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Essay on Health Education | Health Education Essay for Students and Children in English

February 14, 2024 by Prasanna

Essay on Health Education:  Health issues are constant in human life. But we can educate ourselves to improve our health condition and standard of living. Thus, health education is gaining importance. Especially in developed countries, health should be given maximum focus because people are unaware of basic hygiene principles. Moreover, in the remote and rural areas of the country, the superstition and stereotypes are prevalent. Such things are preventing people from resorting to proper and scientific medical health on time. As a result of which people are falling ill and sometimes even death. Therefore, in a view to tackling these problems, now health education is given by the professionals and experts in schools, colleges, villages and other communities by raising awareness by setting up campaigns and meetings.

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Long and Short Essays on Health Education for Students and Kids in English

We are providing the students with essay samples on an extended essay of 500 words and a short essay of 150 words on Health Education.

Long Essay on Health Education 500 words in English

Long Essay on Health Education is helpful to students of classes 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12.

We all have heard of the proverb that “Health is Wealth”. Health should be given paramount importance while we do the rest of our works in our daily lives. Thus, there is a need for Health Education. Health Education refers to the education that health educators impart to improve a particular area, community or society. These health educators are well trained in good institutes where they are taught to impart all the necessary measures required to reduce unhealthy environments.

Health Education has a lot of significance, not only in our personal and family life but also in the entire nation’s welfare. This is so because, if people are well aware of the healthy habits, they will religiously practice those and pass on to their family and children. As a result, there will be a significant decrease in people falling prey to illness, sickness, and other diseases. In this way, the economy of the nation will be saved as a hefty expense will not be incurred for recovering those health issues. Also, at a root level, this will save people’s money and help them suffer less.

Initially, the health educators moved from one village to another to aware people of the various diseases and the preventive measures. This works on the principle of “Prevention is better than cure”. So, these health educators are on a mission of preventing diseases that are likely to spread about, in case preventive measures are not taken. Usually, they would perform plays, read out slogans, hold meetings and sing songs to attract more people and educate then my entertaining them

There are various health care centres where these trained educators are involved in giving advice about health and safety to the people unaware of it. This health education develops the standard of living and has a significant contribution to life expectancy. Health Education is not only limited to physical health but also mental and emotional health.

Most people live in the rural and remote part of the country, in the darkness of superstitions and stereotypes. They usually resort to religious practises, or unscientific treatment methods when they are affected by any disease; thus, they do not get cured, but the illness is rather more aggravated. This sometimes leads to death. With health education, now they are being dragged out of these unhealthy practises and are remaining healthy.

Health Education is also now given in schools from early childhood, to inculcate the values of hygiene and scientific temperament. This has normalised the periods, using sanitary napkins, using protection during sex to prevent sexually transmitted diseases. People are growing more and more concerned about their health. They are maintaining a healthy diet and practising all healthy habits to promote good health. So, health education is, in a way paving better and healthy days in our country by eradicating diseases.

Short Essay on Health Education of 150 words in English

Short Essay on Health Education is helpful to students of classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Our body is a medium to achieve our goals, do our day-to-day activities, and enjoy life. So, we should take care of this body. Hence, there is a justified need for health education from a very early period. Health Education is the education about the health that the professionals of health care give. These health educators promote awareness regarding good health and safety.

Health care includes not only the care of the physical body but also mental health and sexual health. Therefore, these health educators are now promoting practises like yoga, meditation and other therapies to enhance health.  They give us various tips on maintaining hygiene as we know that a healthy mind resides in a healthy body. So, it is important to take care of our mental health.

They are also concerned about people’s diet and recommend them to have a balanced diet during all times, including during pregnancy.

10 Lines on Health Education Essay

• Health Education is the education that health professionals impart for healthcare.
• Health education is very crucial in limiting the spread of diseases.
• Health educators promote hygiene and healthy diet by organising campaigns.
• They are also concerned with making healthy mental states to fight depression, anxiety and other related issues.
• Their main aim is to prevent diseases by spreading awareness.
• The health educators organise various campaigns to aware people about the ill effects of smoking and drinking alcohol, having unprotected sex and not maintaining hygiene during periods.
• They are also giving health Education in schools and colleges.
• They give tips for having healthy sex and not getting affected by STDs or Sexually Transmitted Diseases.
• This affects the economy of the country in a better way.
• This awareness created by health education has, to a great extent, reduced Infant Mortality Rate and delivery deaths of mothers due to unawareness.

FAQ’s on Health Education Essay

Question 1. What are the scopes of Health Education?

Answer: The health education scope covers physical health education, social health education, mental health education and sexual health education.

Question 2. How does Health Education benefit the economy of the nation?

Answer: With the spread and expansion of health education, people are becoming more aware of preventing diseases. In this way, fewer people are falling ill, and less money is spent in recovery. In this way, they are less expenditure on Health problems, and the country’s economy is saved.

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Health and Education: the Importance of Health Education

This essay about the interplay between health and education discusses how health education acts as a vital component in human development. It highlights the role of health education in empowering individuals and communities to make informed health choices, emphasizing its impact on both physical and mental well-being. The essay also explores how health education can inspire societal change through advocacy and community engagement, ultimately aiming for a healthier, more equitable world.

How it works

In the intricate choreography of well-being and enlightenment, the synergy between health and education intertwines, each harmonizing with the other to orchestrate a symphony of human development. Within this dynamic interplay lies the essence of health education—a guiding beacon steering individuals and societies towards a luminous, healthier future.

In the vivid mosaic of health education, myriad shades emerge, creating a canvas of empowerment, prevention, and advocacy. At its nucleus, health education serves as a compass navigating individuals through the labyrinth of wellness, equipping them with the knowledge and resources to make enlightened decisions about their health.

Picture a community where health education reigns supreme, its influence permeating every nook and cranny, from bustling urban hubs to secluded rural hamlets. Here, awareness blossoms like a kaleidoscope of flowers in springtime, as individuals embrace preventive measures and cultivate healthy habits as innate as breathing.

Contemplate the ripple effect of health education on disease prevention—a cascade of awareness that shatters the shackles of illness and suffering. Through targeted campaigns and grassroots endeavors, communities arm themselves with the shield of information, thwarting infectious diseases and chronic ailments alike.

However, the tapestry of health education extends beyond physical well-being alone; its brushstrokes delve into the realm of mental health, dispelling the shadows of stigma and ignorance. Within these strokes lies the promise of destigmatization, fostering open dialogues and fostering empathetic understanding that nurture resilient minds and compassionate hearts.

In the realm of education, health education assumes center stage, infusing curricula with the essence of well-being and self-care. Here, students embark on a voyage of self-discovery, learning not only academic subjects but also the art of resilience, the science of nutrition, and the importance of seeking support when necessary.

Yet, health education transcends the confines of textbooks; it is a philosophy that permeates every facet of life, shaping attitudes and behaviors towards a healthier, more equitable society. Through community engagement and policy advocacy, health educators become catalysts for change, spearheading initiatives that dismantle barriers to wellness and champion health equity for all.

In the grand tapestry of global health, health education emerges as a guiding light in times of crisis. Amidst the tumult of pandemics and emergencies, it stands firm, disseminating accurate information, dispelling misinformation, and galvanizing communities into action.

Ultimately, the significance of health education transcends borders, weaving a common thread that binds us all in our shared pursuit of well-being. As we navigate the vast expanse of human existence, let us remember that the odyssey to health and enlightenment commences with a single step—a step guided by the beacon of knowledge and fueled by the passion to cultivate a healthier, happier world for generations to come.

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• Open access
• Published: 06 April 2020

The influence of education on health: an empirical assessment of OECD countries for the period 1995–2015

• Viju Raghupathi 1 &
• Wullianallur Raghupathi 2  

Archives of Public Health volume  78 , Article number:  20 ( 2020 ) Cite this article

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A clear understanding of the macro-level contexts in which education impacts health is integral to improving national health administration and policy. In this research, we use a visual analytic approach to explore the association between education and health over a 20-year period for countries around the world.

Using empirical data from the OECD and the World Bank for 26 OECD countries for the years 1995–2015, we identify patterns/associations between education and health indicators. By incorporating pre- and post-educational attainment indicators, we highlight the dual role of education as both a driver of opportunity as well as of inequality.

Adults with higher educational attainment have better health and lifespans compared to their less-educated peers. We highlight that tertiary education, particularly, is critical in influencing infant mortality, life expectancy, child vaccination, and enrollment rates. In addition, an economy needs to consider potential years of life lost (premature mortality) as a measure of health quality.

Conclusions

We bring to light the health disparities across countries and suggest implications for governments to target educational interventions that can reduce inequalities and improve health. Our country-level findings on NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training) rates offer implications for economies to address a broad array of vulnerabilities ranging from unemployment, school life expectancy, and labor market discouragement. The health effects of education are at the grass roots-creating better overall self-awareness on personal health and making healthcare more accessible.

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Introduction

Is education generally associated with good health? There is a growing body of research that has been exploring the influence of education on health. Even in highly developed countries like the United States, it has been observed that adults with lower educational attainment suffer from poor health when compared to other populations [ 36 ]. This pattern is attributed to the large health inequalities brought about by education. A clear understanding of the health benefits of education can therefore serve as the key to reducing health disparities and improving the well-being of future populations. Despite the growing attention, research in the education–health area does not offer definitive answers to some critical questions. Part of the reason is the fact that the two phenomena are interlinked through life spans within and across generations of populations [ 36 ], thereby involving a larger social context within which the association is embedded. To some extent, research has also not considered the variances in the education–health relationship through the course of life or across birth cohorts [ 20 ], or if there is causality in the same. There is therefore a growing need for new directions in education–health research.

The avenues through which education affects health are complex and interwoven. For one, at the very outset, the distribution and content of education changes over time [ 20 ]. Second, the relationship between the mediators and health may change over time, as healthcare becomes more expensive and/or industries become either more, or less hazardous. Third, some research has documented that even relative changes in socioeconomic status (SES) can affect health, and thus changes in the distribution of education implies potential changes in the relationship between education and health. The relative index of inequality summarizes the magnitude of SES as a source of inequalities in health [ 11 , 21 , 27 , 29 ]. Fourth, changes in the distribution of health and mortality imply that the paths to poor health may have changed, thereby affecting the association with education.

Research has proposed that the relationship between education and health is attributable to three general classes of mediators: economic; social, psychological, and interpersonal; and behavioral health [ 31 ]. Economic variables such as income and occupation mediate the relationship between education and health by controlling and determining access to acute and preventive medical care [ 1 , 2 , 19 ]. Social, psychological, and interpersonal resources allow people with different levels of education to access coping resources and strategies [ 10 , 34 ], social support [ 5 , 22 ], and problem-solving and cognitive abilities to handle ill-health consequences such as stress [ 16 ]. Healthy behaviors enable educated individuals to recognize symptoms of ill health in a timely manner and seek appropriate medical help [ 14 , 35 ].

While the positive association between education and health has been established, the explanations for this association are not [ 31 ]. People who are well educated experience better health as reflected in the high levels of self-reported health and low levels of morbidity, mortality, and disability. By extension, low educational attainment is associated with self-reported poor health, shorter life expectancy, and shorter survival when sick. Prior research has suggested that the association between education and health is a complicated one, with a range of potential indicators that include (but are not limited to) interrelationships between demographic and family background indicators [ 8 ] - effects of poor health in childhood, greater resources associated with higher levels of education, appreciation of good health behaviors, and access to social networks. Some evidence suggests that education is strongly linked to health determinants such as preventative care [ 9 ]. Education helps promote and sustain healthy lifestyles and positive choices, nurture relationships, and enhance personal, family, and community well-being. However, there are some adverse effects of education too [ 9 ]. Education may result in increased attention to preventive care, which, though beneficial in the long term, raises healthcare costs in the short term. Some studies have found a positive association between education and some forms of illicit drug and alcohol use. Finally, although education is said to be effective for depression, it has been found to have much less substantial impact in general happiness or well-being [ 9 ].

