Health education

CONTENTS
 INTRODUCTION
 DEFINITION
 OBJECTIVES
 APPROACHES TO ACHIEVE
HEALTH
 PRINCIPLES OF HEALTH
EDUCATION
 CONTENTS OF HEALTH
EDUCATION
 STAGES OF ADOPTION OF NEW
IDEAS AND PRACTICES
 COMMUNICATION
 EDUCATIONAL AIDS
 METHODS OF HEALTH

INTRODUCTION
 Health education is the
process of imparting
information about health in
such a way that the recipient
is motivated to use that
information for the protection
or advancement of his own,
his family’s or his
community’s health
 Health education is an active
learning process, which aims
at favorably changing
attitudes and influencing
behavior w.r.t health

It is vital to the practice of prevention
It is the channel for reaching the people and
alerting them to the doctor’s services and to all
other community health resources
A ‘health educated’ person is well aware of his own
responsibility and of the steps he himself must take
to receive the full benefits of prevention at all levels

DEFINITION
 “Health education comprises consciously
constructed opportunities for learning involving
some form of communication designed to
improve health literacy, including improving
knowledge, and developing skills which are
conducive to individual and community health”
-WHO health promotion glossary

WHO Health promotion
Glossary1998
“Health literacy represents
the cognitive and social
skills which determine the
motivation and ability of
individuals to gain access
to, understand and use
information in ways which
promote and maintain good
health”

National conference on preventive
medicine in USA
“health education is a process that
informs, motivates, and helps people to
adopt and maintain healthy practices
and lifestyles, advocates environmental
changes as needed to facilitate this
goal and conducts professional training
and research to the same end”

OBJECTIVES
 INFORMING PEOPLE: people are informed
about the different diseases, their etiology and
how to prevent them.
 MOTIVATING PEOPLE: concerned with
clarifying/ changing or forming
attitudes,beliefs,values or opinions. After
health information is given it is necessary to
motivate them alter their lifestyles so that it
becomes favorable to promoting health and
preventing disease. Motivation is defined as “a
combination of forces which initiate, direct and
sustain behavior”

 GUIDING IN TO ACTION: concerned with
development of skills and action. A person who
has obtained health information might be
motivated to change his behavior and lifestyle.
However he might need professional help and
guidance so as to bring about these changes
and to sustain these altered lifestyles

APPROACHES TO ACHIEVE
HEALTH
 LEGAL OR REGULATORY APPROACH
 Make use of the law to protect the health of the
public
 Government makes laws and regulations
 Eg:-Epidemic diseases act
-Pollution act
-Food adulteration act
-Environmental act

HEALTH
ADMINISTRATIVE OR SERVICE
APPROACH: This approach intends to
provide all the health facilities to the
people with the hope that they will use it
it becomes a failure if the service is not
based on the felt needs of the people

HEALTH
 EDUCATIONAL APPROACH
 Most effective means for achievement of
changes in the health practices and lifestyles
of the community.
 Components –motivation, communication and
decision-making
 Result obtained from this approach is slow but
permanent and enduring
 Sufficient time should be allowed for the
individual to bring about the desired changes
in his behavior

HEALTH
 PRIMARY HEALTH CARE APPROACH:
 It involves full participation and active
involvement of the people starting from the
planning stage till the delivery of the health
services.
 This is based on principles of primary health
care-community participation
 This can be achieved by providing the
necessary guidance to help people identify
their health problems and to find solutions to
these problems

PRINCIPLES OF HEALTH
EDUCATION
 1.CREDIBILITY
 2.INTEREST
 3.PARTICIPATION
 4.MOTIVATION
 5.COMPREHENSION
 6.REINFORCEMENT
 7.LEARNING BY DOING
 8.KNOWN TO UNKNOWN
 9.SETTING AN EXAMPLE
 10.GOOD HUMAN
RELATIONS
 11.FEEDBACK
 12.COMMUNITY LEADERS
 13.SOIL, SEED, SOWER

CREDIBILITY
It is the degree to which
the message is
perceived as trustworthy
by the receiver
It should be scientifically
proven, based on facts
and should be
compatible with local
culture and goals

