2. Contents
Definition
What is health ?
Objectives of Health Education
Health Education vs Propaganda
Principles of Health Education
Stages in adoption of new ideas and practices
Educational Aids used in Health Education
Methods of Health Education
3. Health education comprises 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.
-WHO Health Promotion Glossary 1998
4. What is health ?
A state of complete physical, mental and social well-
being and not merely the absence of disease or
infirmity.
-World Health Organization
5. Objectives of Health Education
Informing people (cognitive objective) people are informed
about different diseases, their etiology, and how to prevent
them. Information increases knowledge and helps people
become aware of their health problems
6. Motivating people (affective objective) It is
concerned with clarifying, forming or changing
attitudes, beliefs, values or opinions. It is necessary
motivate people to alter their lifestyle so that is
becomes favourable to promoting health and
preventing diseases
Guiding into action (behavioural objective) It is
concerned with the development of skills and action
7. Health Education vs Propaganda
Health Education Propaganda
Knowledge and skills are actively acquired
in the process.
Knowledge is instilled in the mind in this
process.
Drives people to think for themselves. Prevents thinking in individuals.
Primitive desirers are disciplined in this
process
Primitive desires are aroused and
stimulated.
Results in a reflective behaviour and
makes people use judgement before
acting upon it.
Process results in reflexive behaviour and
makes people aim at impulsive actions.
Process appeals to a reason Process appeals to a emotion.
Helps to develop individuality, personality
and self expression.
Develops different patterns of attitude
and behaviours according to medium
used.
Knowledge is acquired through self reliant
activity
Knowledge is passively received and
spoon fed.
Aimed at developing good habits,
favourable attitudes and skills in
individuals and is behaviour oriented
No change in attitude oe behaviour of
individual is seen and process is
information oriented.
8. Principles of Health Education
Credibility
Interest
Participation
Motivation
Comprehension
Reinforcement
Learning by doing
Known to unknown
Setting an example
Good human relations
Feedback
Community leaders
Seed, Soil, Sower
9. It is the degree to which the message is perceived as
trustworthy by the receiver
It should be scientifically proven, based on fact and
should be compatible with local culture and social
goals
Credibility
10. Interest
The health education topic should be of interest to
the people only then will they listen to it
The educator needs to identify the needs and
interests of the people and arrange a session
accordingly
11. Motivation
Motivation is defined as the fundamental desire for
learning in and individual
Health education can be facilitated by motivation
provided by the desire to achieve individual goals
12. Comprehension
Comprehension refers to the level of understanding
of the people receiving health education
Health educator must first determine the level of
literacy and understanding of the audience and act
accordingly
Usage of technical or medical terms must be avoided
13. Reinforcement
It is not possible for people to
learn or adapt to a process or
behaviour in short period of time
Repetition is needed in
health education
Should be done at regular
intervals
Called as the BOOSTER DOSE in
health education
14. Learning by doing
It is easier to learn a new thing if the learning process
is accompanied by doing the new thing
It is better instilled in the minds of people
15. Known to unknown
The health educator must first find out how much the
people already know
Only then can he give them knowledge as per their
requirement
The existing knowledge of people can act as basic
step upon which new knowledge is placed
16. The health educator must
follow what he preaches
He should set an example
For other people to follow
Setting An Example
17. Good human relations
The health educator should ne able to maintain
friendly relations with the people
He should have a kind and sympathetic attitude
towards the people
He should always be helpful to them in clarifying
their doubts
19. Community leaders
Community leaders can be used to reach out to the
community and convince them the need fo health
education
Community leaders have a rapport and are familiar
with the people of the community and can be used
to provide health education to the people of the
community
20. Seed, Soil, Sower
Soil is the community
Seed is the information
Sower is the person giving the information
21. Stages in adoption of new ideas and
practices
Unawareness Awareness Interest Evaluation Trial
22. Educational Aids used in Health Education
Educational
Aids
Auditary Visual
Projected
Non projected
Audio-Visual
23. Auditary Aids
Auditary aids are useful in reproducing any kind of
words spoken and also help in repeating the same.
Megaphones, gramophone, tape recorders, radios,
sound amplifiers are some auditory aids used in
health education
24.
25. Visual Aids
They can be classified as projected and non
projected aids
Projected Aids- these are aids than can be shown on
a screen
Real life situations can be enacted in films
Process is self explanatory
Special interest among audience is created
Leaves a lasting impression on the mind of people
26. Non Projected Aids- these are visual aids that do not require any projection
Examples – blackboard, photographs, charts, posters, flashcards
27. Combination of Audio-Visual Aids
Sound and sight is combined together to create a better presentation
Examples- televisions, Tape and slide combinations, video cassette players and
recorders, cinemas, folk dances, puppet shows, dramas.
28. Methods of Health Education
Individual approach
Group approach
Mass approach
29. Individual Approach
A one to one communication of the educator and the
patient takes place.
Can be done in the doctors consultation room
30. Advantages Disadvantages
Discussion argument and
persuasion of an
to change behavior is
possible
Small number of people
can benefit
There is opportunity for
asking questions and
clearing doubts
Health education is given
only to people who come
in contact with the
educator or public health
personel
31. Group approach
Lectures – A carefully prepared oral presentation of
facts, organized thoughts and ideas by a qualified
person.
It has an opening statement which gives the theme
of the lecture.
Group should not be more than 30 people
One way communication
32. Symposium – A series of speech on a selected topic
Each speaker presents a brief aspect of the topic
No discussion among speakers
Audience is allowed to ask questions at the end
The chairman makes a summary at the end of the
session
33. Group Discussion – Group should not be more than
6-12 members
Face to face interaction of individuals takes place
Participants are seated in a circle
A group leader is present who initiates the subject
and prevents side conversations and encourages
equal
participation
Unequal participation of
members may be there
34. Panel Discussion – Headed by a chairman who
opens the session and introduces the speakers and
keeps the discussion going
Panel of 4-8 experts sit and discuss a topic in front
audience
Chairman sums up different views expressed
35. Workshop – Consists of a series of meetings with
emphasis on individual work with the help of
resource persons
The total workshop is divided into small groups
The individuals work, solve a part of the problem,
contribute to group discussion and leave with a
of action for the problem
36. Role playing/socio drama – Size of the group
should be of about 25 people
Audience should actively take part by suggesting
alternative solutions and even taking part in the
drama
Situation is dramatized to make the communication
is effective
Useful for health education for children
Followed by discussion of problem
37. Demonstrations – Procedure is carried out step-by
step in front of audience
Has a high motivation value
Audience can then carry out the procedure
themselves with expert help
38. Mass Approach
Health education given to a large community or the
general public
Small investment is required to reach a large number of
people
Quickest method to educate a large number of people
People of all socio-economic status irrespective of caste
creed and religion have access to health education
39. Only one way communication is possible
People cannot ask and clear their doubts if they have
any
No feedback is possible
40. Various mass media used for health education
Newspaper Posters Television
Radio
