Challenge For Health Educators Research Articles

Limited adherence to personal hygiene of school-aged children and people over 60 as a continuing challenge for health educators.

Hygienic behavior as such belongs to health behavior, acquired at home, at school, at workplace or through the mass-media. The aim of the study was to analyze the perception of personal hygiene among different age groups and the sociodemographic factors related to hygiene behavior. The author's questionnaire for children and seniors concerning selected hygienic behavior was used. The questionnaire was conducted in two groups: 200 primary school children in age: 8-11 years; 109 girls and 91 boys and 200 older people: young-old (60-74 years) and old-old (75+); 110 women and 90 men. Girls longer than boys take morning hygiene behavior, but statistically boys spend more time on evening washing, cleaning and brushing. Seniors hygienic behavior depend on age: young-old are more likely take a shower every day (51.79%) than seniors in the old-old group (29.86%). The same statistically significant difference was noticed in case of washing hands before a meal. Children care more about personal hygiene than older people. Age, not gender, is a factor determining the frequency of hygiene practices among older people. Young-old care more about personal hygiene than old-old.

Investigating causes of the high prevalence of sexually transmitted infections in Du Noon.

In South Africa, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) represent a significant public health issue. Sexually transmitted infections contribute significantly to the burden of disease in South Africa and are recognised as one of the main causes of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential causes of the high prevalence of STIs in the Du Noon population. A mixed methodology study involving 40 participants between the ages of 18 years and 45 years was conducted at Du Noon community health centre from 01 May 2021 to 15 May 2021. Both structured questionnaires and one-on-one patient interviews with open-ended questions were utilised to collect data. Cultural beliefs, having multiple partners, a lack of partner notification, alcohol consumption, and a lack of condom usage were found to be the main contributing factors to the high incidence of STIs. Sex education appears to be lacking. Our findings reflected the other well-known cultural and socioeconomic issues confronting South African communities, for example, poverty, age-disparate relationships, and polygamous relationships. The cultural perspectives and understandings of sexual interactions of older men appear to have an impact on younger generations; as do peer pressure, social media and other socio-economic factors. There is an urgent need to shift cultural ideologies and norms among the youth. More research is needed to understand the views and misconceptions of the general public about STIs.Contribution:This study highlighted how health education challenges, interpersonal relationships, and socioeconomic barriers are still important factors in STI transmission.

Ten years of the National Occupational Health Policy and the challenges of health education for (trans)formation of work

Resumo O objetivo do artigo, de natureza teórica, é discutir a formação em saúde tomando como referência a Política Nacional de Saúde do Trabalhador e da Trabalhadora (PNSTT), que no ano de 2022 completou dez anos. Essa reflexão crítica está baseada em revisão de literatura e na experiência profissional dos autores em ensino, pesquisa e serviços no campo da Saúde Coletiva/Saúde do Trabalhador. A PNSTT preconiza a capacitação e o desenvolvimento da força de trabalho em saúde de nível médio e superior, com prioridade às equipes de Vigilância em Saúde e da Atenção Primária/Estratégia Saúde da Família. A formação em saúde deve considerar o trabalho em sua função ontogenética enredada no sistema capitalista que o transforma, paradoxalmente, em afirmação e negação do sujeito: pelo trabalho nos tornamos humanos e sob as regras do capital o trabalho se torna arriscado e adoecedor. A formação enseja a construção de modos de trabalho conjunto e diálogo permanente entre trabalhadores e demais atores sociais, desde o planejamento até a efetivação e posterior avaliação dos projetos formativos em saúde, trabalho e ambiente. Atuando de forma democrática, coletiva e organizada, é possível reinventar práticas concretas de educação e trabalho na perspectiva da formação cidadã.

