Best 12 principles of health education

The knowledge about the principles of health education is worthwhile and cannot be over-emphasized.

Health according to WHO is the state of all-around well-being of an individual not necessarily the absence of diseases or infirmity.

When we talk about all-around wellbeing, it comprises all aspects and dimensions of health ranging from but not limited to, the social, physical, mental, and intellectual well-being of an individual.

Introduction to the principles of health education

Health education on the other hand is the basis for individuals and people to learn how to behave in a manner conducive to the maintenance, or restoration of health and promotion.

Related: Importance of upskilling in healthcare

This education is based on sound theories in order to uplift and uphold a standard of quality health.

What are the dimensions of health?

There are 6 dimensions of health which are:

• Physical health
• Intellectual health
• Emotional health
• Spiritual health
• Social health
• Environmental health

This dimension of health makes the definition of health complete.

Principles of health education

There are 12 known principles of health education which are listed below:

• Comprehension
• Credibility
• Feedback
• Good human relations
• Interest
• Known to unknown
• Leadership
• Learning by doing
• Motivation
• Participation
• Reinforcement
• Lead by example

Comprehension

Comprehension is among the principles of health education. What matters more in teaching is the ability of those that are being taught to comprehend when is being taught. You cannot be a good teacher when what you teach is not understood by anyone.

In health education, the mental capacity of people that are taught should be considered first and foremost, and knowing a better approach towards passing information that your audience will understand should be every teacher’s priority.

Credibility

Knowing how reliable your information is will help build credibility. Not mincing words with your teachings. Credibility deals with the extent of confidence your audience has in your teachings.

Feedback

In health education, knowing your audience’s view will help in building an effective platform for modification and amendments. Always listen to the audience.

This is one of the essential principles of health education that must be considered in all courses.

Good human relations

Your interaction with your audience will go a long way in how they listen to you as the health educator. Having the right attitude and coordination will also give room for improvement and adoption.

Interest

Try and know what the people are lacking or what they are not doing right. As a health educator, your interest should be the people’s interest. Check out the particular health need of the people at that point in time and try to address them.

Having an interest outside, the general interest of the audience is not and will not be appreciated by the people.

Known to unknown

Among the principles of health education, known to the unknown is important for effective communication and comprehension.

Start with the language and what the people know about the particular area of health to the level they know little or nothing.

In nutshell, a health educator starts from simplifying the simple things to simplifying the complex things.

Leadership

Being a good leader goes beyond mere communication skills. A health communicator should have good leadership qualities as such leading with humility and understanding the problems of the people being led and mapping effective functional guidelines to execute plans for improvement and adoption.

Learning by doing

Always create an avenue for what you teach to be practiced. Because you can say you can do it till you have done it. Let your audience imbibe what you teach them by practicing it.

Motivation

Motivation can be said to be the act of awakening desire for success or the ability to strive in order to achieve a set goal.

A health educator should be motivating in his words and actions as such propelling the audience to do that which is difficult or hard for them to do.

Participation

The people involved in a particular health teaching should not be left behind. Active participation of the audience in the planning and execution of health plans should be encouraged to its peak. That will give the audience a better sense of belonging and motivation in learning and adoption.

Reinforcement

Teach your audience what you have taught them before make them become acquainted with what they think they already know through the act of reinforcement.

Lead by example

Be careful with what you do because your attitude might be Manuel others read. Lead by example and practice what you teach so doing your audience can adopt your healthy lifestyle.

Importance of health education

From the principles of health education, one can easily deduct the importance, however, it is also of utmost importance we bring to you the importance of health education.

Below are some of the reasons and importance of health education:

• To train the people with skills, knowledge, and attitude
• Health education help people understand that health is an asset in the community
• Infectious disease prevention
• To develop desirable health practices
• It imbibes health consciousness in the school and the community
• To provide a healthful environment for physical and mental growth
• Health education encourages a healthy lifestyle

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