INTEREST
 If the health
education topic is of
interest to the
people, they will
listen to it.
 Health educator
should identify the
“felt needs” of the
people and then
prepare a program
that they can
actively participate
in to make it

PARTICIPATION
 Health educator should
encourage people to
participate in the
program
 Once the people are
given a chance to take
part in the program it
leads to their
acceptance of the
program
 Methods like group
discussion, panel
discussions etc. provide
opportunities for
people’s participation

MOTIVATION
 “the fundamental desire
for learning in an
individual”
 Health education can
be facilitated by the
motivation provided by
the desire to achieve
individual goals
 Eg:-for a teenager,
esthetics might be a
motive to take care of
his teeth whereas for
an adult, the expenses
of undergoing
restorative care

COMPREHENSION
 Level of understating
of the people who
receive the health
education
 Should first determine
the level of literacy
and understanding of
the audience and act
accordingly
 words that are
strange or new to the
people should not be
used
 Use of technical
terms or medical

 Eg:-A statement saying “Eat food items that
are cariogenic” may not be comprehensive to
the layman. A better way of explaining would
be “ Avoid food stuffs which are sweet and
which stick to your teeth like toffees and
pastries. Eat food items like fruits and raw
vegetables which in addition to being healthy,
also help in keeping your teeth clean.

REINFORCEMENT
 This is the principle that refers to the repetition
needed in health education
 It is not possible for the people to learn new
things in a short period of time
 So repetition is a good idea
 This can be done at regular intervals and it
helps people to understand new ideas or
practice better
 “booster dose in health education”

LEARNING BY DOING
 If the learning
process is
accompanied by
doing new things it
is better instilled in
the minds of people
 “if I hear, I forget; if I
see, I remember; if I
do, I know”

KNOWN TO UNKNOWN
 Before the start of any health education program,
the health educator should find out how much the
people already know and then give them the new
knowledge.
 The existing knowledge of the people can be used
as the basic step up on which new knowledge can
be placed
 Eg:-A health education program with the aim of
introducing a toothbrush to a rural population will
be better appreciated if the communicator start
the program with “what are you using to clean
your teeth at present” and then going in to details
like “why
 are you using it” and then connecting it to the

SETTING AN EXAMPLE
 The health educator
should follow what he
preaches.
 He should set an
example to others to
follow
 Eg:- A health educator
who participate in a
program highlighting
the ill effects of tobacco
should not be seen
smoking since it sends
a wrong signal and
seriousness of the

GOOD HUMAN RELATIONS
 This principle states that
the health educator
should have good
personal qualities and
should be able to
maintain friendly
relations with the people
 The health educator
should have a kind and
sympathetic attitude
towards the people and
should always be helpful
to them in clarifying
doubts or repeating
what is not understood

FEEDBACK
 For any program to
be successful it is
necessary to collect
feedback to find out
if any modifications
are needed to make
the program more
effective

COMMUNITY LEADERS
 Community leaders can be
used to reach the people of
the community and to
convince them about the
need for health education
 Leaders can also be used to
educate the people as they
will have a rapport and will be
familiar with the people of
their community
 The leader will have an
understanding of the needs of
the community and advice
and guide them

SOIL, SEED, SOWER
 Soil is the community
 Seed is information
 Sower is the person giving the information

CONTENTS OF HEALTH
EDUCATION
 HUMAN BIOLOGY
 NUTRITION
 HYGIENE
 FAMILY HEALTH CARE
 CONTROL OF COMMUNICABLE AND NON
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
 PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS
 USE OF HEALTH SERVICES

HUMAN BIOLOGY
 Training of human biology should start from
the kindergarten itself
 Children are taught about the different parts of
the human body and their functions
 They are also taught the importance of good
health and methods to keep physically fit
 Teaching also directed towards the need for
exercise, adequate rest and sleep
 Information about the adverse habits

NUTRITION
People should be
taught about the
nutrient value of food
stuff and the effect of
nutrients on health
It is to help people to
choose optimum and
balanced diets

HYGIENE
 The people are taught
about the importance of
hygiene and methods of
maintaining hygiene
 A)personal hygiene-to
promote good standards
of personal cleanliness
 B)environmental
hygiene-this comprises
two aspects-Domestic
and Community