On a universal scale, it has been accepted that several social factors outside the realm of healthcare influence the health outcomes [ 37 ]. The differences in morbidity, mortality and risk factors in research, conducted within and between countries, are impacted by the characteristics of the physical and social environment, and the structural policies that shape them [ 37 ]. Among the developed countries, the United States reflects huge disparities in educational status over the last few decades [ 15 , 24 ]. Life expectancy, while increasing for all others, has decreased among white Americans without a high school diploma - particularly women [ 25 , 26 , 32 ]. The sources of inequality in educational opportunities for American youth include the neighborhood they live in, the color of their skin, the schools they attend, and the financial resources of their families. In addition, the adverse trends in mortality and morbidity brought on by opioids resulting in suicides and overdoses (referred to as deaths of despair) exacerbated the disparities [ 21 ]. Collectively, these trends have brought about large economic and social inequalities in society such that the people with more education are likely to have more health literacy, live longer, experience better health outcomes, practice health promoting behaviors, and obtain timely health checkups [ 21 , 17 ].

Education enables people to develop a broad range of skills and traits (including cognitive and problem-solving abilities, learned effectiveness, and personal control) that predispose them towards improved health outcomes [ 23 ], ultimately contributing to human capital. Over the years, education has paved the way for a country’s financial security, stable employment, and social success [ 3 ]. Countries that adopt policies for the improvement of education also reap the benefits of healthy behavior such as reducing the population rates of smoking and obesity. Reducing health disparities and improving citizen health can be accomplished only through a thorough understanding of the health benefits conferred by education.

There is an iterative relationship between education and health. While poor education is associated with poor health due to income, resources, healthy behaviors, healthy neighborhood, and other socioeconomic factors, poor health, in turn, is associated with educational setbacks and interference with schooling through difficulties with learning disabilities, absenteeism, or cognitive disorders [ 30 ]. Education is therefore considered an important social determinant of health. The influence of national education on health works through a variety of mechanisms. Generally, education shows a relationship with self-rated health, and thus those with the highest education may have the best health [ 30 ]. Also, health-risk behaviors seem to be reduced by higher expenditure into the publicly funded education system [ 18 ], and those with good education are likely to have better knowledge of diseases [ 33 ]. In general, the education–health gradients for individuals have been growing over time [ 38 ].

To inform future education and health policies effectively, one needs to observe and analyze the opportunities that education generates during the early life span of individuals. This necessitates the adoption of some fundamental premises in research. Research must go beyond pure educational attainment and consider the associated effects preceding and succeeding such attainment. Research should consider the variations brought about by the education–health association across place and time, including the drivers that influence such variations [ 36 ].

In the current research, we analyze the association between education and health indicators for various countries using empirical data from reliable sources such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and World Bank. While many studies explore the relationship between education and health at a conceptual level, we deploy an empirical approach in investigating the patterns and relationships between the two sets of indicators. In addition, for the educational indicators, we not only incorporate the level of educational attainment, but also look at the potential socioeconomic benefits, such as enrollment rates (in each sector of educational level) and school life expectancy (at each educational level). We investigate the influences of educational indicators on national health indicators of infant mortality, child vaccinations, life expectancy at birth, premature mortality arising from lack of educational attainment, employment and training, and the level of national health expenditure. Our research question is:

What are some key influencers/drivers in the education-health relationship at a country level?

The current study is important because policy makers have an increasing concern on national health issues and on policies that support it. The effect of education is at the root level—creating better overall self-awareness on personal health and making healthcare more accessible. The paper is organized as follows: Section 2 discusses the background for the research. Section 3 discusses the research method; Section 4 offers the analysis and results; Section 5 provides a synthesis of the results and offers an integrated discussion; Section 6 contains the scope and limitations of the research; Section 7 offers conclusions with implications and directions for future research.

Research has traditionally drawn from three broad theoretical perspectives in conceptualizing the relationship between education and health. The majority of research over the past two decades has been grounded in the Fundamental Cause Theory (FCT) [ 28 ], which posits that factors such as education are fundamental social causes of health inequalities because they determine access to resources (such as income, safe neighborhoods, or healthier lifestyles) that can assist in protecting or enhancing health [ 36 ]. Some of the key social resources that contribute to socioeconomic status include education (knowledge), money, power, prestige, and social connections. As some of these undergo change, they will be associated with differentials in the health status of the population [ 12 ].

Education has also been conceptualized using the Human Capital Theory (HCT) that views it as a return on investment in the form of increased productivity [ 4 ]. Education improves knowledge, skills, reasoning, effectiveness, and a broad range of other abilities that can be applied to improving health. The third approach - the signaling or credentialing perspective [ 6 ] - is adopted to address the large discontinuities in health at 12 and 16 years of schooling, which are typically associated with the receipt of a high school diploma and a college degree, respectively. This perspective considers the earned credentials of a person as a potential source that warrants social and economic returns. All these theoretical perspectives postulate a strong association between education and health and identify mechanisms through which education influences health. While the HCT proposes the mechanisms as embodied skills and abilities, FCT emphasizes the dynamism and flexibility of mechanisms, and the credentialing perspective proposes educational attainment through social responses. It needs to be stated, however, that all these approaches focus on education solely in terms of attainment, without emphasizing other institutional factors such as quality or type of education that may independently influence health. Additionally, while these approaches highlight the individual factors (individual attainment, attainment effects, and mechanisms), they do not give much emphasis to the social context in which education and health processes are embedded.

In the current research while we acknowledge the tenets of these theoretical perspectives, we incorporate the social mechanisms in education such as level of education, skills and abilities brought about by enrollment, school life expectancy, and the potential loss brought about by premature mortality. In this manner, we highlight the relevance of the social context in which the education and health domains are situated. We also study the dynamism of the mechanisms over countries and over time and incorporate the influences that precede and succeed educational attainment.

We analyze country level education and health data from the OECD and World Bank for a period of 21 years (1995–2015). Our variables include the education indicators of adult education level; enrollment rates at various educational levels; NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training) rates; school life expectancy; and the health indicators of infant mortality, child vaccination rates, deaths from cancer, life expectancy at birth, potential years of life lost and smoking rates (Table 1 ). The data was processed using the tools of Tableau for visualization, and SAS for correlation and descriptive statistics. Approaches for analysis include ranking, association, and data visualization of the health and education data.

Analyses and results

In this section we identify and analyze patterns and associations between education and health indicators and discuss the results. Since countries vary in population sizes and other criteria, we use the estimated averages in all our analyses.

Comparison of health outcomes for countries by GDP per capita

We first analyzed to see if our data reflected the expectation that countries with higher GDP per capita have better health status (Fig. 1 ). We compared the average life expectancy at birth, average infant mortality, average deaths from cancer and average potential year of life lost, for different levels of GDP per capita (Fig. 1 ).

Associations between Average Life Expectancy (years) and Average Infant Mortality rate (per 1000), and between Deaths from Cancer (rates per 100,000) and Average Potential Years of Life Lost (years), by GDP per capita (for all countries for years 1995–2015)

Figure 1 depicts two charts with the estimated averages of variables for all countries in the sample. The X-axis of the first chart depicts average infant mortality rate (per 1000), while that of the second chart depicts average potential years of life lost (years). The Y-axis for both charts depicts the GDP per capita shown in intervals of 10 K ranging from 0 K–110 K (US Dollars). The analysis is shown as an average for all the countries in the sample and for all the years (1995–2015). As seen in Fig. 1 , countries with lower GDP per capita have higher infant mortality rate and increased potential year of life lost (which represents the average years a person would have lived if he or she had not died prematurely - a measure of premature mortality). Life expectancy and deaths from cancer are not affected by GDP level. When studying infant mortality and potential year lost, in order to avoid the influence of a control variable, it was necessary to group the samples by their GDP per capita level.

Association of Infant Mortality Rates with enrollment rates and education levels

We explored the association of infant mortality rates with the enrollment rates and adult educational levels for all countries (Fig. 2 ). The expectation is that with higher education and employment the infant mortality rate decreases.

Association of Adult Education Levels (ratio) and Enrollment Rates (ratio) with Infant Mortality Rate (per 1000)

Figure 2 depicts the analysis for all countries in the sample. The figure shows the years from 1995 to 2015 on the X axis. It shows two Y-axes with one axis denoting average infant mortality rate (per 1000 live births), and the other showing the rates from 0 to 120 to depict enrollment rates (primary/secondary/tertiary) and education levels (below secondary/upper secondary/tertiary). Regarding the Y axis showing rates over 100, it is worth noting that the enrollment rates denote a ratio of the total enrollment (regardless of age) at a level of education to the official population of the age group in that education level. Therefore, it is possible for the number of children enrolled at a level to exceed the official population of students in the age group for that level (due to repetition or late entry). This can lead to ratios over 100%. The figure shows that in general, all education indicators tend to rise over time, except for adult education level below secondary, which decreases over time. Infant mortality shows a steep decreasing trend over time, which is favorable. In general, countries have increasing health status and education over time, along with decreasing infant mortality rates. This suggests a negative association of education and enrollment rates with mortality rates.

Association of Education Outcomes with life expectancy at birth

We explored if the education outcomes of adult education level (tertiary), school life expectancy (tertiary), and NEET (not in employment, education, or training) rates, affected life expectancy at birth (Fig. 3 ). Our expectation is that adult education and school life expectancy, particularly tertiary, have a positive influence, while NEET has an adverse influence, on life expectancy at birth.

Association of Adult Education Level (Tertiary), NEET rate, School Life Expectancy (Tertiary), with Life Expectancy at Birth

Figure 3 show the relationships between various education indicators (adult education level-tertiary, NEET rate, school life expectancy-tertiary) and life expectancy at birth for all countries in the sample. The figure suggests that life expectancy at birth rises as adult education level (tertiary) and tertiary school life expectancy go up. Life expectancy at birth drops as the NEET rate goes up. In order to extend people’s life expectancy, governments should try to improve tertiary education, and control the number of youths dropping out of school and ending up unemployed (the NEET rate).

Association of Tertiary Enrollment and Education with potential years of life lost

We wanted to explore if the potential years of life lost rates are affected by tertiary enrollment rates and tertiary adult education levels (Fig. 4 ).

Association of Enrollment rate-tertiary (top) and Adult Education Level-Tertiary (bottom) with Potential Years of Life Lost (Y axis)

The two sets of box plots in Fig. 4 compare the enrollment rates with potential years of life lost (above set) and the education level with potential years of life lost (below set). The analysis is for all countries in the sample. As mentioned earlier, the enrollment rates are expressed as ratios and can exceed 100% if the number of children enrolled at a level (regardless of age) exceed the official population of students in the age group for that level. Potential years of life lost represents the average years a person would have lived, had he/she not died prematurely. The results show that with the rise of tertiary adult education level and tertiary enrollment rate, there is a decrease in both value and variation of the potential years of life lost. We can conclude that lower levels in tertiary education adversely affect a country’s health situation in terms of premature mortality.

Association of Tertiary Enrollment and Education with child vaccination rates

We compared the performance of tertiary education level and enrollment rates with the child vaccination rates (Fig. 5 ) to assess if there was a positive impact of education on preventive healthcare.

Association of Adult Education Level-Tertiary and Enrollment Rate-Tertiary with Child Vaccination Rates

In this analysis (Fig. 5 ), we looked for associations of child vaccination rates with tertiary enrollment and tertiary education. The analysis is for all countries in the sample. The color of the bubble represents the tertiary enrollment rate such that the darker the color, the higher the enrollment rate, and the size of the bubble represents the level of tertiary education. The labels inside the bubbles denote the child vaccination rates. The figure shows a general positive association of high child vaccination rate with tertiary enrollment and tertiary education levels. This indicates that countries that have high child vaccination rates tend to be better at tertiary enrollment and have more adults educated in tertiary institutions. Therefore, countries that focus more on tertiary education and enrollment may confer more health awareness in the population, which can be reflected in improved child vaccination rates.

