Application of Health Impact Assessment for Sustainable School Lunch Management Systems in Islamic Private Schools: A Case Study of Mayo District, Pattani Province

Abstract

This action research aims to develop a school lunch management system for private Islamic schools in Mayo District, Pattani Province, by applying the Health Impact Assessment (HIA) process, specifically focusing on the report review stage to influence decision-making. The study was conducted with 16 purposively selected participants, including the District Collector, public health officers, school administrators, and community leaders. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analyzed through content analysis and descriptive statistics.
The findings reveal that stakeholders advocate for using HIA as a framework for local nutritional planning. The scope of implementation covers three primary areas: teacher-led nutritional promotion, canteen kitchen management, and relevant external factors. Assessment results indicate that while teachers, cooks, and parents possess similar levels of nutritional knowledge, schools still lack concrete projects to manage nutritional status. Furthermore, insufficient household income contributes to poor dietary quality among students. Consequently, the collaborative network analyzed these issues, leading to the development of two strategic plans: 1) The Health Promotion and Health Security Enhancement Plan, which focuses on improving nutritional well-being across all age groups, building personnel capacity, and optimizing management systems; and 2) The Sustainable Agricultural Grassroots Economic Value-Added Plan, which promotes food safety in agriculture, high-quality Halal products and services, and the expansion of farming areas. These initiatives aim to ensure a sustainable school lunch system and a stable quality of life for students in the region.