Health Educ

Definitions of Health • The absence of physical and mental disease “. (Medical Model) • The state of optimum capacity to perform the roles and tasks one has been socialized into. A joyful attitude toward life and a cheerful acceptance of one’s responsibilities. The capacity to maintain balance and be free from undue pain, discomfort, disability, or limitation of action including social capacity. (Goldsmith, 1972) • Individualized fitness that allows one to live a full and creative life. (Goldsmith, 1972) • Good quality of life. (Brown et.al, 1984) • Living well despite illness or disability. (Larson, 1999)

• Actualization of inherent and acquired human potential through goal directed behavior, competent self- care and stratifying relationship with others…while maintaining harmony with relevant environment.

(Pender et. al, 2002) • The capacity for living. (Carlson, 2003) • A complete state of physical, mental, social and emotional well-being, not merely the absence of a disease or infirmity. (WHO, 2023) Concept of Health -includes sense of meaning and purpose or knowledge that one’s life makes a difference. (Pender et. al, 2002)

  1. Physical Health - Activities or learning experiences that helps promote the ability of the body to function    effectively.
  2. Emotional Health - Activities that enable an individual to cope with stress and strain of daily life.
  3. Mental Health - Measures or strategies that enable an individual to make correct judgments.
  4. Social Health - Ways in which an individual can relate well with others regardless of status or position.
  5. Spiritual Health - Activities that will help an individual recognize and accept the supernatural aspect of    divine healing.    Health Education    compound word – HEALTH and EDUCATION.    Health is ever-changing and is best viewed as a continuum.    “one’s health is never constant; is always changing. “    While,    Education    Refers to the discipline that is concerned with methods of teaching and learning in schools or school-like    environments, as opposed to various non-formal and informal means of socialization. (Lauwerys et.al, 2022)    Education is the “ acquisition of the art of the utilization of knowledge”    What is Health Education?    • A process which bridges the gap between Health Information and Health Practices    • Helping individual or group to “Better Health”    • Towards “Competency” and “Independency” necessary for adaptations in the face of the challenges    of his ever changing environment.

CHANGE in Health? Health education is basically not telling people what to do about their health , rather, it is a process whereby learning situations are created with and for people so that they may change favorably their health habits attitudes and have adequate knowledge for the improvement of their personal, family and community health. The focus of Health Education is on PEOPLE and on ACTION. • it aims to persuade people to adapt and sustain healthful life practices, • to use judiciously and wisely the health services available to them and make their own decisions, both individually and collectively, • to improve their health status and environment. If we accept that Health Education aims at bringing about favorable changes in Health Habits, Attitudes and Knowledge of people through their own efforts and actions then it is obvious that Health Education should begin with the interest of people in improving their condition of living and their way of life. It also follows that our fundamental problem is persuading people to drop their old habits and erroneous ideas and substitute for the new ones. In order to be effective, therefore health education must take into consideration in its planning, methods and procedures with the processes by which people acquire Knowledge, Change their feelings, and Modify their behavior and the factor that Influences such changes. Purposes of Health Education • Allows individuals to make informed decisions regarding their life and health. • Helps people adapt to illness, prevent complications, and follow prescribed regimens. • Allows people to achieve their maximum health potential. • Reduces health care costs and prevents patient/public dissatisfaction. • To develop ways and means of affecting favorable changes in health habits and attitudes of people. • To help people gain purposeful experiences, knowledge, understanding, habits, attitudes and ideals that will help them to live healthfully as an individual and as a member of the community. ***To make people realize the importance of practicing correct health habits such as living in a clean environment, well ventilated house, taking regular exercise, eating the right kinds of food and using sanitary facilities like toilets etc., having regular medical exam, using health department facilities and others. ***Merely lecturing to a group of people about the advantages of building a toilet is not a health education. This is only the dissemination of health information which is but a small part of the health education process.

“YOU CAN LEAD A HORSE TO THE WATER, BUT YOU CAN’T FORCE IT TO DRINK” The sense is true in health education. You can tell people what to do about their health but you can’t force them to do what you say… It is only when people realize the need to changing or modifying their behavior that they will apply the principles of healthful living. It is clear that health education is basically not telling people what to do about their health , rather, it is a process whereby learning situations are created with and for people so that they may change favorably their health habits attitudes and have adequate knowledge for the improvement of their personal, family and community health. “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” -Nelson Mandela