Association of NEET rates (15–19; 20–24) with infant mortality rates and deaths from Cancer

In the realm of child health, we also looked at the infant mortality rates. We explored if infant mortality rates are associated with the NEET rates in different age groups (Fig. 6 ).

Association of Infant Mortality rates with NEET Rates (15–19) and NEET Rates (20–24)

Figure 6 is a scatterplot that explores the correlation between infant mortality and NEET rates in the age groups 15–19 and 20–24. The data is for all countries in the sample. Most data points are clustered in the lower infant mortality and lower NEET rate range. Infant mortality and NEET rates move in the same direction—as infant mortality increases/decrease, the NEET rate goes up/down. The NEET rate for the age group 20–24 has a slightly higher infant mortality rate than the NEET rate for the age group 15–19. This implies that when people in the age group 20–24 are uneducated or unemployed, the implications on infant mortality are higher than in other age groups. This is a reasonable association, since there is the potential to have more people with children in this age group than in the teenage group. To reduce the risk of infant mortality, governments should decrease NEET rates through promotional programs that disseminate the benefits of being educated, employed, and trained [ 7 ]. Additionally, they can offer financial aid to public schools and companies to offer more resources to raise general health awareness in people.

We looked to see if the distribution of population without employment, education, or training (NEET) in various categories of high, medium, and low impacted the rate of deaths from cancer (Fig. 7 ). Our expectation is that high rates of NEET will positively influence deaths from cancer.

Association of Deaths from Cancer and different NEET Rates

The three pie charts in Fig. 7 show the distribution of deaths from cancer in groups of countries with different NEET rates (high, medium, and low). The analysis includes all countries in the sample. The expectation was that high rates of NEET would be associated with high rates of cancer deaths. Our results, however, show that countries with medium NEET rates tend to have the highest deaths from cancer. Countries with high NEET rates have the lowest deaths from cancer among the three groups. Contrary to expectations, countries with low NEET rates do not show the lowest death rates from cancer. A possible explanation for this can be attributed to the fact that in this group, the people in the labor force may be suffering from work-related hazards including stress, that endanger their health.

Association between adult education levels and health expenditure

It is interesting to note the relationship between health expenditure and adult education levels (Fig. 8 ). We expect them to be positively associated.

Association of Health Expenditure and Adult Education Level-Tertiary & Upper Secondary

Figure 8 shows a heat map with the number of countries in different combinations of groups between tertiary and upper-secondary adult education level. We emphasize the higher levels of adult education. The color of the square shows the average of health expenditure. The plot shows that most of the countries are divided into two clusters. One cluster has a high tertiary education level as well as a high upper-secondary education level and it has high average health expenditure. The other cluster has relatively low tertiary and upper secondary education level with low average health expenditure. Overall, the figure shows a positive correlation between adult education level and compulsory health expenditure. Governments of countries with low levels of education should allocate more health expenditure, which will have an influence on the educational levels. Alternatively, to improve public health, governments can frame educational policies to improve the overall national education level, which then produces more health awareness, contributing to national healthcare.

Association of Compulsory Health Expenditure with NEET rates by country and region

Having explored the relationship between health expenditure and adult education, we then explored the relationship between health expenditure and NEET rates of different countries (Fig. 9 ). We expect compulsory health expenditure to be negatively associated with NEET rates.

Association between Compulsory Health Expenditure and NEET Rate by Country and Region

In Fig. 9 , each box represents a country or region; the size of the box indicates the extent of compulsory health expenditure such that a larger box implies that the country has greater compulsory health expenditure. The intensity of the color of the box represents the NEET rate such that the darker color implies a higher NEET rate. Turkey has the highest NEET rate with low health expenditure. Most European countries such as France, Belgium, Sweden, and Norway have low NEET rates and high health expenditure. The chart shows a general association between low compulsory health expenditure and high NEET rates. The relationship, however, is not consistent, as there are countries with high NEET and high health expenditures. Our suggestion is for most countries to improve the social education for the youth through free training programs and other means to effectively improve the public health while they attempt to raise the compulsory expenditure.

Distribution of life expectancy at birth and tertiary enrollment rate

The distribution of enrollment rate (tertiary) and life expectancy of all the countries in the sample can give an idea of the current status of both education and health (Fig. 10 ). We expect these to be positively associated.

Distribution of Life Expectancy at Birth (years) and Tertiary Enrollment Rate

Figure 10 shows two histograms with the lines representing the distribution of life expectancy at birth and the tertiary enrollment rate of all the countries. The distribution of life expectancy at birth is skewed right, which means most of the countries have quite a high life expectancy and there are few countries with a very low life expectancy. The tertiary enrollment rate has a good distribution, which is closer to a normal distribution. Governments of countries with an extremely low life expectancy should try to identify the cause of this problem and take actions in time to improve the overall national health.

Comparison of adult education levels and deaths from Cancer at various levels of GDP per capita

We wanted to see if various levels of GDP per capita influence the levels of adult education and deaths from cancer in countries (Fig. 11 ).

Comparison of Adult Education Levels and Deaths from Cancer at various levels of GDP per capita

Figure 11 shows the distribution of various adult education levels for countries by groups of GDP per capita. The plot shows that as GDP grows, the level of below-secondary adult education becomes lower, and the level of tertiary education gets higher. The upper-secondary education level is constant among all the groups. The implication is that tertiary education is the most important factor among all the education levels for a country to improve its economic power and health level. Countries should therefore focus on tertiary education as a driver of economic development. As for deaths from cancer, countries with lower GDP have higher death rates, indicating the negative association between economic development and deaths from cancer.

Distribution of infant mortality rates by continent

Infant mortality is an important indicator of a country’s health status. Figure 12 shows the distribution of infant mortality for the continents of Asia, Europe, Oceania, North and South America. We grouped the countries in each continent into high, medium, and low, based on infant mortality rates.

Distribution of Infant Mortality rates by Continent

In Fig. 12 , each bar represents a continent. All countries fall into three groups (high, medium, and low) based on infant mortality rates. South America has the highest infant mortality, followed by Asia, Europe, and Oceania. North America falls in the medium range of infant mortality. South American countries, in general, should strive to improve infant mortality. While Europe, in general, has the lowest infant mortality rates, there are some countries that have high rates as depicted.

Association between child vaccination rates and NEET rates

We looked at the association between child vaccination rates and NEET rates in various countries (Fig. 13 ). We expect countries that have high NEET rates to have low child vaccination rates.

Association between Child Vaccination Rates and NEET rates

Figure 13 displays the child vaccination rates in the first map and the NEET rates in the second map, for all countries. The darker green color shows countries with higher rates of vaccination and the darker red represents those with higher NEET rates. It can be seen that in general, the countries with lower NEET also have better vaccination rates. Examples are USA, UK, Iceland, France, and North European countries. Countries should therefore strive to reduce NEET rates by enrolling a good proportion of the youth into initiatives or programs that will help them be more productive in the future, and be able to afford preventive healthcare for the families, particularly, the children.

Average smoking rate in different continents over time

We compared the trend of average smoking rate for the years 1995–201 for the continents in the sample (Fig. 14 ).

Trend of average smoking rate in different continents from 1995 to 2015

Figure 14 depicts the line charts of average smoking rates for the continents of Asia, Europe, Oceania, North and South America. All the lines show an overall downward trend, which indicates that the average smoking rate decreases with time. The trend illustrates that people have become more health conscious and realize the harmful effects of smoking over time. However, the smoking rate in Europe (EU) is consistently higher than that in other continents, while the smoking rate in North America (NA) is consistently lower over the years. Governments in Europe should pay attention to the usage of tobacco and increase health consciousness among the public.

Association between adult education levels and deaths from Cancer

We explored if adult education levels (below-secondary, upper-secondary, and tertiary) are associated with deaths from cancer (Fig. 15 ) such that higher levels of education will mitigate the rates of deaths from cancer, due to increased awareness and proactive health behavior.

Association of deaths from cancer with adult education levels

Figure 15 shows the correlations of deaths from cancer among the three adult education levels, for all countries in the sample. It is obvious that below-secondary and tertiary adult education levels have a negative correlation with deaths from cancer, while the upper-secondary adult education level shows a positive correlation. Barring upper-secondary results, we can surmise that in general, as education level goes higher, the deaths from cancer will decrease. The rationale for this could be that education fosters more health awareness and encourages people to adopt healthy behavioral practices. Governments should therefore pay attention to frame policies that promote education. However, the counterintuitive result of the positive correlation between upper-secondary levels of adult education with the deaths from cancer warrants more investigation.

We drilled down further into the correlation between the upper-secondary education level and deaths from cancer. Figure 16 shows this correlation, along with a breakdown of the total number of records for each continent, to see if there is an explanation for the unique result.

Association between deaths from cancer and adult education level-upper secondary

Figure 16 shows a dashboard containing two graphs - a scatterplot of the correlation between deaths from cancer and education level, and a bar graph showing the breakdown of the total sample by continent. We included a breakdown by continent in order to explore variances that may clarify or explain the positive association for deaths from cancer with the upper-secondary education level. The scatterplot shows that for the European Union (EU) the points are much more scattered than for the other continents. Also, the correlation between deaths and education level for the EU is positive. The bottom bar graph depicts how the sample contains a disproportionately high number of records for the EU than for other continents. It is possible that this may have influenced the results of the correlation. The governments in the EU should investigate the reasons behind this phenomenon. Also, we defer to future research to explore this in greater detail by incorporating other socioeconomic parameters that may have to be factored into the relationship.

Association between average tertiary school life expectancy and health expenditure

We moved our focus to the trends of tertiary school life expectancy and health expenditure from 1995 to 2015 (Fig. 17 ) to check for positive associations.

Association between Average Tertiary School Life Expectancy and Health Expenditure

Figure 17 is a combination chart explaining the trends of tertiary school life expectancy and health expenditure, for all countries in the sample. The rationale is that if there is a positive association between the two, it would be worthwhile for the government to allocate more resources towards health expenditure. Both tertiary school life expectancy and health expenditure show an increase over the years from 1995 to 2015. Our additional analysis shows that they continue to increase even after 2015. Hence, governments are encouraged to increase the health expenditure in order to see gains in tertiary school life expectancy, which will have positive implications for national health. Given that the measured effects of education are large, investments in education might prove to be a cost-effective means of achieving better health.

Our results reveal how interlinked education and health can be. We show how a country can improve its health scenario by focusing on appropriate indicators of education. Countries with higher education levels are more likely to have better national health conditions. Among the adult education levels, tertiary education is the most critical indicator influencing healthcare in terms of infant mortality, life expectancy, child vaccination rates, and enrollment rates. Our results emphasize the role that education plays in the potential years of life lost, which is a measure that represents the average years a person would have lived had he/she not died prematurely. In addition to mortality rate, an economy needs to consider this indicator as a measure of health quality.

Other educational indicators that are major drivers of health include school life expectancy, particularly at the tertiary level. In order to improve the school life expectancy of the population, governments should control the number of youths ending up unemployed, dropping out of school, and without skills or training (the NEET rate). Education allows people to gain skills/abilities and knowledge on general health, enhancing their awareness of healthy behaviors and preventive care. By targeting promotions and campaigns that emphasize the importance of skills and employment, governments can reduce the NEET rates. And, by reducing the NEET rates, governments have the potential to address a broad array of vulnerabilities among youth, ranging from unemployment, early school dropouts, and labor market discouragement, which are all social issues that warrant attention in a growing economy.

We also bring to light the health disparities across countries and suggest implications for governments to target educational interventions that can reduce inequalities and improve health, at a macro level. The health effects of education are at the grass roots level - creating better overall self-awareness on personal health and making healthcare more accessible.

