Health education is the basis from which contemporary health promotion has developed and is an essential element of any strategy designed to promote health. Green and Kreuter (1991:17) defined health education as "any combination of learning experiences designed to facilitate voluntary actions conducive to health".
For the National Task force on the Preparation and Practice of Health Educators it is "the process of assisting individuals, acting separately or collectively, to make informed decisions about matters affecting their health and that of others" (1985, in Glanz et al 1997:7).
Freudenberg (1984:40) writes that "if one defines health education more broadly - as those efforts that educate and mobilise people to create more healthful environments, institutions and policies (as well as lifestyles) - one can find a rich tradition of health education for social change". This education for health is an integral part of health promotion and primary health care.
Education for health uses a variety of methods and processes. These may range from:
With the more recent recognition of the role of healthy public policy, education for health is also concerned with influencing decision makers such as politicians, bureaucrats and key non government personnel.
The needs, interests and priorities of individuals, families, communities and organisations are at the heart of education for health programs, and all education activities. Involvement and choice by people themselves are fundamental to effective education for health. Telling people to follow "good health behaviour is not health education" (WHO 1988:12). Listening to, talking with and learning from others is essential.