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

In the first study session you learned ways in which you can think about the concept of health and discovered some of the overall principles of health education. In this study session you will learn about the targets of health education, its goals and approaches as well as its application in your day to day community health education sessions. You will also learn to understand your wider role as a health educator within your community setting.

Health education and health promotion builds on a social and cultural understanding of health and illness within your community. The approach to health education used in this study session aims to improve access to health-related information, knowledge and services that will give people more control over their own health and wellbeing.

Figure 2.1  Health education is especially important for mothers with young children.(Photo: UNICEF Ethiopia/Indrias Getachew)

The knowledge referred to in this study session deals not only with the dissemination of simple health facts, but also with more detailed health messages. These messages include specific information and skills, such as negotiation and coping strategies, which can help prevent illness and promote health. It is important to use more detailed messages and promote specific skills in your work because this will help you to positively influence peoples’ behaviour and bring about desired healthy behaviour and practices.