Scope and limitations

Our research suffers from a few limitations. For one, the number of countries is limited, and being that the data are primarily drawn from OECD, they pertain to the continent of Europe. We also considered a limited set of variables. A more extensive study can encompass a larger range of variables drawn from heterogeneous sources. With the objective of acquiring a macro perspective on the education–health association, we incorporated some dependent variables that may not traditionally be viewed as pure health parameters. For example, the variable potential years of life lost is affected by premature deaths that may be caused by non-health related factors too. Also there may be some intervening variables in the education–health relationship that need to be considered. Lastly, while our study explores associations and relationships between variables, it does not investigate causality.

Conclusions and future research

Both education and health are at the center of individual and population health and well-being. Conceptualizations of both phenomena should go beyond the individual focus to incorporate and consider the social context and structure within which the education–health relationship is embedded. Such an approach calls for a combination of interdisciplinary research, novel conceptual models, and rich data sources. As health differences are widening across the world, there is need for new directions in research and policy on health returns on education and vice versa. In developing interventions and policies, governments would do well to keep in mind the dual role played by education—as a driver of opportunity as well as a reproducer of inequality [ 36 ]. Reducing these macro-level inequalities requires interventions directed at a macro level. Researchers and policy makers have mutual responsibilities in this endeavor, with researchers investigating and communicating the insights and recommendations to policy makers, and policy makers conveying the challenges and needs of health and educational practices to researchers. Researchers can leverage national differences in the political system to study the impact of various welfare systems on the education–health association. In terms of investment in education, we make a call for governments to focus on education in the early stages of life course so as to prevent the reproduction of social inequalities and change upcoming educational trajectories; we also urge governments to make efforts to mitigate the rising dropout rate in postsecondary enrollment that often leads to detrimental health (e.g., due to stress or rising student debt). There is a need to look into the circumstances that can modify the postsecondary experience of youth so as to improve their health.

Our study offers several prospects for future research. Future research can incorporate geographic and environmental variables—such as the quality of air level or latitude—for additional analysis. Also, we can incorporate data from other sources to include more countries and more variables, especially non-European ones, so as to increase the breadth of analysis. In terms of methodology, future studies can deploy meta-regression analysis to compare the relationships between health and some macro-level socioeconomic indicators [ 13 ]. Future research should also expand beyond the individual to the social context in which education and health are situated. Such an approach will help generate findings that will inform effective educational and health policies and interventions to reduce disparities.

Availability of data and materials

The dataset analyzed during the current study is available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Abbreviations

Fundamental Cause Theory

Human Capital Theory

Not in Employment, Education, or Training

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

Socio-economic status

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Raghupathi, V., Raghupathi, W. The influence of education on health: an empirical assessment of OECD countries for the period 1995–2015. Arch Public Health 78 , 20 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-020-00402-5

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Education Improves Public Health and Promotes Health Equity

Robert a. hahn.

1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA

Benedict I. Truman

This article describes a framework and empirical evidence to support the argument that educational programs and policies are crucial public health interventions. Concepts of education and health are developed and linked, and we review a wide range of empirical studies to clarify pathways of linkage and explore implications. Basic educational expertise and skills, including fundamental knowledge, reasoning ability, emotional self-regulation, and interactional abilities, are critical components of health. Moreover, education is a fundamental social determinant of health – an upstream cause of health. Programs that close gaps in educational outcomes between low-income or racial and ethnic minority populations and higher-income or majority populations are needed to promote health equity. Public health policy makers, health practitioners and educators, and departments of health and education can collaborate to implement educational programs and policies for which systematic evidence indicates clear public health benefits.

Education is a process and a product . From a societal perspective, the process of education (from the Latin, ducere, “to lead,” and e, “out from,” yield education, “a leading out”) intentionally engages the receptive capacities of children and others to imbue them with knowledge, skills of reasoning, values, socio-emotional awareness and control, and social interaction, so they can grow as engaged, productive, creative, and self-governing members of a society. 1 Of course, not all educational institutions achieve these goals for all children – far from it; educational institutions in the United States often fall short of goals, and too many students may be led into school failure, social dysfunction, and marginal living conditions with lifelong disadvantages.

Not all learning is acquired in a formal school setting. The process of education occurs at home, in school, and in the child’s community. Children in the United States spend a relatively small proportion of their waking hours in school – approximately 1,000 hours per year or about one fifth of their waking hours. 2 Thus there are many opportunities for informal education outside the school setting. 3 When researchers find evidence linking mental capacities, knowledge, feelings, and values with health outcomes, 4 not all consequences can be attributed to formal education.

As the product of the educational process, an education is the array of knowledge, skills, and capacities (ie, intellectual, socio-emotional, physical, productive, and interactive) acquired by a learner through formal and experiential learning. An education is an attribute of a person. And, although a person may be said to “have” a certain level of education at any particular moment, educational attainment is a dynamic, ever-evolving array of knowledge, skills, and capacities.

Although we conceive of education broadly, including both its formal and informal sources, the focus of our evidence review is the formal education that is measured in most research. Our recommendation also focuses on the formal education, from early childhood to college and beyond, that is, the subject of educational policy and, we argue, should also be the subject of public health policy.

In public health, researchers and practitioners have examined 3 principal relationships between education and health. First, health is a prerequisite for education : hungry children or children who cannot hear well, or who have chronic toothaches, eg, are hindered in their learning. 5 Second, education about health (ie, health education) occurs within schools and in many public health interventions; it is a central tool of public health. 6 Third, physical education in schools combines education about the importance of physical activity for health with promoting such activity. 7 Here we focus on 2 additional relationships between education and health. First, we propose that education as a personal attribute is a central conceptual component and essential element of health , similar to physical fitness. Second, we summarize the extensive literature demonstrating that formal education is a contributing cause of health .

We argue that education – the product and personal attribute acquired – is both a critical component of a person’s health and a contributing cause of other elements of the person’s concurrent and future health. Consistent with other definitions of health, a person who lacks basic elements of an education is not fully healthy. 8 , 9 For example, the 1978 Alma Ata International Conference on Primary Health Care defined “health” to include “a state of complete…mental and social well-being” – which we see as largely products of education. Attainment of a certain level of formal education by young adulthood affects lifelong health through multiple pathways. 8 , 10

We then argue that, because it is both an essential component and a major contributing cause of health, educational achievement broadly should be a legitimate arena for public health intervention. Thus, public health practitioners could legitimately promote educational programs to advance public health. Education should also be recognized as an essential requirement for the disruption of the cycle of poverty and inequities in health. The public health community should expand research to better understand the causal relationships between education and health, and thereby identify evidence-based educational policies that have great potential to improve public health.

A Broad Concept of Education

We propose a broad concept of education as a personal attribute, which includes not only subject-matter knowledge, reasoning, and problem-solving skills, but also awareness of one’s own emotions and those of others and control of one’s emotions (ie, “emotional intelligence”) 11 and associated abilities to interact effectively. “Education improves health because it increases effective agency, enhancing a sense of personal control that encourages and enables a healthy lifestyle. Education’s beneficial effects are pervasive, cumulative, and self-amplifying, growing across the life course.” 12

In 1983, the National Commission on Excellence in Education’s report, A Nation at Risk , launched a national conversation about the need for educational reform. 13 In 1990, the US Department of Labor initiated a program – the Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills – to determine critical capacities for a US workforce to be provided by the educational system. 14 The capacities proposed were based on “a three-part foundation” reflecting the broad notion of education that we propose: Basic Skills (reading, writing, arithmetic, mathematics, listening, speaking), Thinking Skills (creative thinking, decision making, problem solving, seeing things in the mind’s eye, knowing how to learn, reasoning), and Personal Qualities (responsibility, self-esteem, sociability, self-management, integrity/honesty). The project recommends as a central educational goal: “All American high school students must develop a new set of competencies and foundation skills if they are to enjoy a productive, full, and satisfying life.” 14 (p1) We would expand this list of outcomes to include a healthy life.

Education as an Element of Health

In our conception, basic education is an integral part of being healthy. A person is unhealthy if he or she lacks basic knowledge, the ability to reason, emotional capacities of self-awareness and emotional regulation, and skills of social interaction. These embodied personal attributes or mental capacities, the products of formal education as well as other learning experiences, are conceptually comparable to physical capacities of fitness and coordination – well-established components of health. “Education teaches a person to use his or her mind: Learning, thinking, reasoning, solving problems, and so on are mental exercises that may keep the central nervous system in shape the same way that physical exercise keeps the body in shape.” 8 (p738) A person is unhealthy who cannot conduct himself or herself effectively and achieve some level of “social well-being” – a critical element of the World Health Organization (WHO) conception of health, which recognized the contributions of social sectors beyond the health sector in promoting health. 9

The projects of several US and international health agencies reflect this concept of education as a component of health. For example, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognizes “cognitive health” in its Healthy Aging Program; although the focus of this program is prevention and control of Alzheimer’s disease, the “cognitive health” rubric suggests far broader considerations: “The public health community should embrace cognitive health as a priority, invest in its promotion, and enhance our ability to move scientific discoveries rapidly into public health practice.” 15 (p1) The National Institutes for Health similarly has a “healthy brain” program that recognizes cognitive as well as emotional capacities as elements of health. 16

Similar concepts are recognized internationally by the WHO, in accordance with its definition of health cited above. More recently, a WHO paper 17 included cognition and affect as 2 of 6 domains for the international comparison of health status .

Measures of Education as a Personal Attribute

Education is measured in a variety of ways. A common measure, years of schooling/educational attainment, is problematic insofar as time spent in school gives little indication of how the time is spent and what is learned. 2 School-level completion may be a better measure, but also varies in terms of the quality and quantity of what is learned. Standardized tests of subject-matter knowledge and reasoning skills may be still better for some purposes, but may offer challenges when compared across populations. 18

Some 19 , 20 have argued that teacher-assigned grades are an alternate, if not better, predictor of long-term outcomes than standardized tests because they reflect not only academic achievement, but also classroom social and learning skills that indicate abilities to learn and to interact successfully. The breadth of skills addressed by this measure better reflects the broad concept of education argued here. Subjectivity, personal preferences, and comparability are challenges with teacher-assigned grades as a measure of achievement.

Evidence of Causal Association

It may seem odd that, in the perspective developed here, education – the product and the personal attribute – is at once an element of health and a cause of health. The relationship is similar to that of physical fitness and health. Fitness is an element of health and an important cause of subsequent health – not only of physical fitness, but of other facets of health as well, including cardiac health and mental health. 21 – 23 In addition to providing extensive evidence that education is associated with health, we argue that the underlying causal process is conceptually similar to the causal relationships between physical activity or an infectious agent and health. We provide some evidence of causation, noting that the notion of causal proof in a traditional deterministic sense has been challenged. 24

Criteria to determine causality in public health developed by Sir Bradford-Hill in 1965 25 are still useful. They are:

• Strength of association linking hypothetical cause and outcome (as assessed, eg, by the magnitude of relative risks)
• Consistency of findings, eg, by different researchers in different settings
• Specificity – the connection of specific, narrow causes to specific outcomes
• Temporal sequence—the necessity of cause preceding consequence
• Dose–response relationship
• Plausibility in terms of current knowledge
• Coherence – similar to plausibility, the fit with other contemporary knowledge
• Experiment – offering the strongest support
• Analogy – the comparability of postulated causality with causality in similar phenomena

Most of the Bradford-Hill criteria clearly apply when linking education to health. An obvious exception is specificity, because education itself is a broad concept including many elements, and the causal consequences of education are also numerous and heterogeneous. Bradford-Hill did not regard specificity as essential, as in the case of cigarette smoke with its multiple health consequences. As Susser has argued, “Specificity enhances the plausibility of causal inference, but lack of specificity does not negate it.” 26 (p153)

The associations presented below satisfy several standard criteria for causation. At least 3 approaches are used: 1) observational cohort studies with concurrent controls, 2) natural quasi-experiments in education policy, and 3) educational experiments. In the sections that follow, we provide samples of evidence of the causal association between education and health, assessed first by various health-related outcomes: health risk and protective behaviors, wages and income (resources for health), self-assessed health, morbidity, mortality, and life expectancy. We then provide evidence from experimental studies. The literature on these topics is extensive 4 , 8 and here we describe only a few examples, from early childhood and beyond. Evidence of the association between measures of education – the personal attribute – and other health-related outcomes is positive, strong, and consistent.

