Policy - Supportive Policies
8.1.13 Policy - Supportive Policies
Questions were also asked of both sectors to determine if supportive, related policies had been adopted that would complement or support policies on HIV/AIDS or sexuality. These included policy related to using a Comprehensive School Health approach (coordinating school and agency efforts) and a policy related to adolescent health as well as a question on the mandate of the school system in promoting healthy social development.
Both sectors were asked a question about whether they had an explicit policy or written statement that expressed the intention to use a Comprehensive School Health (CSH) approach (one that coordinates school and community programs) for the prevention of HIV and the promotion of sexual health. School principals were asked if they had connected school programs to public health programs. The replies indicate that this approach is being used in more than one-half of the jurisdictions, either in whole or in part.
Figure 45
| Have Comprehensive School Health Policy | Yes |
No |
In Part |
Don’t Know |
No Response |
| MOH-11b | 33.4 |
41.7 |
8.3 |
0 |
16.7 |
| PHU-9b | 47.5 |
23.6 |
13.1 |
0 |
15.8 |
| MOE-32 | 36.4 |
27.3 |
36.3 |
0 |
0 |
| SD-31 | 20.9 |
53.5 |
24.1 |
na |
1.5 |
| SP-24 | 68.2 |
19.4 |
12.4 |
1.1 |
0 |
Health ministries and public health units were also asked if they had explicit policies or written statements about adolescent health. Most jurisdictions did not have explicit policies on adolescent health. The responses were as follows:
Figure 46
| Have Policy on Adolescent Health | Yes |
No |
In Part |
No Response |
| MOH-11a | 16.7 |
58.3 |
8.3 |
16.7 |
| PHU-9a | 38.6 |
32.3 |
13.7 |
15.4 |
The education sector was also asked questions relating to the mission or mandate of schools that are often produced by education ministries, school boards and schools. These statements would indicate a supportive policy environment if they do exist and if they are explicit. We asked school districts and school principals if their mission statement included a reference to promoting health and well-being of students. A large majority of respondents at these two levels did include health or social development as part of the school mandate.
Figure 47
| School Mission Includes Health/ Social Development | Yes |
No |
Don’t Know |
| SD-6 | 76.8 |
23.2 |
0 |
| SP-6 | 80.2 |
19.8 |
0 |
Leadership Topics
The report now turns to the topics within the study that address the leadership role that ministries, local agencies and professionals can play in preventing HIV and STD and in promoting sexual health. A short summary is presented here and the detailed findings follow.
Summary of Results Related to Leadership
Sexuality education is not perceived to be a priority within the school systems. Sexuality issues were found in about one-quarter of education systems’ formal statements of priorities or in senior planning documents. Education respondents said that sexuality and health education are considered to be a lower priority than any other subject taught in schools. Sexuality was considered to have the same level of concern as most other health issues that schools address.
Within the public health systems, HIV and sexuality issues were found in about two-thirds of health ministry statements of priorities and in senior planning documents. About sixty to eighty-three per cent of public health respondents said that these issues appear in their priorities and planning documents. Sexual health tended to be seen as a higher priority issue than other health issues by public health units. Adolescent health was seen as a lower priority than children’s health in the health system.
About one-third of health ministries and health units reported that they are regularly tracking the statistics on adolescent sexual health behaviours. About one-fifth of education respondents at all levels said that they had recently reviewed such data on adolescent sexual health with a view to updating their programs.
Almost one-half of education and health ministries reported that their administrative positions on HIV and sexual health were being reviewed or reorganized. About one-third of school districts and public health units also said that their positions regarding HIV/sexuality were being reviewed.
Twelve to 25% of the respondents in either system reported that incentive grants were being used regularly to promote innovation or best practices.
Eighteen per cent of education ministries and 39.4% of school districts reported that the role of guidance counselors in sexual health had been explicitly defined. Few education respondents have defined a ratio for counselors to students in policy. Similarly, about a third of health ministries and about one-half of public health units have defined the role of nurses in schools. About one-quarter of health ministries have a ratio for nurses.
Few respondents from either system reported that they require policies or action plans from their respective next levels in their systems.