Science teaching and health promotion in schools: The potential and challenges of teaching practice in health education

Abstract

The integration of Science Teaching and Health Education strengthens Health Promotion in schools, contributing to students’ Health Literacy. This study investigates the perspectives and approaches of Science teachers regarding this integration in their teaching practice, analyzing its potentialities and challenges in Basic Education in Brazil. To this end, 25 teachers from the fields of Biological Sciences, Physics, Mathematics, and Chemistry were interviewed. The results highlight challenges such as the lack of specific training, the scarcity of teaching materials, and inadequate school infrastructure. However, they also reveal potentialities, such as teachers' interest in interdisciplinary approaches to Health Education. The effective implementation of this process requires a collective commitment among educators, school administrators, students, and the community, along with public policies that ensure equity and appropriate conditions for teaching.