Impacts and Challenges of Health Education in Times of Covid: A Systematic Review

Impacts and Challenges of Health Education in Times of Covid: A Systematic Review

School Health Program: health education challenges for the prevention of Dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya

RESUMO Este artigo apresenta reflexões sobre estratégias de educação em saúde para prevenção da Dengue, Zika e Chikungunya no âmbito do Programa Saúde na Escola (PSE), visando à atenção integral à saúde de estudantes do ensino público básico nas escolas, em parceria com as Unidades Básicas de Saúde. Trata-se de uma pesquisa nacional, oriunda de um projeto intitulado Arbocontrol, coordenado pela Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde da Universidade de Brasília, com apoio do Ministério da Saúde, com vistas ao combate e controle das arboviroses decorrentes do Aedes aegypti. De abordagem qualitativa, este estudo fundamenta-se no pensamento foucaultiano de biopolítica. Foram entrevistados 158 professores e 117 profissionais de saúde, de 16 municípios, nas 5 regiões brasileiras. Os resultados indicaram que, na execução do PSE, o saber comunitário não se incorpora nas ações. O modelo educacional conteudista estabelece, a priori, o que deve ser tratado; e a fragilidade na articulação intersetorial para o planejamento das ações tem dificultado sua eficácia. A educação em saúde ainda é entendida como processo informativo para o autocuidado, fomentado por estratégias biopolíticas de disciplinamento dos corpos dos sujeitos ou na constituição de suas subjetividades para o autocuidado, depositando neles a responsabilidade por sua saúde.

Teaching Physical Education in the COVID-19 Context: Pedagogical Content, Organization, and Challenge of Health Education

The back-to-school period takes place in a particular context marked by the obligation to adopt strict health security measures to fight against the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Physical distancing, as one of the main measures imposed in the situation of the current health crisis, represents a major constraint to the teaching of physical education (PE) in schools. This article explores benchmarks representing a guide allowing PE teachers to safely resume their activities in this COVID-19 context.

Knowledge, Attitudes, Behaviors of Women Related to Pregnancy, and Early Childhood Caries Prevention: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study.

ObjectiveHealth education interventions during pregnancy can influence maternal oral health (OH), maternal OH-behaviors and children’s OH. Interventions that can be delivered at anytime and anywhere, for example mobile-health (mHealth) provides an opportunity to address challenges of health education and support activation of women in underserved and rural communities to modify their health behavior. This pilot study was undertaken as a part of a mHealth initiative to determine knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to pregnancy and ECC prevention among women attending obstetrics/gynecology (OB/GYN) practices at a large rurally-based clinic.MethodsA cross-sectional survey study was voluntarily engaged by women (n = 191) aged 18 to 59 years attending OB/GYN visits, over a 3-week period from 12/2019 to 1/2020. Survey results were analyzed applying descriptive statistics, X2 and Fisher’s Exact tests. The significance level was set at P < .0001 for all analyses.ResultsApproximately half of respondents were between 18 and 29 years (53%), had a college degree (55%), and 100% reported cell phone use. Whereas 53% and 31%, respectively, indicated that they were “somewhat” or “very” sure of how to prevent ECC in their children, only 9% recognized evidence of early decay and 30% did not know the purpose of fluoride. Overall, only 27% of participants correctly answered the knowledge-based questions. Further, only 57% reported their provider explained things in a way that was easy to understand. Only 24% reported seeing a dentist during their current pregnancy.ConclusionsStudy results suggested potential gaps in knowledge and behaviors related to ECC prevention and provided baseline data to inform future interventions to improve ECC prevention practices. Notably, majority of participants used their cell phones for making medical/dental appointments and reported using their phones to look up health-related information. This demographic represents a potentially receptive target for mHealth approaches to improve understanding of oral health maintenance during pregnancy and ECC prevention.

Investigation E-health literacy and correlates factors among Alborz medical sciences students: a cross sectional study.

Health literacy is one of the goals of public health and the key challenge of health education in the 21st century. This study aimed to determine E-health literacy and correlates among medical sciences students in Karaj, Iran 2017. This cross-sectional study was performed on a thousand students of Alborz University of Medical Sciences. A multi-sectional questionnaire was used to collect data. The first section included age, major, marital status; educational grade, mother and father education, socioeconomic status, health status, membrane in social network and the second compromised a validated Persian version of the E-health literacy. We used t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) to compare the mean of variables and for categorical variables x2 was used with SPSS version 19. The mean age of the subjects was 25.5±5.6 years, of which 65.3% were male. The medical students constituted the most number of participants (28.6%). Mean eHEALS score was 26.11±6.6 years. There was a significant difference between female and male regarding E-health literacy (P=0.04). Internet was the most commonly used sources for health information (67%), the majority of the students were members of one of the social networks (77.7%) that telegram and Instagram were among the most popular networks. Improving search skills and assessing of health resources in students, especially in medical and Para-medical sciences, is recommended. Social networks can be used as channels for the transmission of the health messages due to high usage among students.