Health Risk and Protective Behaviors Are Associated With Academic Achievement

Evidence of an association between high school student grades and risk behaviors in the United States is remarkably consistent; higher average grade achievement is associated with lower rates of risk behavior ( Figure 1 ). 27 One plausible explanation is that there is causation in the reverse direction of what is proposed here, ie, that risk behavior interferes with academic achievement; such reverse causation seems reasonable, eg, for watching television and using alcohol. Also plausible is that other factors, such as strong values, promote both academic achievement and self-protective behaviors, or that academic achievement is associated with knowledge, which leads to risk avoidance. Another explanation is that underlying psychological or environmental conditions are associated with risk behavior and academic problems. Causation in both directions is likely. The consistency of a dose response for multiple behaviors is consistent with an effect of educational success on the avoidance of risky behavior.

Health-risk behaviors and school grades, United States, 2009.

Source: www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/health_and_academics/pdf/health_risk_behaviors.pdf .

There is also strong evidence of a dose response between years of education and many health-related risk and protective behaviors among US adults. Analysis of a representative survey of adults aged >25 years between 1990 and 2000 indicates that the prevalence of several risk behaviors is generally higher among those with fewer than nine years of formal education, begins to decline among those who have nine to 12 years of formal education, and continues to decline with additional years of education; this finding corresponds to the recognized importance of high school completion for subsequent health. 28 , 29

Wages and Income, Resources for Health, Are Associated With Educational Success

Wages and income are not health outcomes, but are closely linked with health outcomes because they provide access to health-related resources, such as healthy food, a safe environment, and healthcare. A recent analysis 30 of trends in US wages over more than 20 years finds higher wages consistently associated with higher educational attainment and a trend toward increasing differences in wages by educational status. In the causal chain, high educational attainment is antecedent to high wages or income. A recent study 31 linking individual kindergarten standardized achievement tests with wages at ages 25–27 years indicates a remarkable linear association accounting for 17% of the variability in the wage outcome – 20 years later ( Figure 2 ). Although high family income precedes and predicts educational success in children, controlling for such demographic characteristics of the kindergartner (including family income, household ownership, and marital status) diminishes, but by no means eliminates, the association found in this study.

Association between kindergarten test score percentiles and mean wage earnings, ages 25–27 years, Tennessee STAR program.

Source: Chetty, 2010.

Self-Assessed Health Is Associated With Educational Attainment

Self-assessed health is a well-established index of morbidity and predictor of mortality. 32 , 33 A recent study compares the association of educational attainment with self-assessed health in US and Canadian populations. 34 , 35 Controlling for basic demographics and income, those with less than a high school education in the United States are 2.4 times as likely as high school graduates and 4.1 times as likely as those with post-secondary education to rate their health as poor. Further adjusting these ratios for risk behaviors only moderately reduces the ratios, suggesting that education is related to self-reported health due to important factors in addition to risk behaviors.

It is plausible that health status affects the likelihood of educational achievement, but it is likely that the major force of causation is in the opposite direction. Not only is educational attainment closely associated with self-rated health, but the association increases with age when measured by the number of days per week reported as free of major symptoms. With increasing age, the gap in symptom-free days increases between those with a college degree, those with a high school degree or some college, and those with less than a high school degree, suggesting that the effects of education are pervasive throughout the lifespan, and that its consequences have cumulative effects on health over time. 36

Morbidity is Associated With Educational Attainment

In the United States, although higher self-reported rates of several conditions, such as prostate cancer and sinusitis, are reported among more adults with greater levels of education, for most conditions the reverse direction of association is evident. Rates of major circulatory diseases, diabetes, liver disease, and several psychological symptoms (sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness) show higher rates among adults with lower educational attainment. 35

Mortality and Life Expectancy Are Associated With Educational Attainment

Evidence also exists of a strong association between educational attainment and mortality from many diseases. 37 The parallel relationship for three heterogeneous groups of illness or injury again suggests an underlying connection unrelated to the specific etiologic pathways of each cause of death ( Figure 3 ). 37 In addition, the modal age for completing formal education (the mid-20 s) substantially precedes the peak age for mortality in the United States (77 years of age) by many years, consistent with another Bradford-Hill principle, ie, the precedence of cause before effect.

Age-adjusted death rates among persons ages 25–64 years for several condition groupings, by sex and educational attainment. Selected US states, 1994–2005.

From the perspective of life expectancy, at age 25 in 2005, a man in the United States with less than a high school education could expect to live an additional 44.2 years to age 69.2 years; a man with a graduate degree could expect to live more than 15 years longer. At age 25 years, a woman in the United States with less than a high school education could expect to live to age 74.9 years; a woman with a graduate degree could expect to live more than 11 years longer. 38

Educational Experiments and Quasi-Experiments

True experiments in the field of education are uncommon. Nevertheless, several experiments have been conducted. Groups of children, often from low-income or minority families, have been exposed, sometimes with random assignment, to different forms of education and followed over time to determine long-term outcomes, including health-related outcomes, as shown in the following 3 examples of early childhood programs.

In the early 1960s, 3- and 4-year-olds with low IQs from low-income families were randomly assigned to either the High/Scope Perry Preschool Program – an educational program including home visits – or no intervention. Home visits were designed to strengthen parental engagement in the child’s education. Participants were periodically assessed until age 40. 39 Over several follow-up assessments, intervention participants had greater levels of educational attainment, income, and health insurance, lived in safer family environments, and had lower rates of tobacco and drug use and risky driving behavior than controls. At age 40 years, however, more intervention than control participants had chronic diseases, but fewer intervention participants had died.

In 1972, healthy infants at risk of academic difficulties because of their demographic circumstances (eg, poor, minority, single parents) were randomly assigned to the Carolina Abecedarian Project or a control intervention (offered social services, nutritional supplements, and healthcare services, but no educational program). 40 The Abecedarian preschool program focused on developing cognitive, social, language, and motor skills from birth through age 5 years. Before entering kindergarten, control and experimental children were again randomized into either routine schooling or a strengthened school program complemented by home visits for parental guidance to reinforce child learning. At follow-up, both the preschool and the early schooling programs were shown to be beneficial in terms of academic achievement; the preschool program had the larger effect. By age 21 years, participants in the early childhood education intervention (combining those with and without the strengthened primary school programming) had better health behaviors and better health than those who did not receive the early childhood education intervention. 41 By their mid-30 s, those exposed to the intervention, particularly males, had substantially more favorable cardiovascular risk profiles than those exposed to the control condition. 42

Finally, though not a true experiment, the Chicago Child-Parent Center program followed two groups of poor Chicago children aged 3 and 4 years: one exposed to an early childhood program and the other not exposed. Children residing in Chicago districts with federally funded kindergarten programs were eligible and selected on a “most-in-need basis”; comparison children lived in similarly poor neighborhoods with locally funded kindergarten programs. The Chicago Child-Parent Center provided educational enrichment from prekindergarten through the third grade, required parental involvement in the classroom a half-day per week, and provided nutrition and health services. At age 24 years, in comparison with control subjects, participants had lower rates of out-of-home placement (indicating child abuse), lower rates of arrests and conviction for violent behaviors, and lower rates of disability. 43

A recent review of the effects of early childhood educational programs indicates that programs with strong instructional components and those evaluated with strong study designs have large and enduring effects on the educational, social, and health outcomes of participants. 44

Several researchers have made use of natural quasi-experiments involving education policies that rapidly change years of schooling required, to evaluate the effects of the requirement on health-related and other outcomes. When state educational requirements change from 1 year to the next from 7 to 9 years, eg, cohorts of children of a certain age in that state will receive approximately 7 years of education, while their younger siblings will receive 9 years. The state where this policy is implemented may be compared by regression discontinuity analysis from before to after the change, but also with other states that have not made this change at the same time.

In one such study, Lleras-Muney 45 uses a sample of US census data to estimate the effects on mortality of changes in compulsory education requirements in 30 states, comparing birth cohorts before and after such changes between 1915 and 1939 with long-term follow-up data. Lleras-Muney concludes that each year of additional required schooling resulted in a reduction of mortality by 3.6% over 10 years, or gain of 1.7 years to life expectancy at 35 years of age. Although these data are old, it is likely that the general effects of increased educational requirements on mortality have not changed substantially. Other researchers have used regression discontinuity analysis to estimate the effects of education on rates of crime, arrest, and incarceration in the United States 46 and on teenage births in the United States and Norway. 47 Among researchers using this design, only Arendt 48 finds equivocal evidence regarding the effects of additional years of education on self-rated health, body mass index, and smoking in the United States, Canada, and Denmark. The heterogeneity of conditions affected by educational exposure again suggests a broad, nonspecific underlying “mechanism.”

The Fallacy of the Endowment Hypothesis

Gottfredson has proposed that intelligence – innate intellectual and associated ability – rather than educational attainment is the “fundamental cause” of socioeconomic inequalities in health, a proposal referred to as the “endowment hypothesis.” 49 Several basic features distinguish Gottfredson’s notion of intelligence from the concept of education as defined in this article: intelligence is regarded as “natural, not cultural,” “context-free,” and “highly heritable” – indicating a largely innate, biological foundation, little affected by environmental variability. From this vantage, education as conceived in this article may be regarded as largely determined by intelligence insofar as those with greater intelligence are both more likely to seek education and to succeed in acquiring it.

Gottfredson’s hypothesis is explicitly evaluated by others in a study of 2 US cohorts that assesses the contributions of education, income, and intelligence to 3 health outcomes: mortality, life-threatening illness, and self-rated health. 50 The researchers posit an alternative model, in which there are underlying “background influences on [socioeconomic status] and intelligence.” In this model, intelligence affects education and income, and both of these socioeconomic status characteristics in turn affect intelligence; a summary of research on this linkage 51 indicates that a year of education is associated with a gain of between 2 and 4 IQ points. In both study cohorts, intelligence during high school is measured by standardized and validated tests, the Henmon-Nelson test and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. The researchers find generally consistent evidence of pairwise dose–response associations between levels of education, income, and intelligence with each of 3 health outcomes.

The researchers then examine the questions: what is the effect of controlling the association of education and health outcomes for intelligence; of income and health outcomes controlling for intelligence; and of intelligence and health outcomes controlling for both education and income? This assessment allows answering 2 basic questions: how much does intelligence contribute to the effects of education and of income on health, ie, what are the effects of these determinants net the contribution of intelligence? And, to what extent are the effects of intelligence on health mediated by income and education? The researchers find that separately controlling the effects of education and income on health outcomes for intelligence alters the coefficients for education and income minimally and leaves all associations statistically significant at the 0.05 level or less, indicating that little of the effect of education on health is mediated by intelligence.

The effects of controlling the effects of intelligence on health for education and income are more complex. Only 1 of the 2 surveys finds a significant effect of intelligence on mortality ( P <.05); controlling for education and income eliminates the significance of this finding. Thus, the effect of intelligence on mortality is largely mediated by income and education. Both surveys find statistically significant effects of intelligence for both life-threatening illnesses and self-rated health; however, the effect magnitudes are diminished by a mean of 69.4% and statistical significance is again eliminated for all findings except for self-rated health in one of the surveys. These findings indicate that the effects of intelligence on health outcomes are largely mediated by education and income. 50 There is thus substantial evidence that education has a strong effect on health, independent of background intelligence. Innate intelligence may be a “fundamental cause” principally insofar as it leads to higher education and income.

