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Content analysis of health-related subjects in the K12 school curricula of Japan, Indonesia, Philippines, Guam, Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Palau, and Fiji

Authors :
Akihiro Nishio
Fumiko Shibuya
Calvin S. de los Reyes
Crystal Amiel M. Estrada
Ernesto R. Gregorio
Dian Puspita Sari
Cut Warnaini
Hamsu Kadriyan
Maria Sandra M. Cruz
Margaret Hattori-Uchima
Paul Dacanay
Rudelyn Dacanay
Hillia Langrine Enos
Tarmau Terry Ngirmang
Mohamed Khalif
Saula Golea Volavola
Sachi Tomokawa
Mika Kigawa
Jun Kobayashi
Source :
Tropical Medicine and Health, Vol 51, Iss 1, Pp 1-20 (2023)
Publication Year :
2023
Publisher :
BMC, 2023.

Abstract

Abstract Background As a component of health promoting school, a school curriculum for health education was considered a fundamental. This survey aimed to identify the components of health-related topics and in which subjects were they taught. Methods Four topics were chosen: (i) hygiene, (ii) mental health, (iii) nutrition-oral Health, and (iv) environmental education related to global warming in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). Before gathering the curricula from partner countries, school health specialists were gathered to discuss the appropriate components of a curriculum that required evaluation. The survey sheet was distributed to and answered by our partner in each country. Results About hygiene, individual practices or items that improve health-related were widely covered. However, items that imparted health-related education from an environmental perspective were not widely covered. About mental health, two types of country groups were identified. The first group included countries that taught mental health topics mainly as part of morals or religion; the second group included countries that imparted mental health topics mainly as part of health. The first group focused mainly on communication skills or coping methods. The second group focused not only on communication and coping skill but also on basic knowledge of mental health. About nutrition-oral education, three types of country groups were identified. One group imparted nutrition-oral education mainly in terms of health or nutrition. Another group imparted this topic mainly in terms of morals, home economics, and social science. The third group was the intermediate group. About ESD, a solid structure for this topic was not identified in any country. Many items were taught as part of science, while some were taught as part of social studies. Climate change was the most commonly taught item across all countries. The items related to environment were relatively limited compared to those related to natural disasters. Conclusions Overall, two different approaches were identified: the cultural-based approach, which promotes healthy behaviors as moral codes or community-friendly behaviors and the science-based approach, which promotes children’s health through scientific perspectives. Policymakers should initially consider the findings of this study while making decisions on which approach should be taken.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
13494147
Volume :
51
Issue :
1
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Tropical Medicine and Health
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.74aca8fe5bff444b85dada4399712a78
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-023-00511-1