Health Education: Health education is a social science that draws from the biological, environmental, psychological, physical and medical sciences to promote health and prevent disease, disability and premature death through education-driven voluntary behavior change activities. Health education is the development of individual, group, institutional, community and systemic strategies to improve health knowledge, attitudes, skills and behavior. The purpose of health education is to positively influence the health behavior of individuals and communities as well as the living and working conditions that influence their health.
Health education is not only concerned with the communication of information, but also with fostering the motivation, skills and confidence (self-efficacy) necessary to take action to improve health. Health education includes the communication of information concerning the underlying social, economic and environmental conditions impacting on health, as well as individual risk factors and risk behaviors, and use of the health care system. Thus, health education may involve the communication of information, and development of skills which demonstrates the political feasibility and organizational possibilities of various forms of action to address social, economic and environmental determinants of health.
Health education is an essential tool of community health. Every branch of community health has a health educational aspect and every community health worker is a health educator. But health education has been defined as a process which effects changes in the health practices of people and in the knowledge and attitudes related to suet changes.
A great deal of ill-health in this country and elsewhere is due to ignorance of simple rules of hygiene or of indifference to their practical application. However, health is of the greatest importance and an indispensable factor in life. Without it a man becomes burden to others and useless to himself. In other words, health is the basis of individual and social welfare.
But the concept of health and practice of health-education is almost as old as the human race. Health education has been defined as "the sum of all experiences in school and elsewhere that favor ably influence habits, attitudes and knowledge, related to individual, community and racial health."
Who can provide health education: Health education is the very foundation of every successful public health programme so one of the main functions educations should be to help every child develop a healthy body, an alert mind and sound emotional attitudes. Health education aims at bridging the gulf between the health knowledge and health practices of the children.
Some people specialize in health education (trained and/or certified health education specialists). Others perform selected health education functions as part of what they consider their primary responsibility (medical treatment, nursing, social work, physical therapy, oral hygiene, etc.). Lay workers learn on the job to do specific, limited educational tasks to encourage healthy behavior. Para-professionals and health professionals from other disciplines are not familiar with the specialized body of health education knowledge, skills, theories, and research, nor is it their primary interest or professional development focus. This will limit their effectiveness with clients and communities, and their cost-effectiveness. Health education requires intensive specialized study.
Importance and scope of health education: Health education improves the health status of individuals, families, communities, states, and the nation. At present in our country much attention is being paid to the education for total health. Good health is a pre condition for good education. There is a saying that sound mind lives in a sound body. So, education cannot be acquired without the proper frame of the mind and proper frame of mind cannot be possible without proper health and hygiene. Realizing the importance of health education Secondary Education Commission, 1952-53 stated: "Unless! Physical education is accepted as an integral part of education and the educational authorities recognize it, need in schools the youth of the country, which form its 'most variable asset, will never be able to pull their full weigh to national welfare. Health education encompasses not only the information on what behaviors are healthy, but also how to achieve those behaviors with skills development and can sometimes include motivation to change. For example, in addition to knowing what foods are healthy, know how to prepare those foods, and easy ways to incorporate them into your diet. All these aspects together are more likely to result in behavior changes that lead to improved health.
- Health education enhances the quality of life for all people.
- Health education reduces premature deaths.
- By focusing on prevention, health education reduces the costs (both financial and human)
- that individuals, employers, families, insurance companies, medical facilities, communities,
- the state and the nation would spend on medical treatment.
The emphasis so far has been more on the academic type of education without proper consideration being given to physical welfare and the maintenance ' proper standards of health of the people".
Resposibilities of a trained health educator: The group that provides health education is health educators. These professionals differ from health teachers in that they focus on behavior change and do not work in a school class format. Health educators may work with individuals or groups.
- Develop health education programs
- Coordinate health education programs
- Implement health education programs
- Build coalitions
- Identify resources
- Make referrals
- Develop audio, visual, print and electronic materials
- Conduct research
- Write scholarly articles
- Write grants
- Develop social marketing and mass media campaigns
- Organize/ mobilize communities for action
- Handle controversial health issues/content
- Assess individual and community needs
- Plan health education programs
- Manage health education programs & personnel
- Evaluate health education programs
- Advocate for health related issues
- Encourage healthy behavior
- Use a variety of education/training methods