Causal Pathways and Evidence Linking Education and Health

Building on the work of others, 10 , 52 we constructed a model indicating the three major pathways linking education and health outcomes in adulthood and including the several facets of education – knowledge, problem solving, emotional awareness and self-regulation, values, and interactional skills ( Figure 4 ). First is the psycho-social environment, including the individual’s sense of control, social standing, and social support, which reflects and bolsters capacity and agency. Second is work, through which the individual may achieve satisfaction and income, which allows access to many health-related resources. Finally, healthy behavior may protect an individual against health risks and facilitate negotiation of the healthcare system.

Pathways from educational attainment to health outcomes.

Ross and Wu 8 used 2 national probability samples of US adults to assess the effects of completed education on self-perceived health and reported physical functioning. They first assessed the association between education and each of three broad covariate groups – psycho-social environment; work; and health knowledge, literacy, and behaviors – that are themselves determinants of health outcomes ( Figure 4 ). 8 For each data source, they began with a model including as covariates only demographic characteristics of their samples. To the basic model, they first added employment and economic covariates, then social-psychological covariates, and finally risk behavior covariates, noting the changes in regression coefficients for educational exposures on health outcomes. This approach allowed assessment of the magnitude of each of these groups of covariates as pathways linking education to health-related outcomes. However, the relative contribution of each group of factors cannot be determined precisely, because these groups are unlikely to be causally independent, and covariate groups entered into the regression early are thus likely to show greater reductions in regression coefficients than those entered later.

In both samples, education was associated with all covariates in expected directions. The largest effect was for work-related variables, including income. Those with lower income not only had limited resources useful in maintaining health, but also may have experienced anxieties that exacerbate health problems. The effects of psycho-social resources were also statistically significant and of similar magnitude. Risk behavior and knowledge also contributed to the association between education and health by both measures. The 3 clusters of covariates together explain between 55% and 59% of the variance in self-reported health and between 46% and 71% of physical functioning in these surveys. This suggests that the smallest contribution to health outcomes is associated with health behaviors, which were entered last into the regression model. In both samples, education has a significant residual “direct” effect, independent of the three examined pathways. In summary, education’s association with improved health is attributable to greater work opportunities and rewards, a greater sense of control and social support, healthier behaviors, and a direct effect on health. Similar results are found by Cutler and Lleras-Muney, 28 who use different sources to assess associations between educational attainment, health behaviors, and mortality in the United States and Great Britain.

In a separate study, Ross and Mirowsky 53 provide evidence that the effect of higher levels of education on health is mediated principally by its contents, including values and skills imparted, and far less by means of status markers such as the diploma or the prestige of the degree-granting institution. Evidence for this conclusion derives from a regression analysis of national data including measures of years of education, receipt of diplomas, and school selectivity (based on test scores of entering freshmen). In another study, Reynolds and Ross 54 provide evidence that “the direct effect of education on well-being is greater than the direct effect of social origins, and the total effect of social origins is mediated mostly by education.” 54 (p226) Evidence derives from a regression analysis of two national data sources in which the researchers control for parental education, father’s occupation, and childhood poverty. They also find that a person’s level of education has a far greater effect on health if his or her parents were poorly educated than if they were well-educated. Unfortunately, in our society, parental and child educational levels are highly positively correlated, so that the children of parents with little education, who might benefit the most from higher levels of education, are least likely to receive that education. 55

Ross and Mirowsky 55 (pp597,598) conclude (emphasis added): “…certain policy implications follow. First, education policy is health policy. Second, health policy must address the educational opportunities of children raised by poorly-educated parents. Otherwise those children, in adulthood, will suffer the multiplicative health consequences of low parental education and low personal education…Structural amplification condemns some families to the concentration of low education with poor health across generations… Break that mediating link, and the moderating effect of higher education will suppress the health disadvantages of the socially disadvantaged origins. ”

High Societal Price in Health of Education Forgone

An estimate of the number of annual deaths attributable to lack of high school education among persons 25–64 years of age in the United States (237,410) exceeds the number of deaths attributed to cigarette smoking among persons 35–64 years of age (163,500) (Krueger et al., unpublished manuscript, 2013). 56 (The estimate of smoking-attributable mortality does not include adults younger than 35 years of age because mortality from smoking is negligible at this age.)

Several recent estimates have been made of economic costs to individuals, the government, and society of the failure of each American to achieve an optimal education. Although it may be argued that there is a moral duty to redress injustice and inequity regardless of cost, these estimates indicate the economic magnitude of this loss and the potential value of its redress.

Schoeni and colleagues 57 , 58 estimate the annual economic value of health forgone in the United States in 2006 by adults who lack a college education. For a population of 138 million aged 25 years or older with less than a college education, the economic value of the life and health forgone is US$1.02 trillion per year – 7.7% of US gross domestic product.

Levin and colleagues 59 provide an estimate of benefits to the government (in 2004 dollars) if those who did not finish high school had completed a high school education (or higher) with a diploma. Based on governmental benefits of income taxes associated with greater earnings of high school graduates and reduced costs of welfare and incarceration, Medicaid, and lifetime savings of approximately US$40,000 per capita in public health expenses, they estimated a total lifetime benefit of US$209,000 for each high school dropout if he or she had instead completed high school. They then examined the costs and benefits of 5 programs with demonstrated efficacy in improving rates of high school completion. Cost–benefit ratios range from 1.5 to 3.5, indicating substantial governmental benefit. 59

Education as a Domain of Public Health Action

Just as many areas of daily life are recognized domains of legitimate public health action – agriculture (eg, nutrition and food safety), transportation (eg, vehicle injuries, air pollution, and walking), immigration (eg, immigrant health and infection control), justice (eg, violent crime and prison health), urban design (eg, safety, walkable communities, and food deserts), and labor (eg, occupational safety and health) – so should education (beyond health education in schools) be recognized as a legitimate domain of public health action. Education is a critical component of health and, we argue, education is a major, long-term, multifaceted cause of health. In particular, education is a powerful means of breaking the cycle of poverty (which greatly affects ethnic and racial minority populations) and promoting health equity.(As this article was in press, the authors encountered an excellent paper by Cohen and Syme 60 which draws similar conclusions.)

Several federal agencies have supported “health in all policies,” 61 particularly through the National Prevention, Health Promotion and Public Health Council. 62 The US Department of Health and Human Services includes in its mission 63 to “engage multiple sectors to take actions to strengthen policies and improve practices that are driven by the best available evidence and knowledge” and in its overarching goals to “Create social and physical environments that promote good health for all.”

States and the District of Columbia have also adopted a “health in all policies” perspective. California’s “CAL Health in all Policies” 64 – 66 recognizes the potential for education as a means of moving toward health equity. “Promote efforts that demonstrate positive effects in closing the achievement gap. Collaborate on advancing strategies, addressing the major factors that inhibit the learning of all students.” Counties (eg, Los Angeles, Baltimore) also have adopted a “health in all policies” perspective. 64 , 67 , 68

The effort to pursue multi-sectoral strategies for health improvement is international, practiced in the European Union, Australia, and elsewhere. The European Union has adopted a social determinants-based approach: “Health in All Policies addresses the effects on health across all policies such as agriculture, education, the environment, fiscal policies, housing, and transport. It seeks to improve health and at the same time contribute to the well-being and the wealth of the nations through structures, mechanisms, and actions planned and managed mainly by sectors other than health.” 69 (pXVIII)

In “A Framework for Public Health Action: The Health Impact Pyramid,” 71 Frieden writes, “Interventions that address social determinants of health have the greatest potential public health benefit” and contrasts social determinants – the base of the “health impact pyramid” – with higher strata in the pyramid. 70 (p594) Among social determinants, education is fundamental, because education forms the new members of society – children and youth. Effective teachers are facilitators of long-term health benefits. Beyond school health promotion, education as a means of public health intervention is more difficult to define, to administer, to measure, and to evaluate. It is cumulative, formative, and transformative, both for the individuals who experience it and for the society it recreates and modifies. Although these features make education more challenging than some other tools of public health, such challenges must not deter the public health community from working closely with the education community to investigate and understand this form of social determinant causation, evaluate the wide array of educational program types, and mobilize for action on this powerful force for public health benefits.

Acknowledgments

Many thanks to thoughtful readers and editors Randy Elder, Catherine Ross, Barbara Rimer, Kate W. Harris, Amy Brown, Heba Athar, and Kristen Folsom.

The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Biographies

Robert A. Hahn received his PhD in anthropology at Harvard University (1976) and his MPH in epidemiology from the University of Washington (1986). Since 1986, he has served as an epidemiologist at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta and is a member of the Senior Biomedical Research Service. He is the author of Sickness and Healing: An Anthropological Perspective (1995) and co-editor of Anthropology and Public Health: Bridging Differences in Culture and Society (2008), with a second edition recently published. In 1998–1999, he worked as a Capitol Hill Fellow in the US House of Representatives Committee on Veterans Affairs and in the office of Congresswoman Louise Slaughter. He is currently coordinating scientist of systematic reviews on health equity for the CDC Guide to Community Preventive Services .

Benedict I. Truman earned his BS in chemistry and MD from Howard University and his MPH from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where he completed a residency in preventive medicine and public health and served as chief resident. He has held scientific and leadership positions in state, local, and federal public health agencies and is the associate director for science at the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In this role, he works with other scientists and program managers to ensure that the CDC’s scientific products and research ethics meet the highest standards of quality and integrity. He has published many peer-reviewed journal articles on educational interventions for health equity; prevention and control of infectious diseases and chronic noninfectious diseases; adolescent and school health; community preventive services guidelines; minority health and health disparities; employee performance and public health workforce development; and applied epidemiologic methods. He serves as the Consulting Editor for Infectious Diseases for the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice .

Declaration of Conflicting Interests

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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The Importance of Health Education

Understanding the Numbers When reviewing job growth and salary information, it’s important to remember that actual numbers can vary due to many different factors — like years of experience in the role, industry of employment, geographic location, worker skill and economic conditions. Cited projections do not guarantee actual salary or job growth.

When it comes to building a healthy community, the importance of health education cannot be overlooked. Community health workers collaborate with all stakeholders in a community — from its citizens to its government, education and medical officials — to improve health and wellness and ensure equal access to healthcare.

First, What is Health Education?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), health education is a tool to improve a population's general health and wellness through promoting knowledge and healthy practices ( WHO PDF source ).

Although the subject is often taught in school settings, students aren't the only ones who need to know about health. In fact, all age groups and demographics can benefit from health education.

Why is Health Education Important?

Community health education looks at the health of a community as a whole, seeking to identify health issues and trends within a population and work with stakeholders to find solutions to these concerns.

The importance of health education impacts many areas of wellness within a community, including:

• Chronic disease awareness and prevention
• Injury and violence prevention
• Maternal and infant health
• Mental and behavioral health
• Nutrition, exercise and obesity prevention
• Tobacco use and substance abuse

Community health educators work with public health departments, schools, government offices and even local nonprofits to design educational programs and other resources to address a community’s specific needs.

“As public health professionals, with aid of community leaders, we strive to ensure community wellness as it pertains to health education,” said Dr. Tanyi Obenson .

Obenson is a public health clinical faculty member at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) who holds a PhD in Public Health. “A healthier community is a better community,” he said.

How Does Health Education Impact a Community?

Health education can impact communities by addressing relevant issues and concerns at a local level. For example:

Healthcare Disparities

In addition to providing educational resources and programming to a community, public health educators also work to ensure all members of a community have equal access to wellness resources and healthcare services.

“When considering care access and delivery within communities, health equity and social justice are one in the same,” said Dr. Natalie Rahming , an adjunct healthcare faculty member at SNHU with almost two decades of experience working in the healthcare field. “The social determinants of health classify the various ways in which an individual’s identity characteristics and social positions are woven into a fabric of discrimination.”

According to Rahming, common health disparities include:

• Gender health disparities
• Racial or ethnic health disparities
• Rural and urban health disparities
• Socioeconomic health disparities

Rahming said racism and other disparities have manifested into unequal distribution of care across distinct groups over many generations.