 Domestic hygiene-keeping the house and
surroundings clean, proper ventilation,
adequate light and fresh air, proper disposal of
waste materials, avoidance of pests, insects
etc.
 Community hygiene-care of the surroundings
ensuring proper garbage disposal, adequate
sewage and drainage

FAMILY HEALTH CARE
 To strengthen and
improve the health
of family as a unit
rather than as an
individual
 Improving maternal
oral health to
improve the oral
health of child
should also be
addressed

CONTROL OF COMMUNICABLE
&NON COMMUNICABLE
DISEASES
To provide elementary
knowledge so that they can
better understand common
signs and symptoms of
disease and prevention
there by promoting health

PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS
 People have to taught about the basic safety
rules and how to prevent common accidents
which takes place in their home, in their work
place or on the road
 Health education programs to educate the
students, parents and teachers about the use
of mouth guards when playing contact sports

USE OF HEALTH SERVICES
People have to be inform about the various health
services and preventive programmes available to
them.
They also have to be educated on the proper use
of these services.
They also be encourage to participate in the health
programmes.

STAGES IN THE ADOPTION OF
NEW IDEAS AND PRACTICES
 Stage of unawareness: Stage in which
individual not aware of new idea or practice
 Stage of awareness: Stage in which individual
has some general information about the new
idea or practice, but does not know much
about it’s usefulness, limitations etc.
 Stage of interest: Stage in which individual
showing more about the new idea or practice

 Stage of evaluation:- Stage in which the
individual tries to find out he advantages and
disadvantages of the new method. He
evaluates whether the new practice will be
beneficial to him and his family
 Stage of trial:- Stage in which the individual
decides to put the new idea or method into
practice. Additional information and guidance
should be given at this stage
 Stage of adoption:- Stage in which the
individual finally accepts the new idea or
practice as beneficial to him and adopts it

COMMUNICATION
 Communication is
regarded as a two
way process of
exchanging or
shaping ideas,
feelings and
information to bring
about desired
changes in human
behavior.

 Definition:-
 Health communication is defined as a key
strategy to inform the public about health
concern and to maintain important health
issues on the public agenda. The use of the
mass and multi media and other technological
innovations to disseminate useful health
information to the public, increases awareness
of specific aspects of individual and collective
health as well as importance of health in
development.

 Communication is essentially the transfer of ideas,
messages or information from one person to
another.
 In this process a cycle of communicating
messages is formed between the sender and the
receiver.
 The sender is required to conceive the message
he wishes to send, encode this message and then
transmit.
 The receiver then is require to receive this
message, decode is and clarify his/her
understanding of the messages.

COMPONENTS OF
COMMUNICATION
 The components of communications are:-
 Sender:
 He is the originator of the message.
 His objectives should be clearly defined.
 He should know the interests and needs of his
audience.
 He should know the message.
 He should know the channels of
communication.
 He should know his abilities and limitation.

 Receiver
 Audience may be a single person or a group.
 Two types of audience are
 Controlled-It is held together by a common
interest. It is a homogenous groups.
 Uncontrolled-It is a group which has gathered
together because of curiosity.

 Message
 It is the information transmitted by the communicator
to the recipient.
 A good message must be
 In line with the objective.
 Based on felt needs.
 Clear and understandable.
 Specific and accurate.
 Timely and adequate.
 Interesting.
 Culturally and socially appropriate.

 Channels of communication
 It is the media used for communication
 The media chosen should be
-Efficient in transmitting the message
-Attractive to the audience
-Easily understandable by the people
-Able to bring about good response and
interaction by the people
 The most common channel of communication
is interpersonal or face-to-face communication

 Feedback
 It is the flow of information from the audience
to the sender.
 It provides an opportunity to modify the
message and render it more acceptable
 Eg:- opinion polls, interviews, questionnaire
surveys

TYPES OF COMMUNICATION
1.One way and two
way communication.
2.Verbal and non
verbal communication
3.Formal and informal
communication

 One way
communication-Flow
of information is one
way, from the sender
to the receiver. The
draw backs are
 Knowledge is
imposed
 Learning is
authoritative.
 There is little
audience

 Two way
communication
 Participation from
both the sender and
the receiver.
 Learning is active
and democratic
 It is more likely to
influence behavior

