WEEK 9 - HEALTH EDUCATION & HEALTH PROMOTION

• INTRODUCTION: HEALTH EDUCATION

  • Health education should be viewed within the changing context of health and disease; within the changing health picture where lifestyles play an important role and within the accepted definition of health.
• HEALTH - ALMAT ATA DECLARATION

  • Health is a fundamental human right and that the attainment of the highest possible level of health is a most important worldwide social goal. 
  • The existing gross inequality in the health status of the people particularly between developed and developing countries is politically, socially and economically unacceptable. 
• HEALTH EDUCATION

  • “Educe” Latin for “to lead out”
  • Leading out what people already “know” and “believe” and do about their health; modifying those that are undesirable, and developing desirable behaviors that are conducive to health. 
  • Any combination of learning experiences designed to facilitate voluntary adaptation of behavior conducive to health (Green et al, 1980). 
• HEALTH EDUCATION

  • Comprises of consciously constructed opportunities for learning involving some form of communication designed to improve health literacy, including improving knowledge, and developing life skills which are conducive to individual and community health (Health Promotion Glossary, WHO, 1998).