The Importance Of Health Education

Health education (EpS) is a fundamental pillar for any country and society today. It is a process that aims for the population to acquire a series of knowledge and skills that will allow them to make decisions about their own health. What is the importance of health education?

Although many people believe that health only means the absence of disease, the truth is that it includes many more aspects. We need to understand that health is personal and social well-being.

In addition, it is important to remember that in order to be in good health, it is necessary to promote the responsibility of each person, not only to be able to adopt healthy habits for themselves, but also to influence others.

Therefore, in this article, we explain the importance of health education, in addition to mentioning some measures and proposals of this process.

The importance of health education

According to other authors, it is a process by which people learn to behave in a way that promotes the promotion, maintenance or restoration of health. That is, it encourages healthy attitudes and habits.

In addition, this process goes further. The aim is for each person to develop a critical ability to make decisions on this issue, which will allow them to take care of their own health and that of others.

Health education helps to analyze all the factors that influence the health of a population. For example, examining environmental, social, or economic causes that cause illness or health problems.

Like any other educational process, health education can be done using different methods. First, there are direct or two-way methods. They are those in which the role of the educator and the listener is established.

In order to implement direct methods, there must be a certain closeness between the educator and the listener: for example, a class in which the teacher transmits knowledge or a group discussion.

Among these methods, we also find discussions about content and dialogue about health. A clear example of dialogue is when the doctor, in a consultation, makes a series of recommendations to the patient.

There are also indirect methods, also called unidirectional. A person sends a message that can reach a larger number of people through means such as television.

Indirect methods include audiovisual and sound media. For example, health education can be done through brochures, posters or newspapers. Also by radio or cinema.

We must emphasize that the Internet is currently one of the fundamental aspects of health education. It is the largest source of information that exists. The problem is that this information may not be the most accurate.

Therefore, you need to know how to use this tool, looking for reliable and educational sources. In fact, there are more and more applications and programs that aim to promote health and healthy habits.

Finally, it should be noted that health education is not a process that focuses only on young people, but seeks the collaboration of the entire population. It is never too late to start raising awareness and taking responsibility for health.