Verbal and non verbal
communication

Formal and informal
communication
Formal
communication
follows lines of
authority
Informal
communication-
conversing with
friends or colleagues

BARRIERS IN
COMMUNICATION
 1.Psychological
barriers
 2.physiological
barriers
 3.Environmental
barriers
 4.Cultural barriers

 PSYCHOLOGICAL BARRIERS
 Emotional disturbances, depression, neurosis,
psychosomatic disorder
 Special methods and utmost care should be
adopted to convey the message
 PHYSIOLOGICAL BARRIERS
 Difficulties in self expression, hearing, seeing,
understanding
 Channels of communication should be
selective

 ENVIRONMENTAL BARRIERS
 Excessive noise, difficulties in vision and
congestion
 It can be overcome by making small groups
and using appropriate channels for
communication
 CULTURAL BARRIERS
 Patterns of behavior, habits, beliefs, customs,
attitudes, religion

EDUCATIONAL AIDS USED IN
HEALTH EDUCATION
 The aids used for transmitting health
education are the main constituent of the
armamentarium of health education process
 1.Auditary aids
 2.Visual aids
 3.A combination of audi-visual aids

 AUDITORY AIDS
 Based on the principles of
sound, electricity and
magnetism
 Useful in reproducing any
kind of words spoken and
also helps in repeating the
same
 Megaphones
 Microphones
 Gramophone records and
discs
 Tape records
 Radios
 Sound amplifiers

 VISUAL AIDS
 Based on the principles of projection
 Helps individuals to understand better
 It is of 2 types
 1.projected aids
 2.non-projected aids

 Projected aids
 Needs projection from
a source on to the
screen
 Films or cinemas
 Film stripes
 Slides
 Overhead projectors
 Transparencies
 Bioscopes
 Video cassettes
 Silent films

 Advantages
 real life situations can be enacted in films
 Self explanatory
 Creates a special interest among the audience
to watch a film
 Situational effects can be shown in a film

 Non projected aids
 Do not require any
projection
 Black board
 Pictures, cartoons,
photographs
 Flip charts, flashcards
 Flannel boards
 Printed materials-
leaflets, pamphlets,
folders, booklets,
brochures
 Models, specimens

 COMBINATION OF AUDIO-
VISUAL AIDS
 Sound and sight can be
combined together
 Televisions
 Tape and slide combinations
 Video cassette players and
records
 Motion pictures or cinemas
 Multimedia computers
 These also include traditional
media-folk dance, folk songs,
puppet shows, dramas

METHODS OF HEALTH
EDUCATION
 1.Individual approach
 2.Group approach
-chalk and talk
-symposium
-Group discussions
-Panel discussions
-Work shop
-conferences or seminars
-role playing/ socio drama
-demonstrations
 3.Mass approach

 INDIVIDUAL APPROACH
 When an individual comes to the dental clinic
or health centre because of illness, the
opportunity should be used to educate him on
matters of interest such as the cause and
nature of his illness, its prevention, beneficial
diets, oral hygiene etc.
 This approach can also be used by public
health personnel, since they will be visiting
homes and can interact with the individual and
their families

 Advantages
 Can be done in a dentist’s consultation room
 Discussion, argument and persuasion of an
individual to change his behavior is possible
 Opportunity for the individual to ask questions
and clearing doubts
 Disadvantages
 Small number can benefit
 Health education is given to only who come in
contact with the dental surgeon or with public
health personnel

GROUP APPROACH
 CHALK AND TALK (LECTURES)
 “A carefully prepared oral presentation of
facts, organized thoughts and ideas by a
qualified person”
 Should have an opening statement
 Group should not be more than 30
people
 Duration of talk should not exceed 15-20
minutes
 Should be based on topics of current
interest
 Its effectiveness depends on ability of
speaker to write and draw legibly
 Disadvantage-one way communication
,learning is passive

 SYMPOSIUM
 A series of speeches on a selected topic
 Each speaker presents a brief aspects of the
topic
 There is no discussion among speakers
 In the end, the audience may ask questions
 The chairman makes a summary at the end of
the session

