A Study on the Development of Health Education Strategies in Communities

Abstract

This study aims at developing strategies for effective health education in local communities which will function to prevent common chronic diseases, reduce illness rates, and reduce early deaths. The target population for health education in local communities accounts for 59.4 percent of the national population or 26,483 thousands people. They consist mostly of pre-schooling children, elderly people, and women. The subjects for public health education include physical exercise, smoking, alcohol drinking, nutrition, obesity, stress, vaccination, health check-up, dental hygiene, and vehicle accident. In South Korea, the proportion and size of the target population for health education are particularly large, so that the budget for this public work should be increased. Once main subject areas in health education are determined, they should be addressed with a state-initiated integrative program through which the central government stages public campaigns and local governments provide health education and service. Finally, training of health education personnel should be pursued in two directions. First, current health education personnel may receive complementary health education in order to attain a certificate for health education. Second, college students with a major in health education in special public health schools may receive the certificate for health education.