Abstract:

Objective To systematically study the global standards and implementation guidelines for health-promoting schools issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2021, explore the theories applying the components of WHO health services and construct the policy framework, content standards, and implementation path for integrating physical activity into the construction of health-promoting schools in primary and secondary schools.

Methods Based on the WHO health service system theory, a content analysis of WHO and UNESCO core policy documents in the fields of physical activity and health promotion in schools was conducted, including Making Every School a Health-Promoting School: Global Standards and Indicators; Making Every School a Health-Promoting School: Implementation Guidelines; and WHO Guidelines on School Health Services,to construct the policy framework, standard and implementation guideline framework, core content and implementation path for integrating physical activity into the construction of health-promoting schools in primary and secondary schools.

Results The content of the integration of health-promoting schools into the health service system could be constructed in six domains including leadership and governance, financing, service delivery, human resources, health technology and facilities, and health information systems. Implementing health services in the school environment to build health-promoting schools, the main tasks in six areas were refined into eight standards and 13 implementation areas. Integrating physical activity into health-promoting schools could be constructed from the six blocks of the health service system, including leadership and governance, financing for health-promoting schools, human resources for health-promoting schools, provision of school health services, technology and equipment, and health information. There are six implementation approaches in six blocks of health system: to strengthen the policy and governance capacity of integrating physical activity into health-promoting schools; to raise sufficient funds for the construction of physical activity integrated health-promoting schools; to integrate physical activity into the construction of health-promoting schools and provide comprehensive health care for teachers and students; to train human resources related to physical activity and health; to provide support for health technology and equipment and facilities for the construction of physical activity integration into health-promoting schools; and to establish a health-promoting school information system integrating physical activity and conduct related research.

Conclusion Physical activity is an important part of health services. Starting from the six components of health service, with the policy support of concept of health-promoting schools, this paper discussed the framework and content of integrating physical activity into health-promoting schools standards and implementation guidelines from the perspective of health services, and specific approaches to integrate physical activity into health-promoting school.

Key words: physical activity, health-promoting schools, health services