Barriers of Health Education from the Perspective of School Health Trainers: A Qualitative Study

Aims: Schools health education can ensure the health of society and encourage health behaviors among the students. This study was carried out to explain the barriers of health education from the viewpoint of the school health trainers, using qualitative content analysis. Participants & Methods: This qualitative study was conducted at the schools of Sanandaj, located in the west of Iran in 2016. Using purposive sampling, 15 school health trainers with health education experience were included in the study. The data were collected through individual interview, group discussion, observation, and field notes, and were analyzed by conventional content analysis. To ensure the accuracy and consistency of data, the acceptability, confirmability, and transferability parameters were taken into account. Findings: The results yielded 5 major categories, including “shortage of educational facilities”, “poor educational planning”, “student’s challenges”, “trainer’s problems,” and “poor administrative system”. Conclusion: Considering the barriers to health education programs at schools, authorities are required to pay more attention to promotion of health and inter-sectoral and extra-sectoral collaboration, as well as emphasizing the close relationship of home and school.