Title: Health education with groups
Course: Health Education, Advocacy and Community Mobilisation Part 1 - Ethiopia (Full)

Health education with groups

Group health education may be a useful way to help you deliver your health education messages in an efficient manner. The group can provide support and encouragement to its members so they are able to maintain healthy behaviour. A well-organised group permits sharing of experience and skills so that people are able to learn from each other. This makes it possible to pool the resources of all members. Examples of positive group activity to resolve problems could include:

- One farmer may not have enough money to buy a vehicle to transport his produce to market, but a group of farmers together could contribute enough money to meet that need.
- Members of a group can give money, labour or materials to one of their members in times of personal or family crisis. They can also give support to the promotion of community health through projects such as developing a safe water supply or building a latrine.

Figure 11.5 Even informal groups can provide a useful way of delivering health messages. (Photo: UNICEF Ethiopia/Indrias Getachew)

Ms Genet has planned health education activities on malaria prevention methods for groups within the Gingo kebele community. Ms Genet delivers health education sessions effectively and one of the main components of her plan is group work. What do you think may be the reasons for her choosing group work in the community?

Show answer

The effectiveness of the health education given by Ms Genet to community groups might be because groups provide support and encouragement to their members. The groups may be able to help each other maintain healthy behaviour and share their experience and skills (Figure 11.5).