Health Promoting School Program From Affordable Health Initiative: Implementation Process in Brazilian Schools

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND This study evaluated stakeholders' perceptions regarding the initial implementation process of the health promoting school model proposed by the affordable health initiative (AHI HPS model) in schools of Belo Horizonte/BRA. METHODS The model has been implemented since 2019, by an implementation committee (IC) with members from university, health, and education sectors. Data were collected from records of the IC meetings (n = 10) and interviews with 5 IC members to evaluate the model's acceptability, adoption, appropriateness, and feasibility. The material was decomposed by content analysis. RESULTS Two categories and 7 subcategories emerged, suggesting that stakeholders found the model straightforward and well‐suited to schools. Facilitators (teamwork, motivation, commitment, teacher's central role, inclusive decision‐making, intersectoral responsibility pact, model alignment with school context) and barriers (family involvement, time constraints for curriculum integration, financial resource, school infrastructure, records difficulties, university unawareness of the school context) to implementation were presented. IMPLICATIONS FOR SCHOOL HEALTH POLICY, PRACTICE, AND EQUITY The results highlight the need to involve civil society and decision‐makers to make the program feasible. CONCLUSION Participants showed they accept and intend to contribute to implementing the model. They believe in the program's feasibility as long as teacher involvement is prioritized, and identified barriers are overcome.