Palliative care for all: An international health education challenge.

Palliative care for all: An international health education challenge.

Addressing complex societal challenges in health education - A physiotherapy-led initiative embedding inclusion health in an undergraduate curriculum.

People who are socially excluded experience vastly poorer health outcomes compared to the general population. Inclusion Health seeks to directly address this health inequity. Despite the increased requirement for health care and the increased prevalence of complex health and social needs in socially excluded people, Inclusion Health features very little in health education curricula. This letter has been written by a group of clinicians, academics, clinical education specialists and students with a common interest in Inclusion Health. In the absence of established guidance on how best to incorporate the broad topic of inclusion health in undergraduate education, we have developed a two-pronged approach within Physiotherapy. We are writing to highlight the following initiatives; firstly, the provision of a dedicated undergraduate clinical placement devoted to the area of Inclusion Health. Secondly, we have also initiated a step-wise process of introducing the topic of Inclusion Health into the formal undergraduate curriculum. This letter demonstrates the need to implement strategies to incorporate Inclusion Health into the curriculum and the approaches described are applicable to diverse health professions and settings.

Addressing complex societal challenges in health education – A physiotherapy-led initiative embedding inclusion health in an undergraduate curriculum

Socially marginalised groups suffer vastly poorer health outcomes compared to the general population. Inclusion health seeks to directly address the health inequities experienced by groups such as homeless people and refugees. Despite the unique healthcare needs experienced by these vulnerable groups, inclusion health features very little in health education curricula. This letter has been written by a group of clinicians, academics, clinical education specialists and students with a common interest in inclusion health. In the absence of established guidance on how best to incorporate the broad topic of inclusion health in undergraduate education, we have developed a two-pronged approach within physiotherapy. We are writing to highlight the following initiatives; firstly, the provision of a dedicated undergraduate clinical placement devoted to the area of inclusion health. Secondly, we have also initiated a step-wise process of introducing the topic of inclusion health into the formal undergraduate curriculum. This letter demonstrates the need to implement strategies to incorporate inclusion health into the curriculum and the approaches described are applicable to diverse health professions and settings.

Health literacy as a challenge for health education

Scientific literature demonstrates a well-established correlation between education and health literacy; education and health outcomes; health literacy and health outcomes. Health literacy has a mediating role between education and health. Health literacy is known as a complex concept, it has multiple definitions, underlying meanings and conceptual models. Diversity of health literacy can be a challenging motivator for health education. In-depth study of scientific literature was carried out to highlight the link between health literacy and health education and to emphasize health literacy challenges for health education. Five health literacy challenges for health education were identified: 1) health literacy as an outcome related to health education interventions; 2) multi-layered health literacy or different levels of health literacy; 3) the concept of health literacy and its comprehensiveness; 4) shift from a passive to more interactive and empowering health education; 5) cultural context of health literacy and health education. Enhanced health literacy definitions and conceptual models require more complex, comprehensive, socially oriented, culture sensitive, participatory health education.

Assistance for mother and child health: challenges for health education

Assistance for mother and child health: challenges for health education

Assistance for Mother and Child Health: Challenges for Health Education

Assistance for Mother and Child Health: Challenges for Health Education

Awareness and Practice of Cervical Cancer Screening among Women Accessing Care in a Rural Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria

Background. The burden of cervical cancer is on the increase, especially in developing countries, where programmed or regular screening for the disease with Papanicolaou smear is inadequate. The objective was to determine the awareness and practice of cervical cancer screening in a rural tertiary hospital in Nigeria. Methodology. 220 consecutive and consenting women of age 20–70years attending Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti and Comprehensive Health Centre, Oke-Isa, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State were recruited between April and August 2009. Relevant data were collected using interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaires. Results. Mean age ± SD of participants was 41.2 ± 12.6 years and mean age at sexual debut was 20 years. Twenty three (10.7%) participants were single and all were sexually active. 147 (68.4%) had more than one life time sexual partner. 78 (36.3%) of participants were aware of cervical cancer but only 39(18.2%) were aware of its screening, and majority (71.8%) got to know about cervical cancer through health workers. Increasing age, multiple sexual partners, parity more than 4, having a partner who has multiple sexual partners and polygamy were significantly associated with development of pre-malignant lesions for cervical cancer in this study. Conclusion. Majority of the participants were not aware of CC and the steps to be taken to prevent it from occurring. This poses a tremendous health education challenge.

