Explaining Students' Experiences of Health and Hygiene Class Integrated into the 12th Grade High School Curriculum: A Qualitative Study

Ayubi, Sima; Ardestani, Mona sadat; Nouri, Roghayeh; Dehdari, Tahereh

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Explaining Students' Experiences of Health and Hygiene Class Integrated into the 12th Grade High School Curriculum: A Qualitative Study

Sima Ayubi

, Mona sadat Ardestani

, Roghayeh Nouri

, Tahereh Dehdari ^*

Abstract: (318 Views)

Background and Objectives: Since 2018, "Health and Hygiene Class" has been implemented for 12th-grade students in Iran. However, no study has examined students, experiences in this class. This study aims to explore the experiences of 12th-grade students regarding the Health and Hygiene Class.

Materials and Methods: This qualitative study was conducted in 2019 in Mohr City, Fars Province. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 students and 2 teachers. Sampling continued until data saturation was reached. Data were analyzed simultaneously with collection using Graneheim and Lundman’s conventional content analysis method. To ensure validity and credibility, Lincoln and Guba’s trustworthiness criteria were applied.

Results: The results showed that two main themes emerged from participants' experiences: (1) the benefits of the health and hygiene class, which included promoting health literacy and skills for adopting a healthy lifestyle, as well as aligning content with learners in non-experimental disciplines; and (2) the challenges of the class, which involved inefficient organization of content and difficulties in implementation.

Conclusion: Based on participants' experiences, the health and hygiene class can impact students' literacy and skills in adopting a healthy lifestyle. It is suggested that the educational content of this class be reorganized and taught by trained instructors familiar with the field of health.

Open Access Policy: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Keywords: Health Education, Curriculum, Schools, Qualitative Research

Type of Study: Research | Subject: Health Education & Health Promotion
Received: 2024/09/3 | Accepted: 2025/02/1

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