 GROUP DISCUSSIONS
 A group is an aggregation of people
interacting in a face-to-face situation
 Process of identifying problems and
finding solutions collectively by members
of group
 Consist of 6-12 members
 Participants are seated in a circle
 Group leader initiates the subject,
prevents side conversations,
encourages everyone to participate and
sums up the discussion
 There should be a recorder who
prepares a report on issues discussed
and agreements reached

 PANEL DISCUSSIONS
 Panel of 4 to 8 experts
sit and discuss a topic in
front of an audience
 Headed by a chairman
who opens the session,
introduces the speakers
and keeps the
discussion going
 Audience are allowed to
ask questions
 Chairman sums up the
different views
presented

 WORKSHOP
 It consist of series of meetings with emphasis
on individual work with the help of resource
persons
 Total work shop is divided in to small groups
and each groups will select a chairman and a
recorder
 The individuals work, solve a part of the
problem, contribute to group discussions and
leave the workshop with a plan of action for
the problem

CONFERENCES OR SEMINARS
Program range from half day to one week
Held on a regional, state or national level
They usually have a theme

 ROLE PLAYING/SOCIO
DRAMA
 Size of the group should be
25
 The audience should take
part
 Situation is dramatized to
make communication more
effective
 It is followed by a discussion
on the problem
 Puppet shows is a type of
socio drama

 DEMONSTRATIONS
 Procedure is carried out step-by-step in front
of sn audience
 Method involves the audience in discussion
and has a high motivational value
 The audience can then carry out the procedure
themselves with expert help

MASS APPROACH
 Communication is given to a community where
the people gathered together do not belong to
one particular group
 Advantages:
 Large number of people can be reached
 People of all socio-economic status have
access to health education
 Disadvantage :
 One way communication

 VARIOUS MASS MEDIA USED ARE
 Television
 Radio
 News papers/press
 Documentary films
 Posters
 Health exhibition
 Health magazines
 Health information booklets
 Internet

HEALTH PROMOTION
“process of enabling people to increase
control over, and to improve health”
-Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion,
First International Conference on Health
Promotion, Ottawa 21November 1986

The five priority action areas for health promotion
1.Building healthy public policy
2.Creating supportive environments for health
3.Strengthening community action for health
4.Developing personal skills
5.Re-orienting health services

 Building healthy public policy
 Health promotion put health on the agenda of
policy makers in all sectors and at all levels,
directing them to be aware of the health
consequences of their decisions and to accept
their responsibilities for health
 Creating supportive environments for health
 Health promotion generates living and working
conditions that are safe, stimulating, satisfying
and enjoyable
 The protection of the natural and built
environments and the conservation of natural
resources must be addressed in any health

 Strengthening community action for health
 Health promotion works through concrete and
effective community action in setting priorities,
making decisions, planning strategies and
implementing them to achieve better health.
 At the heart of this process is the
empowerment of communities

 Developing personal skills
 Health promotion supports personal and social
development through providing information,
education for health, and enhancing life skills.
 Eg:-Increasing patient’s knowledge about the
role of sugar and plaque in the etiology of
dental diseases and to develop tooth brushing
skills and promote self care

 Re-orienting health services
 Reorienting health services require a stronger
attention to health research as well as to
changes in professional educating and training
 There must be a change of attitude and
organization of health services, with the health
sector moving increasingly in a health
promotion direction, beyond its responsibility
for providing clinical and curative services
 Eg:-Dentists can be encouraged and rewarded
for effective prevention and research activities

CONCLUSION
 HEALTH EDUCATION HAVE THE POTENTIAL
TO TACLE THE UNDERLYING DETERMINANTS
OF ORAL HEALTH AND THEREBY IMPROVE
THE ORAL HEALTH OF ALL SECTIONS OF
SOCIETY.IT HAS AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT ON
BEHAVIOR.IT IS VITAL TO THE PRACTICE AND
PREVENTION AND IS THE CHANNEL FOR
REACHING THE PEOPLE AND ALERTING
THEM TO HEALTH SERVICES AND
RESOURCES.THE FOCUS OF HEALTH
EDUCATION IS ON PEOPLE &THEIR ACTIONS
THROUGH PLANNING AND TEAMWORK.ITS
GOAL IS TO MAKE REALISTIC

REFERENCE
1.ESSENTIALS OF PUBLIC HEALTH
DENTISTRY-SOBEN PETER

Health education

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