“A community health worker seeks to abolish or ameliorate health inequity from a social lens, whereas other health care workers approach it at an individual perspective,” she said. “Both are critical for healthcare advancement.”

Community Health Education and Government Policy

The importance of health education also extends into policy and legislation development at a local, state and national level, informing and influencing key decisions that impact community health.

From campaigns and legislation to enforce seat belt use and prevent smoking to programs that boost the awareness and prevention of diabetes, public health workers provide research and guidance to inform policy development.

“The collaboration of community leaders is essential to form a shared commitment and results-oriented approach to improving the health of our most vulnerable populations,” she said.

The Economic Importance of Health Education

Health education can also boost a community’s economy by reducing healthcare spending and lost productivity due to preventable illness. 

Obesity and tobacco use, for example, cost the United States billions of dollars each year in healthcare costs and lost productivity.

According to the National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity (NCCOR), the annual loss in economic productivity due to obesity and related issues is expected to total as much as $580 billion by 2030 ( NCCOR PDF source ). The total economic cost of tobacco use costs the United States more than $300 billion each year, including $156 billion in lost productivity , according to the CDC. 

Programs designed to help community members combat expensive health issues not only boost individuals’ health but also provide a strong return on investment for communities.

According to the CDC, states with strong tobacco control programs see a $55 return on every $1 investment , mostly from avoiding costs to treat smoking-related illness. The national cost of offering the National Diabetes Prevention Program is about $500 per participant , significantly lower than the $9,600 spent on diabetes care per type 2 diabetes patient each year.

Find Your Program

How to become a community healthcare worker.

A community healthcare worker's goal is to help others, starting with education. 

To begin your career in community healthcare, you'll typically need a minimum of a high school diploma or associate degree . The work done within public health and community healthcare differs from other healthcare fields and impacts communities in different ways requiring different training and understanding of healthcare. 

“Unlike individual healthcare delivery, public health investigates the systems and trends that impact behaviors and outcomes within a community collectively," said Rahming. “This research facilitates the identification of needs and provision of tools to promote disease prevention, individual empowerment, and improved wellness that enhances the quality of life for all."

Earning your bachelor's degree in public health  or community health could help you advance your career and better understand your work. On top of your classroom education, many community health care workers are required to complete on-the-job training. According to BLS, training often covers communication, outreach, and information based upon your specific community health focus.

Public Health Education: A Growing Field

As the health, social and economic impacts of community health education continue to grow, so does the field of public health and health promotion.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the role of health education specialist is projected to grow by 7% through 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.*

BLS said that health education specialists usually need a bachelor's degree but that some health education specialist jobs require you to have a master's degree, too.

Earning your Master of Public Health (MPH) degree  could be a proactive way to expand your knowledge and prepare for a career in the public health education field. Whether you want to be a health education specialist or an epidemiologist, there are a variety of things you can do with your MPH . You can also focus your MPH studies on specific areas, such as global health, by adding a concentration to your degree. 

When considering MPH programs, look for one accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health ( CEPH ), such as SNHU's. CEPH is an independent agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, and their accreditation means that the program has met the standards.

In an accredited MPH program, you can gain the skills you need to lead illness and disease prevention efforts, build community wellness programs and advocate for public health policy.

Whether you decide to pursue an MPH or community health education degree, the public health education field has a wide variety of settings where you may work. According to BLS, these settings include:  

• Government organizations and public health departments
• Hospitals and healthcare facilities
• Nonprofit organizations
• Private businesses and employee wellness programs
• Schools and colleges

“I believe that more and more communities are seeing benefits from wellness-related initiatives and receiving positive marks about them,” Gifford said. “Hence, community leaders are seeing this as not just a business-driven necessity, but also something that impacts the well being and quality of life of their citizens.”

Discover more about SNHU’s bachelor's in community health : Find out what courses you'll take, skills you’ll learn and how to request information about the program. 

*Cited job growth projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth. Actual salaries and/or earning potential may be the result of a combination of factors including, but not limited to: years of experience, industry of employment, geographic location, and worker skill.

Danielle Gagnon is a freelance writer focused on higher education. She started her career working as an education reporter for a daily newspaper in New Hampshire, where she reported on local schools and education policy. Gagnon served as the communications manager for a private school in Boston, MA before later starting her freelance writing career. Today, she continues to share her passion for education as a writer for Southern New Hampshire University. Connect with her on LinkedIn . 

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About southern new hampshire university.

SNHU is a nonprofit, accredited university with a mission to make high-quality education more accessible and affordable for everyone.

Founded in 1932, and online since 1995, we’ve helped countless students reach their goals with flexible, career-focused programs . Our 300-acre campus in Manchester, NH is home to over 3,000 students, and we serve over 135,000 students online. Visit our about SNHU  page to learn more about our mission, accreditations, leadership team, national recognitions and awards.

Health and education

Education has the power to transform the lives of children and young people, and the world around them. At UNESCO, inclusive and transformative education starts with healthy, happy and safe learners. Because children and young people who receive a good quality education are more likely to be healthy, and likewise those who are healthy are better able to learn and complete their education.

Guided by the UNESCO Strategy on education for health and well-being , UNESCO works to improve the physical and mental health, well-being and education outcomes of all learners. By reducing health-related barriers to learning, such as gender-based violence, gender inequality, HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), early and unintended pregnancy, bullying and discrimination, and malnutrition, UNESCO, governments and school systems empower learners to understand their rights, learn better and lead fulfilling lives.

What you need to know about education for health and well-being

Helping children learn about health and well-being

For healthy, informed and empowered learners

Supporting comprehensive sexuality education for adolescents and young people in Sub-Saharan Africa

Preventing and addressing violence in and around school

Key figures

is bullied at school every month globally

occur each year among adolescent girls aged 15–19

and almost half do not have handwashing facilities with water and soap

in 161 countries – nearly half of all children in primary school – receive school meals

A foundation for life and love campaign

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Essay On Health Education

Table of Contents

Short Essay On Health Education

Health education is a crucial aspect of overall health and wellness, as it plays a vital role in helping individuals make informed decisions about their health and well-being. Health education can encompass a range of topics, including personal health, nutrition, physical activity, disease prevention, and healthy lifestyles.

One of the main goals of health education is to empower individuals to take control of their own health. By providing information and resources, health education can help individuals understand the factors that contribute to their health and how they can make positive changes to improve their health and well-being. This can include things like making healthy food choices, engaging in physical activity, managing stress, and avoiding harmful habits like smoking or excessive drinking.

Another important aspect of health education is disease prevention. By providing information about the causes and risk factors for different diseases, health education can help individuals take steps to reduce their risk of developing these conditions. For example, education about the dangers of smoking can help individuals avoid taking up this habit, and education about the importance of getting regular check-ups and screenings can help individuals catch and treat health problems early, before they become more serious.

Health education can also help to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations. For example, health education programs aimed at low-income communities can help individuals understand the importance of healthy lifestyle choices and provide resources and support to help them make positive changes.

In addition to individual health, health education can also contribute to the overall health and well-being of communities and societies. For example, education about the importance of vaccination can help to prevent the spread of disease and protect public health, and education about environmental health can help individuals understand how their actions can impact the environment and the health of their communities.

In conclusion, health education is an essential component of overall health and wellness. By providing individuals with the information and resources they need to make informed decisions about their health, health education can help to empower individuals, reduce health disparities, and improve health outcomes for individuals and communities.

Long Essay On Health Education

Health education is an important part of any country’s health care system. It is responsible for informing the public about health risks and educating them on how to maintain their health. This article will discuss the importance of health education and some methods that can be used to improve it.

What is Health Education?

Health education is the process of teaching people about their health and how to protect it. Health education can take many different forms, from teaching people about diseases and health risks to providing information on healthy eating and lifestyles.

Health education is important because it helps people stay healthy and avoid dangerous conditions. It can also help people get the care they need if they are sick or injured.

There are many ways to deliver health education. Some schools, clinics, and hospitals offer classes specifically focused on health topics. Others provide general education about all aspects of life, including health, in addition to specific programming about health concerns.

health education.

Types of Health Education

There are many different types of health education, but they all share one common goal: to help people be healthier. Some types of health education teach people how to prevent diseases and maintain good health. Other types of health education focus on helping people who have already been diagnosed with a disease or condition.

One type of health education that is particularly important for young people is sexual health education. This type of education teaches kids about sex, birth control, and other related topics. It’s important for kids to learn these things because they may someday want to have a sexual relationship and get pregnant.

Another type of health education that is important for adults is prevention education. Prevention education teaches people how to stay healthy by avoiding risky behaviors. This type of education can help reduce the number of cases of some diseases, such as cancer.

Purpose of Health Education

Health education is an important part of ensuring that all individuals have access to the necessary information and resources to maintain good health. It can also help prevent disease and promote healthy lifestyles. Health educators use a variety of methods to teach people about health and how to maintain it. Some common methods include lectures, group discussions, demonstrations, and curricula.

One of the most important aspects of health education is providing people with accurate information. Health educators must be able to understand complex medical terminology andscience in order to provide accurate information. They must also be able to present this information in a way that is easy for people to understand. In addition, health educators should be able to adapt their teaching styleto match the audience they are addressing.

Health education can also help individuals make informed choices about their own health care. Education can help people better understand the risks and benefits associated with various treatments and therapies. It can also help them learn about their own personal health history and how this affects their current condition.

Overall, health education is an important tool for promoting good health throughout the population. It can helpindividuals avoid illness, learn about available resources, and make informed decisions about their care .

Methods of Teaching Health Education

One of the most important methods of teaching health education is to have students participate in hands-on activities. This allows them to learn about the body through contact and makes it easier for them to remember what they have learned. In addition, students can ask questions and get explanations from educators. Group activities also help students develop their teamwork skills.

It is also important for educators to use technology when teaching health education. This means that they can use computer-based tools, such as games, videos, and websites, to help students learn more about health topics. Additionally, educators can create their own activities using technology. This makes it fun for students and helps them stay engaged in the learning process.

Challenges in Teaching Health Education

Health education has come a long way since its inception. It is now recognized as an essential component of public health and is being offered in schools across the United States. However, despite this progress, health education faces several challenges that must be addressed if it is to be effective.

One of the main issues with health education is that it can be difficult to keep students interested in the subject matter. Many students find health-related topics tedious and abstract, making it difficult for them to retain information. This problem can be exacerbated by the fact that many health curriculums are based on outdated beliefs about disease and illness. In order to make health education more engaging for students, it is important to create materials that are based on current scientific knowledge.

Another challenge faced by health educators is the high turnover rate among students who are taught about health in school. This means that many teachers have little opportunity to develop personal relationships with their students and impart their knowledge in a meaningful way. To remedy this issue, schools should invest resources into training new teachers and providing them with adequate support materials.

Despite these challenges, there are many ways in which health education can be improved. By addressing the aforementioned issues, educators will be able to provide their students with accurate and up-to-date information about healthy living options.

Health education is an important part of keeping our citizens healthy and informed. By teaching people about their own health and the importance of taking preventive measures, we can help them live longer, healthier lives. Our goal should be to make sure that everyone in our community knows how to access quality health care if they need it, so that no one falls through the cracks.

Hopefully, by reading this article you have learned a little bit more about health education and why it is so important. As always, feel free to reach out if you have any questions or would like additional information on this topic.

Manisha Dubey Jha is a skilled educational content writer with 5 years of experience. Specializing in essays and paragraphs, she’s dedicated to crafting engaging and informative content that enriches learning experiences.

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Health Education and Health Promotion: Key Concepts and Exemplary Evidence to Support Them

• First Online: 09 October 2018

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• Hein de Vries 8 ,
• Stef P. J. Kremers 8 &
• Sonia Lippke 9  

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Health is regarded as the result of an interaction between individual and environmental factors. While health education is the process of educating people about health and how they can influence their health, health promotion targets not only people but also their environments. Promoting health behavior can take place at the micro level (the personal level), the meso level (the organizational level, including e.g. families, schools and worksites) and at the macro level (the (inter)national level, including e.g. governments). Health education is one of the methods used in health promotion, with health promotion extending beyond just health education.

