Definition of Health Education History

Health education, a valuable contributor to society's understanding of well-being, was not always integral to American life. Through a series of political decisions from the late eighteenth century to the late twentieth century, the recognition of the need for health education grew.

Definition

• Health education involves the communication of health information as well as the fostering of skills to lead a more health-conscious lifestyle. Health education concerns an examination of the underlying economic, social and environmental conditions that affect health. It also comprises a study of individual risk factors and behaviors that endanger health. It aims to arm people with the motivation and ability to be healthy.

History

• The first steps toward health education were taken in 1798 with the establishment of a federal network of hospitals for merchant seamen, a precursor to the modern U.S. Public Health Service. It wasn't until 1902 that the Public Health Service was officially formed. Throughout the twentieth century, the movement toward public health education grew, as evidenced by the founding of the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and the formation of community health center programs.

Significance

• Widespread health-focused programs like the Department of Health, Education and Welfare created an emphasis on helping citizens lead better lives and have easier access to health care. Without health education, many would live in ignorance of the criteria for achieving good health.