M3.1.2: Principles of Health Education

• PRINCIPLES OF HEALTH EDUCATION

  • Credibility
  • Interest
  • Participation
  • Comprehension
  • Reinforcement
  • Learning by doing
  • Known to unknown
  • Setting an example
  • Feedback
  • Leader
• Credibility

  ● information to be delivered should be:

  ➔ current

  ➔ factual

  ➔ consistent

  ➔ compatible with scientific knowledge, local culture, educational system and social goals
• Interest

  ● characteristics and needs of the target participants should be considered in determining the:

  ➔ information to be shared

  ➔ methods of sharing this information
• Participation

  ● participants should be provided an opportunity to go through stages of:

  ➔ identifying their problems and solutions

  ➔ evaluating outcomes

  ● should be done with care providers to achieve common goals/objectives
• NOTE:

  Involving the community in their own health care help

  develop self-reliance
• Comprehension

  health information should be communicated clearly and correctly to encourage active participation. Avoid using highly scientific jargons
• Reinforcement

  people should be provided the opportunity to learn step by step. Repetition is needed to help people to understand new ideas or practice better
• Learning by doing

  ● a person learns best when they do things themselves

  ● activities to promote active learning should be provided
• Known to unknown

  start first from an easy or simple topic to a complex or difficult topic
• Setting an example

  health educators should serve as a role models practicing what they profess
• Feedback

  ● free flow of communication

  ● lessens doubt and confusion between health educations and the people in the community
• Leader

  health educators should serve as enablers who should gain the trust of the people and who have the capacity to mobilize them