title: Challenges in developing health promoting schools' project: application of global traits in local realm.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite the importance of student health and school hygiene as an aspect of the infrastructure of community health, few feasibility studies have been conducted on school health programs in developing countries. This study examined possible barriers to and challenges of such programs from the executive perspective in East Azerbaijan Province in Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  This qualitative study used the content analysis approach to recognize barriers to and challenges of health promoting school program from the executive perspective. Fourteen experts were selected in the areas of children and adolescents and school health, physical education and school headmasters. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analyzed using the content analysis method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five themes were extracted as major barriers and challenges: 1. Intraand inter-sectorial collaboration; 2. Policy and rule formulation; 3. Infrastructure and capacity; 4. Human resources; 5. Community involvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The localized version of the current health promoting school program had major faults. If this program is considered to be a healthcare system priority, it should be revised to set effective policies for implementation and to sustain school health programs based on the capacities and objectives of each country.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Education and Promotion, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, 14711, Iran.
authors.forename: Behrouz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fathi
authors.affiliation: Road Traffic Injury Prevention Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, 14711, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Allahverdipour
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Education and Promotion, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, 14711, Iran.
authors.forename: Abdolreza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shaghaghi
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Education and Promotion, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, 14711, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kousha
authors.affiliation: Tabriz Health Services Management Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, 14711, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jannati
keywords: Health promoting schools; Iran; Qualitative study; School health
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