Abstract:
BACKGROUND : Health promoting schools focus on, amongst other things, preventing leading
causes of death such as Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s), Human Immune Deficiency
Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), a sedentary lifestyle and
creating conditions that are conducive to health through health education.
AIM : This study explored the perceptions of educators regarding implementation of the health
promotion programme manuals in selected schools of the Makapanstad community.
METHOD : A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual design was utilised in this
study. Four schools were selected to participate in the study. Purposive sampling was used
to select educators from these schools who were actively involved in the health promotion
programme. Data collection was taken through focus group interviews. One focus group
comprised of eight participants who were interviewed three times. The focus group interviews
were conducted until data were saturated. Data were analysed using an adaptation of Tesch’s
method. The eight steps of Tesch’s method enabled researchers to systematically analyse and
organise data using colour coding to develop data into categories, sub-categories and themes.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION : The themes that emerged during data analysis were: the perceptions
of educators regarding health promotion programme manuals before implementation of
manuals, and the perceptions of educators regarding health promotion programme manuals
after the implementation of manuals. Introducing health promotion materials to the schools
served as a point of departure for developing personal skills and creating a supportive
environment for health in schools. The health promotion manual assisted the educators to
attain appropriate health promotion information.
