Research on school health in Micronesia Small Islands Developing States

Reporting day: 2024/05/01 (Year)(Month)(Day)
Reporter: Fumiko Shibuya (Graduate School of Health Sciences, University of the Ryukyus)

My name is Fumiko Shibuya, and I am currently enrolled in the Ph.D. program at the Department of Global Health, Graduate School of Health Sciences, University of the Ryukyus.
I would like to introduce the publication paper on school health research in Micronesia Small Islands Developing States.
I conducted the fieldwork in the three countries: the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau between November 2022 and January 2023.
The title of the publication paper and overview is as follows.

【Title】
Multi-country case study on school health policy and its implementation in relation to COVID-19 control in Micronesia Small Islands Developing States

【Overview】
This study examined current school health implementation and related policies at national, local, and school levels in the Micronesia SIDS according to phases of COVID-19 control.
Multi-country case study targeted the Federated States of Micronesia [FSM], Republic of the Marshall Islands [RMI], and Republic of Palau [ROP].

These studies focused on school health implementation periods according to the PPR (Prevention, Preparedness, and Response) concept: Phase #1: prevention/preparedness, #2: early phase response, and #3: chronic phase response/recovery phase.
Data were collected through policy document reviews that identified school health policies related to COVID-19 controls in the three phases and key informant interviews.
The collected data were analyzed using content analysis methods according to the conceptual framework in this study.

Consequently, a decentralized education was instrumental in immediately implementing COVID-19 control measures in schools at national and local levels for coordination between education and health sectors.
In preparation for the next public health crisis, school health should be promoted that is integrated into both infection control and disaster management.

Shibuya F, Hattori-Uchima M, Dacanay P, Peter F, Ngirmang TT, Dacanay R, Takeuchi R, de Los Reyes CS, and Kobayashi J. Multi-country case study on school health policy and its implementation in relation to COVID-19 control in Micronesia Small Islands Developing States. Trop Med Health. 2024;52:27.　
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-024-00590-8

Source:https://www.moas.org/Arts-and-Culture-of-Micronesia-1-5705.html