Health Educators and the Future

In just a few years a new century will dawn. This article posits that with it will come new challenges for health education. Five types of change the field is currently experiencing are discussed. It is suggested that shifts in demographics, conceptions of family, and levels of activism, are demanding new thinking. Approaches based on a new perception of health education are presented. The need for current health educators to shape the direction of change through invigorated leadership is emphasized.

Simulation and gaming to promote health education: Results of a usability test

Objective: Motivating clients to change the health behaviour, and maintaining an interest in exercise programmes, is an ongoing challenge for health educators. With new developments in technology, simulation and gaming are increasingly being considered as ways to motivate users, support learning and promote positive health behaviours. The purpose of the present study was to develop an exercise simulation called BringItOn, which is targeted towards individuals who need to increase their physical activity for health, recovery or rehabilitation. BringItOn is a video-based simulation in which individuals use a Kinect system to capture their movements as they exercise. Design: A usability study was conducted to examine software ease of use and perceived usefulness. An expert heuristic evaluation was completed by a software engineer, and user testing was conducted using the think-aloud method, observation, survey and interviews. Results: The majority of participants were very enthusiastic about the exercise simulation’s potential to encourage exercise and activity. Three major benefits of the simulation were identified: (1) it promotes proper exercise technique; (2) individualised feedback similar to that received from a personal trainer was viewed as very motivating; (3) the software was ‘game like’, and made exercising fun. Conclusion: The simulation system has considerable potential as a component in an integrated rehabilitation programme for patients or as a health promotion activity for individuals. The results shed light on key components that health educators should look for in simulations if they hope to maximise user motivation and encourage a positive changes in health behaviour.

Rates of hospitalizations of children with asthma

— Robert W. Wilmott, MD In this issue ofThe Journal, Hasegawa et al, fromHarvardMedical School and theClinical Epidemiology Center of St Luke’s Life Science Institute, have completed a temporal analysis of trends in hospital mortality, mechanical ventilator use, hospital charges, and childhood asthma hospitalizations in the US between 2000 and 2009. These data were generated from the “Kids Inpatient Database,” and the subjects were <18 years of age with asthma. Four years were analyzed: 2000, 2003, 2006 and 2009. The results showed that asthmahospitalizations decreased significantly, andmortality also declined significantly after adjusting for confounders. There was an increase inmechanical ventilation use over this time periodwhichmight reflect amore aggressive approach tomanagement of status asthmaticus in children. Nationwide, hospital charges increased by 26%, which was driven by a rise in the hospital charges per discharge. The results of this study suggest that there has been progress in reducing the impact of severe acute asthma in children in the US. However, mechanical ventilation and hospital charges for asthma hospitalizations have increased markedly. This increase might reflect improved management of sicker patients, yet the large asthma burden presents an ongoing public health and health education challenge. Article page 1127<

THE CHALLENGES OF HEALTH EDUCATION: FINNISH STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF HOW TO CHERISH HEALTH

Youngsters’ health is widely studied from various points of view but a holistic approach to health has been minimal. The purpose of this research was to study general upper secondary education students’ health knowledge and perceptions of health by analyzing their answers concerning the subject of health education in the general studies battery of tests in the Finnish matriculation examination. The sample of the research consisted of 611 essays that were the test answers in health education in 2007. The essays covered altogether eight questions about health education. 81 candidates for the spring 2007 matriculation examination and 60 candidates for the fall 2007 matriculation examination participated in this research; altogether 141 candidates. The research approach was phenomenological-hermeneutic. The data was analyzed through qualitative content analysis. According to the results, students recognized people’s responsibility for their own health. They disapproved especially those who consciously neglect their health. According to the findings, it seemed evident that health education as a subject should be further developed so that it supports youngsters’ health appreciation and ability to make health-promoting choices in life. This decade sets special challenges to health education in schools, and therefore, it is important to listen to the youth‘s opinions and perceptions of health in order to, for example, develop curriculum planning. Key words: health, health education, matriculation examination, general upper secondary education.

Household behavioural responses following successful IRS malaria control: challenges for health education and intervention strategies

Control of malaria remains one of the world’s chief current public health challenges, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where malaria is still responsible for 10% of the total disease burden. Moth ...