Research on the school climate and health in Brazil - a scope review

Abstract The role of the school in promoting health and preventing diseases among children and adolescents has long been recognized. Among the characteristics of schools with effects on health, child development, learning and school performance, the international literature has highlighted the school climate. However, in Brazil, relatively little research has been done in this field to date. In view of this scenario, this study aimed to describe the characteristics of Brazilian research into the school climate, paying special attention to the methods of measurement, to themes related to it and to research on the relationship between school climate and health in Brazil. To this end, we conducted a scope review with Brazilian theses and dissertations since 1987. The results showed the predominance of qualitative studies, with data from few schools, a wide variety of strategies and instruments used to measure the climate, with emphasis on the use of questionnaires, scales and interviews. There was also a relatively small participation of the health field, especially with regard to student health.