policies, and laws focused on compliance with public health initiatives aimed at reducing the spread of the virus.

Source: Health Behavior and Policy Review, Volume 9, Number 2, March 2022, pp. 751-764(14)
Publisher: Paris Scholar Publishing Ltd.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14485/HBPR.9.2.3

Steven Rowe2022-03-30T22:09:07-06:00March 30th, 2022|COVID19, Health Policy, Women's Health|

Collaboration, Training and Resources to Support School Policy Development and Recovery from Concussion

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Authors:

Karen Sadler, MCP
Kate Turcotte, MSc
Shelina Babul, PhD

Objective:

Concussion is a public health concern across all ages, yet there is little research on providing concussion education and training within the educational context. The Concussion Awareness Training Tool for School Professionals (CATT SP) was developed to provide the necessary concussion education and resources for school professionals to support a student with concussion while integrating back to school.

Methods:

The CATT SP module underwent a 2016 pre/post-intervention evaluation to determine if knowledge and attitudes significantly improved among educators and administrators following completion of the CATT SP, as well as a 2018-19 pilot study within a school district in British Columbia with an accompanying Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement assessment.

Results:

A statistically significant positive change in knowledge (p = .027) was found among those who indicated that they had accessed CATT SP. Results of the pilot study and QA/QI assessment found support of the use of CATT within the school district.

Conclusions:

Evidence-based concussion training and resources are key components for school professionals who are collaboratively supporting a student’s individualized return to school and learning following a concussion, and when developing and implementing a concussion policy within districts and school.

Source: Health Behavior and Policy Review, Volume 8, Number 3, May 2021, pp. 257-268(12)
Publisher: Paris Scholar Publishing Ltd.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14485/HBPR.8.3.7

Steven Rowe2021-06-30T21:27:06-06:00June 30th, 2021|Health Policy, Program Planning|

An Evidence Base for School Health Policy during the COVID-19 Pandemic

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An Open Access article published in the Health Behavior and Policy Review Journal.
The full article is available as a PDF download.

Authors:

Saif Badran, MD, MRCS(Ed)^*
Omran A.H. Musa, MA^*
Somaya Al-maadeed, PhD, SMIEE
Egon Toft, MD, PhD
Suhail A. Doi, MBBS, PhD

^* These authors contributed equally.

Objective:

Children represent a small fraction of confirmed COVID-19 cases, with a low case fatality rate (CFR). In this paper, we lay out an evidence-based policy for reopening schools.

Methods:

We gathered age-specific COVID-19 case counts and identified mortality data for 14 countries. Dose-response meta-analysis was used to examine the relationship of the incremental case fatality rate (CFR) to age. In addition, an evidence-to-decision framework (EtD) was used to correlate the dose-response data with other epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 in childhood.

Results:

In the dose-response analysis, we found that there was an almost negligible fatality below age 18. CFR rose little between ages 5 to 50 years. The confidence intervals were narrow, suggesting relative homogeneity across countries. Further data suggested decreased child-hood transmission from respiratory droplets and a low viral load among children.

Conclusions:

Opening up schools and kindergartens is unlikely to impact COVID-19 case or mortality rates in both the child and adult populations. We outline a robust plan for schools that recommends that general principles not be micromanaged, with authority left to schools and monitored by public health authorities.

Source: Health Behavior and Policy Review, Volume 8, Number 1, January 2021, pp. 40-47(8)
Publisher: Paris Scholar Publishing Ltd.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14485/HBPR.8.1.4

Steven Rowe2021-04-29T22:02:20-06:00February 22nd, 2021|COVID19, Health Policy, School Health|