Question

How would you define health education and why? Briefly describe what population and health issue you would address if you were assigned to design and implement a prevention program. Be sure to include what level of prevention (primary, secondary, or tertiary) you would select for this program and explain how this level of prevention will address the health issue described. Be specific and provide examples

Answer 1

Health education is a comprehensive learning package offered to the individuals and communities to improve their knowledge and promote health, prevent disease. I would define this way because as the word itself tells about health and education meaning training, learning.

If I would want to address the population I would select the adolescent girls to identify the iron deficiency anemia. The level of prevention I would include is primary and secondary. Because this group is more prone for anemia for various reasons eg menstruation, intestinal worms, adolescent pregnancies.

Primary: il Generaly identify the adolescent population to educate them about the risk factors of iron deficiency anemia and how they can prevent this with their dietary habits in enhancing their hb level.

# identifying the high risk group like the rural community, crowded areas and promoting the practice of proper sanitation hygiene and safety food.

# anthelmintic therapy to all the girls because if intestinal worms are present it may lead to lack of absorption.

# improving the knowledge and dietary practice by changing behaviour, communication and promoting iron rich food consumption eg: the foods available in the community like drumstick leaves, ragi other leafy vegetables like brinjal and also advising to tak up vit c rich food because it helps in the absorption like just a simple lemon water or taking a guava.

# food fortifications of the staple foods with the iron, folic acid and vitamins

# prevention on adolescent pregnancy eg: if a 15year old girl conceives she may have to improve her hb level and she may risk of anemia as it is not the right reproductive age.

# folic acid and iron supplements for the high risk group who are screened

# some of home remedies includes amla with jaggery or honey which improves the hb count can be educated to the adolescent and the high risk group

Thus the early education in enhancing the health, the screening test will help the health care provider to prevent the anemia in adolescents girls.