Abstract
This study was designed to study knowledge, attitudes and views about health promotion among nurse clinicians in rural South Africa. The sample included 90 nurse clinicians (73 primary health care nurses and 17 midwives) in the age range of 24 to 59 years (M age 38.4 yr., SD = 9.3) in the Northern Province. Results indicate that nurses (66.6%) had an inadequate knowledge score on health promotion in this sample. Higher knowledge scores on health promotion were not associated with age and years of experience. However, male nurses had significantly higher knowledge scores on health promotion than female nurses. The majority strongly supported the centrality of their role in health promotion acknowledging the time constraints involved. Better knowledge on health promotion was associated with more positive views on health promotion. More nurses had a satisfactory positive attitude towards health promotion (63.3%) than knowledge about health promotion (33.3%). Finally, the study found that compliance with health promotion was seen as a problem but health counselling was nevertheless seen as cost effective.
Highlights
The proportion of deaths due to chronic diseases of lifestyle was responsible for 24.5% of all deaths of all South Africans and 28.5% of those aged 35-64 years
A calculation based on these prevalence rates and the census figures published for the South African population 15 years and older leads to an estimate of about 3.3 million hypertensive people in the coun try
This seems to indi cate that among the young generation of nurses not more emphasis is placed on health promotion than it was among older generations
Summary
The proportion of deaths due to chronic diseases of lifestyle was responsible for 24.5% of all deaths of all South Africans and 28.5% of those aged 35-64 years. To achieve health promotion the Ottawa Charter outlined five health promotion strategies: (1) build ing healthy public policy, (.2) creating supportive environ ments, (3) strengthening community action, (4) developing personal skills, and (5) reorienting health services. The latter two include: health promotion supports personal and social development by providing information, education for health, and enhacing skills to take control over their own health and environment. The role of the health sector must move increasingly in a health promotion direction, beyond its re sponsibility for providing clinical and curative services This mandate should support the needs of individuals and com munities for a healthier life (WHO 1986: 5-8). The objectives of this study were to assess (1) nurses’ knowledge about health promotion, (2) nurses’ attitudes towards health promotion of specific lifestyles, (3) nurses’ views regarding responsibility of health promotion, and (4) views of nurses about clients’ responses to health promotion and health education efforts
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
