M3.1.1: Health Education and Characteristics

• HEALTH EDUCATION

  ● Refers to any combination of learning experiences that are designed to facilitate voluntary actions that are conducive to health (Green & Kreuter, 1999)

  ● Evolved into health promotion
• Health Promotion

  Combination of education and environmental supports for actions and conditions of living conducive to health, thereby including health education
• AIMS OF HEALTH EDUCATION

  1. Motivate people to adopt health-promoting behaviors or healthy lifestyles by providing appropriate knowledge and helping to develop a positive attitude
  2. Help people to make decisions about their health and acquire the necessary confidence and skills to put their decisions into practice
• Alma ata Conference in 1978


  Declaration focused on Primary Health Care & has put premium to Health Education as one of the components of PHC is considered as a fundamental tool to achieve Health for All (HFA)
• CHARACTERISTICS OF HEALTH EDUCATION

  [1] Requires participation of the target population

  [2] Completion of a community needs assessment

  ● to identify the capacity of the community, their resources, their priorities, and needs.

  [3] Planned learning activities

  ● to increase the participants’ knowledge

  and skills
• CHARACTERISTICS OF HEALTH EDUCATION

  [4] Delivery and implementation of programs with integrated, well-planned curricula and materials also take place in a setting that is convenient for

  the participants.

  [5] Makes use of audiovisual and computer-based supports during presentation (e.g slides and projectors, videos, pictures, etc.)

  [6] Ensures the proficiency of program staff through training to maintain fidelity to program model
• Health Education Setting

  ● Communities

  ● Health care facilities

  ● Work sites

  ● Schools

  ● Prisons

  ● Refugee Camps
• Providers of Health Education

  Health workers and those whose work is related to health and community development
• RESPONSIBILITIES OF HEALTH EDUCATORS

  ● Assess needs, resources, and capacity for Health Education/Promotion

  ● Plan Health Education/Promotion

  ● Implement Health Education/Promotion

  ● Conduct evaluation and research related to Health Education/Promotion

  ● Administer and manage Health Education/Promotion

  ● Serve as a Health Education/Promotion Resource Person

  ● Communicate, promote and advocate for Health, Health Education/Promotion, and the Profession
• IMPORTANCE OF HEALTH EDUCATION

  1. We can take care of ourselves better
  2. Keeps us informed on our health to stay healthy
  3. It helps us appreciate the educators
  4. It influence many areas of wellness within the community