ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCES Basic Community Health

Introduction to Health Education

Dr. N Sivarajah Department od Community Medicine Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna October 11, 2012 1-2 pm

What is Health Education?

Health Education is the process by which we use the techniques of education and communication to impart to the people, knowledge about health and the prevention of disease in such a way that they will use it for their own benefit and for the benefit of their families and the community to which they belong
Dr. N Sivarajah H Ed 1 - MS 2

Objective of (Health) education is Change of Behaviour

Dr. N Sivarajah

H Ed 1 - MS

Change of Behaviour is achieved by

1. Education

Formal Informal
Advertisements Wearing helmet, Implementation of Housing Ordinance, Butchers ordinance, Food & Drugs act etc

2. Propaganda 3. Laws

4. Brain Washing
Dr. N Sivarajah H Ed 1 - MS 4

Process of Behaviour change

AWARENESS CONTINUED ADOPTION BEHAVIOUR CHANGE INTEREST REINFORCEMENT OR REPETITION

MORE KNOWLEDGE

CONTINUED PRACTICE
MENTAL EVALUATION ADOPTION TRIAL CHANGE OF ATTITUDE
Dr. N Sivarajah H Ed 1 - MS 5

PRACTICE

You cannot teach

Unless the person has a desire to learn

Dr. N Sivarajah

H Ed 1 - MS

Principles of Learning
1. Learning is individual
Preference to Time of day

2. Motivation is the Key 3. Should be Relevant Relevance must be clear to the recipient

Dr. N Sivarajah

H Ed 1 - MS

4. Ability to comprehend (understand) varies 5. Start from what is known 6. Active participation is essential

Dr. N Sivarajah

H Ed 1 - MS

7. Repetition 8. Feed Back 9. Incentives

1. Financial 2. Non financial Eg Healthy baby

10. Environment

Dr. N Sivarajah

H Ed 1 - MS

Remember !

Health Education is not Magic There is no guarantee of success But Principles must be followed
Dr. N Sivarajah H Ed 1 - MS 10

If your plan is for 1 year

PLANT PADDY
If your plan is for 10 years PLANT TREES If your plan is for 100 years EDUCATE PEOPLE
- Chinese Proverb Dr. N Sivarajah H Ed 1 - MS 11

References
Colvin Goonaratna (1986) Giving a lecture. Ceylon Medical Journal: 31; 43-8 J B Peiris (1986) Audio Visual Aids. Ceylon Medical Journal: 31;53-6

Dr. N Sivarajah

H Ed 1 - MS

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