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25
HEALTH EDUCATION AND HOME SAFETY
Miss D.S. Elliott, S.R.N., H.V.Cert., Dip.H.E.
Principal Health Education Officer
The Health Education Section, working within the framework of the
Health Department, is reaching a critical point in its development. The
earlier years of enthusiasm and enterprise have resulted in increased demands
on the Section. The complexity and volume of work has led to the
inevitable growth of staff and differentiation of duties. The easier, more
intuitive approach is now looked at critically and is changing in character.
Modification of attitudes, values and behaviour are components in the prevention
of illness and rehabilitation, and staff helping with this through
health education must be professionally trained, imaginative and humane
in their approach and willing to relinquish earlier cherished shibboleths.
While continuing with established routine work and in-service
training courses during the year, the staff have always been aware of
current public health problems and of social pressures which inevitably
influence their work.
The demand for contraceptive information from organised groups and
older school children has increased. The number attending the Family
Planning Youth Advisory Centre also continued to rise. A sense of responsibility
is now motivitating some young people to seek this information.
However, a combination of ignorance, carelessness and lack of consideration
for their partners makes the control of sexually transmitted diseases
increasingly difficult. One hopes that better publicity and the growth of
health education in schools' programmes accounts in some measure for the
greater number of people being unafraid to attend the special clinic for
treatment and advice.
Motivation among certain groups of the population is low with regard
to undergoing the simple cervical cytology test. Discussions with small
groups show that embarrassment as well as ignorance and apathy accounts
for the low acceptance rate. Motivation in adults is high with regard to
combatting their own obesity, but still comparatively low among parents
with obese children.
Health Education staff try to form and maintain as many links as
possible with different sections of the community, always monitoring and
encouraging their health education work, e.g.:—
Links with Hospital and General Practitioner Services
All work undertaken with nursing staffs is important. The greater
content and experience of community services included in the present
syllabus, should enable them to deal with patients with greater understanding.
Throughout the year lectures were given on the National Health and