2. Introduction :
The practice of instructing people and communities in the principles
of hygiene and in ways of avoiding disease is a very ancient one.
An elementary study of the history of medicine reveals that since time
immemorial it has been considered a necessity to instruct communities in health
matters for their protection and survival.
DEFINITION :
1) The national conference on preventive medicine (USA) –
Health education is a process which informs, motivate and helps people to
adopt and maintain healthy practices and life styles; advocates environmental
changes as needed to facilitate this goal and conducts professional training and
research to the same end.
2) WHO –
Health education, like general education, is concerned with changes in
knowledge, feelings and behaviour of people. In its most usual forms, it concentrates
on developing such health practices as are believed to bring about the best possible
state of well being.
3. Aims of HE :
To inform the general public of the principles of physical and mental hygiene and
methods of preventing avoidable disease.
To create an informed body of opinion and knowledge.(social workers, teachers)
To give the public accurate information of medical discoveries.
To facilitate the acceptance and proper usage of medical measures.
Methods of approaching in HE :
1. legal and regulatory approach
2. Administrative approach
3. Educational approach
4. legal and regulatory approach :
Makes use of the low to protect the health of the public.
Eg : epidemic disease act, pollution act
Limitation :
a. Applicable only at certain times or limited situation.
b. They may not alter the behaviour of the individual.
Administrative approach :
Intends to provide all the health facilities needed by the people.
‘Felt needs of people’
Educational approach :
Most effective
Components :
a. Motivation
b. Communication
c. Decision making
Results slow, but permanent and enduring.
Sufficient time for an individual to bring about changes
Learning new facts as well as unlearning wrong information as well
5. CONTENTS OF HEALTH EDUCATION
1. Human biology
2. Nutrition
3. Hygiene
4. Family health care
5. Control of communicable and non communicable diseases
6. Mental health
7. Prevention of accidents
8. Use of health services
6. Human biology
The senses (sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste)
Physical exercise
Sleep
Nutrition
For prevention of malnutrition
Taught nutrient value of food stuff
Method of preparation
Help people to choose balanced diet
Hygiene
Personal
Environmental
Family health care
Strengthen and improve the health of the family as a unit rather as
an individual
Maternal and child health care, family planning, immunization,
nutrition etc
7. Control of communicable and non
communicable diseases
Provide elementary knowledge about the nature of
the disease and method of preventing them
Mental health
Depression, neurosis ,mental anxiety and emotional
disturbances
Basic knowledge of common psychological aliments,
its detection, methods of prevention and treatment
Prevention of accidents
People taught about basic safety rules and prevent
common accidents
Use of health services
People should be informed about various health
services and prevention programme available to
them
8. STAGES IN ADOPTON OF NEW IDEAS AND
PRACTICES
STAGE OF
UNAWARENESS
Not aware of new
idea or practice
STAGE OF
AWARENESS
Get some
information but
not know much
STAGE OF
INTEREST
Shows interest to
know more listen,
read
STAGE OF
EVALUATION find
out advantage
&disadvantage
STAGE OF TRIUAL
Puts it into
practice
STAGE OF
ADOPTION
Accepts new idea
as beneficial to
him &adopt it
9. PRINCIPLES OF HEALTH EDUCATION
MOTIVATION
INTEREST
PARTICIPATION
COMPREHENSION
LEARNING BY DOING
SIMPLE TO COMPLEX / KNOWN TO UNKNOWN
REPETITION
GOOD HUMAN RELATION
COMMUNICATION
CAPABLE LEADERSHIP
PLANNING
EVALUATION
SOIL,SEED &SOWER
10. MOTIVATION
To arouse the desire to learn is motivation
2 types : primary motive (inborn desires food, clothing, housing)
secondary motive(outside forces gifts a word of praise love
rewards)
INTEREST
The person should have the desire and interest to learn.
desire for health education can only be created when its
connected with the needs of the person ex. polio vaccine for
children, sex education for youth, and prevention of AIDS for
the prostitution
PARTICIPATION
Educator should encourage people to participate in health
education programme
Group discussion, panal discussion etc. provide opportunities
for peoples participation
COMPREHENSION
Determine the level of literacy and understanding of audience
Language of communication understandable to audience
Usage of technical or medical terms should be avoided
11. LEARNING BY DOING
Learning process accompanied by doing the new things
Based on famous chinese proverb ‘if I here, I forget; if I see, I
remember; if I do, I know.
SIMPLE TO COMPLEX/KNOWN TO UNKNOWN
Start with what the people already know and then give the new
knowledge
Existing knowledge as people as the basic step
REPETITION
Most people do not accept new facts in one attempt, hence
repetition is necessary for effective health education
GOOD HUMAN RELATION
It is necessary to have cordial, friendly, and kind relations
between the teacher and the person accepting health education
12. COMMUNICATION
Health education is a two way process hence the language
should be simple and the communication effective
CAPABLE LEADERSHIP
The health education should also have leadership quality
similarly the co-operation of the local leadership(panch,
sarpanch, MLA, school teacher etc.) who plays an influential role
in the community, is always beneficial the active role of
voluntary agencies can also be fruitful in health education
PLANNING
Planning is essential for correct implementation to achieve the
targets and for assessment of the programme
During planning phase it is essential to consider the resources
available the time required and the limitations planning is
important for the success of health education, right for small talk
to wider progammes
13. EVALUATION
The achievements and reason for failure should be evaluated from
time to time and on this basis the attempt should be made for
effective health education through timely modification and
correction
SOIL,SEED &SOWER
Soil - people to whom education is given
Seeds - health facts to be given
Sower - media to transmit the facts
All components are interdependent and result in dynamic
interaction
14. EDUCATIONAL AIDS USED IN HEALTH
EDUCATION
1 AUDIO AIDS
2 VISUAL AIDS
3 COMBINATION IF A-V AIDS
15. AUDIO AIDS
Based on principle of sound electricity and magnetism
Megaphones
Public addressing system or microphones
Gramophone recorder
Tape recorder
Radios
Sound amplifires
16. VISUAL AIDS
Based on the principles of projection
Projected aids-needs projection from a source on to a screen
Films or cinemas
Film strips
Slides
Overhead projectors
Epidiascopes
Transparencies
Bioscopes
Video cassettes silent films
Non-projected aids – do not require projection
Blac-boards
Pictures
Cartoons
Photographs
posters
17. Flashcards
Charts
Broucher
Models
Other aids – traditional media which makes use of lightand
sound stimuli
Folk dances and folk songs
Puppet shows
dramas
18. COMBINATION IF A-V AIDS
Modern media available
Sound & sight combined together to create a better
presentation
Televisions
Tape and slide combination
Video cassets players and recorders
Motivation pictures or cinemas
Multimedia computers