Models and theories that focus on understanding health and health behavior are of key importance for health education and health promotion. Different classes of models and theories can be distinguished, such as planning models, behavioral change models, and diffusion models. Within these models different topics and factors are relevant, ranging from health literacy, attitudes, social influences, self-efficacy, planning, and stages of change to evaluation, implementation, stakeholder involvement, and policy changes. Exemplary health promotion settings are schools, worksites, and healthcare, but also the domains that are involved with policy development. Main health promotion methods can involve a variety of different methods and approaches, such as counseling, brochures, eHealth, stakeholder involvement, consensus meetings, community ownership, panel discussions, and policy development. Because health education and health promotion should be theory- and evidence-based, personalized interventions are recommended to take empirical findings and proven theoretical assumptions into account.

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de Vries, H., Kremers, S.P.J., Lippke, S. (2018). Health Education and Health Promotion: Key Concepts and Exemplary Evidence to Support Them. In: Fisher, E., et al. Principles and Concepts of Behavioral Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-93826-4_17

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The importance of health education at the K-12 school level cannot be overstated. This critical curriculum element is key to encouraging students’ well-being and development. We recognize this need to provide our learners with a complete and all-encompassing approach to health, allowing them greater access to lead a more successful and fulfilling life. By offering students the knowledge and skills to assess their physical, mental, and emotional states properly, we are providing them with the necessary information on how best to handle the issues ascribed throughout life’s various stages of success or difficulty. In short, equipping students with these resources further empowers them to understand and make wise choices in locating real solutions.

Early education in health encourages children to adopt healthy practices. It provides an understanding of nutrition, physical activity, and hygiene. This enables kids to make informed decisions that benefit their health and well-being. Furthermore, mental and emotional well-being discussions prepare students to handle daily stresses and give them resilience for long-term success in learning and living a balanced life (Auld et al., 2020). Teaching these necessary fundamentals in the curriculum can help reduce chronic health conditions and risks as people age. Also, incorporating health education in schools is an important initiative supporting prevention rather than waiting for a cure. This allows students to learn about and raise awareness focused on hazardous health topics such as substance abuse, dangerous or unhealthy relationships, and risky behaviors, which can put them at risk of harm. Knowing the consequences of poor decisions encourages them to make responsible choices that do not jeopardize their safety (Hussain et al., 2019). Through understanding comes protection from the physical or psychological repercussions of such decisions. Thus, providing health education directly aligns with protecting future generations- themselves and their peers- from potentially dangerous misconduct.

A vast amount of research has supported the need for health education in K-12 schools. Studies have repeatedly shown that programs such as physical activity, nutrition, and self-care sessions, have an optimistic effect on academic performance. A pupil’s ability to do well academically is greatly improved when they are healthy and energetic; this allows them to focus better and effectively participate in their learning process. An example of this is seen in a 2016 report released by the CDC, which states that students that can take part in physical education classes at school or be active in non-school-related activities have higher academic results, more attention span in the classroom, and fewer behavior problems (cdc.gov, 2020). Health education programs can have a profound impact on students’ health. Not only can they reduce rates of obesity, but they can also lead to healthier eating habits among students – substantially improving their overall well-being. Studies show that when we prioritize health education for the next generation, many chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension may be combatted before festering in adolescence. In 2020, the National Institute of Health conducted an illuminating study that detailed the groundbreaking results of incorporating school-based nutrition interventions into educational curricula (Auld et al., 2020). The research reported an emphatic increase in student consumption of fruits and vegetables, alongside decreased intake of unhealthy sugary drinks, thus highlighting the potential for reducing long-term disease risks when introducing health education courses in schools.

Health education is essential to academic learning; it helps K-12 students gain the necessary knowledge, skills, and practices to develop their cognitive abilities. Being physically and mentally fit is proven to enhance students’ ability to focus on their studies; it also leads to higher levels of concentration and improved retention of what has been learned (Gagnon, 2022). Furthermore, health education strives to improve physical well-being and foster mental development by enhancing critical thinking capacities. It offers the opportunity to analyze relevant health information and compare it based on verifiable sources before making sound decisions. With this holistic approach in Mind and having a healthy lifestyle, it becomes easier for pupils and students to achieve better results at all stages of their education journey. Moreover, health education helps foster a sense of self-awareness and empathy among K-12 children and young adults by teaching them about different health issues. A more in-depth understanding of such topics leads to further understanding through the cognitive aspect of learning and compassionate outlooks when interacting with their peers (Raghupathi & Raghupathi, 2020). As they develop these sensitivities, students create positive exchanges in which others feel safe, accepted, and respected within the communal educational atmosphere. This engagement reinforces the idea that a diverse yet unified school is founded on compassion and acceptance.

Furthermore, K-12 students receive valuable life skills through Health Education, such as communication, problem-solving, and decision-making. These skills help prepare them for future challenges by teaching them how to safely and confidently navigate through those ordeals. Using knowledge obtained from health education is a key factor in helping students become responsible adults capable of making wise decisions when faced with difficult choices (cdc.gov, 2020). With proper health education, students have the power to shape their futures and lead independent lifestyles armed with the valuable tools needed to succeed. Also, health education is integral to ensuring equitable health among K-12 learners. By addressing prevalent health disparities, textbooks, and course materials can play a valuable role in educating young people on the importance of good health. Through meaningful instruction that explains how social determinants, such as access to healthcare, socioeconomic status, and environmental factors, impact one’s health, we can help students raise their awareness about the inequalities present in our society (Raghupathi & Raghupathi, 2020). With greater knowledge comes greater insight into the need for positive change– this encourages students to become advocates for effective solutions when it comes to creating healthier and more equitable communities. Working towards this aim together can lead to a healthier and fairer future society.

Health education is an effective tool for reducing the chances of risky behaviors among students. Research suggests that when students have comprehensive sex education, they are more likely to postpone their sexual activity until a later age and use protection when they become active (Auld et al., 2020). Such students also demonstrate a reluctance to engage in activities such as unprotected sex or engaging with multiple partners. Alongside this, health education programs focusing on increasing knowledge about substance abuse and violent situations will lead to universally lower rates of drug use and violent actions. Therefore, definitive changes have been seen through this medium, allowing students to remain unaffected by the negativity associated with such habits. Consequently, health education is a vital tool that empowers families and caregivers to become true partners in their children’s well-being (Gagnon, 2022). Ensuring that parents are meaningfully involved in the educational process requires staying connected to them through regular communication and hosting informational sessions. By taking these proactive measures, we can cultivate a strong support network of live health coaching wherein healthier behavior choices are reinforced at school and home. Namely, it increases the likelihood of establishing lifelong positive practices for better health.

Health education in K-12 schools is an indispensable institution. Evidence-based facts, healthcare habits, and illness prevention are necessary staples in every child’s learning experience. Expand upon cognitive capabilities, empathy, and life skills: all of which undergird the base for a better future of healthiness and equality. It is no false testimony that students will take away far more value from health education than any university rat race even considers possible. Perhaps more important is recognizing the intricate parts we have to construct together. School teachers play an essential role in this–as educators, we must consider our newfound responsibility to enrich the lives of modern-day scholars. Unrivaled knowledge for those we seek to influence today to be great icons tomorrow as healthy citizens with intentional principles and due care for everyone around them.

Auld, M. E., Allen, M. P., Hampton, C., Montes, J. H., Sherry, C., Mickalide, A. D., … & Parson, K. (2020). Health literacy and health education in schools: Collaboration for action.  NAM perspectives ,  2020 .

cdc.gov. (2020, March). Health education. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/health-education/index.htm#:~:text=School%2Dbased%20health%20education%20helps,healthy%20behaviors%20throughout%20their%20lives.

Gagnon A. (2022).  The importance of Health Education . Southern New Hampshire University. https://www.snhu.edu/about-us/newsroom/health/importance-of-health-education

Hussain, I., Alamgir, M. A., & Shahzad, M. (2019). A Study of Health Education and Its Needs for Elementary School Students.  Journal on School Educational Technology ,  10 (3), 26-37.

Raghupathi, V., & Raghupathi, W. (2020). The influence of education on health: an empirical assessment of OECD countries for the period 1995–2015.  Archives of Public Health ,  78 (1), 1–18.

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Home — Essay Samples — Nursing & Health — Mental Health — Mental Health: Prioritizing Education, Access, and Awareness

Mental Health: Prioritizing Education, Access, and Awareness

• Categories: Mental Health

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Words: 834 |

Published: Feb 7, 2024

Words: 834 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

Table of contents

Introduction, stigma and misconceptions surrounding mental health, the importance of mental health education and awareness, access to mental health services and treatment, the economic and social impact of mental health issues, counterargument and rebuttal.

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Essay on Health Education in English for Children and Students

Table of Contents

The term “Health Education” refers to a profession wherein people are taught about the promotion, maintenance and restoration of their health. Health in this aspect refers to mental health, physical health, psychological health, social health, sexual health and reproductive health. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines Health Education as a program to improve health literacy and develop skills which are conducive to individual and community health.

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Long and Short Essay on Health Education in English

Below we have provided Health Education essay of varied lengths, covering all the significant aspects of health education. You can choose any of the essay on Health Education as per your requirement. You can use them for essay writing competition or presentation in your school/college or elsewhere.

Health Education Essay 1 (200 Words)

In a lay man’s term, Health Education is defined as a program which teaches an individual or a community about the methods to improve their health conditions by providing health literacy. Health Education covers various aspects, ranging from social health, mental health to sexual and reproductive health.

Every year, millions of lives are lost globally because of infectious diseases, and other causes due to the lack of health education and general public awareness. The situation is more critical in developing countries where high mortality rate of infants exists due to lack of basic health amenities and low public awareness. In India diseases like diarrhea, infections of lower respiratory tract and other communicable diseases, constitute the prime causes of infant mortality. Health Education; therefore, becomes a necessity to raise the literacy level of people in areas concerning health and hygiene of self, as well as that of community.

However, the average life expectancy by birth in India has increased from 49.7 years in 1970-75 to 69.1 in 2018, due to the government’s efforts in promoting health education through a well trained and equipped staff. Also the infant mortality rate has nearly halved to 34 per 1000 births, since the past decades.

Health Education Essay 2 (300 Words)

Introduction

“Health Education” refers to educating an individual or a community for adopting better, healthy and hygienic living conditions. Health Education aims to raise awareness of individuals and communities on various aspects of health like – physical health, mental health, psychological health, prevention of diseases, sexual and reproductive health etc. Health education is a broad subject and might also include topics like health issues of alcohol, drugs, tobacco and environmental health.

Who are Health Educators

Anyone with proper knowledge of health and hygiene and relevant knowledge on health issues could provide health education through face to face interaction with individual or community. However, some people are especially trained for the purpose and are certified health specialists, also referred to as health educators.

The government of India has launched a number of programs for promoting health care, preventing communicable – non communicable diseases and other relevant causes. The programs have a dedicated team of trained professionals functioning as health educators and medical supervisors. Health educators interact with villagers in remote areas, educating them on the issues of general health and diseases.

Teachers in schools could also function as health educators by educating children about maintaining proper health and hygiene. They can educate children about various communicable and non communicable diseases and how to prevent them by adopting health habits and hygiene.

Health Education in developing countries is an absolute necessity, in order to raise health literacy and lower the mortality rate arising due to various diseases and other health related issues. There is also a need for mandatory health education in schools by making the necessary policy changes in this regard. The authorities must also ensure that the program is backed up by a trained workforce, specializing in interacting and educating children and teachers. Also the teachers could be trained as health educators, to spread awareness among the students and community.

Health Education Essay 3 (400 Words)

Health Education refers to educating individuals, groups or communities in areas of health. It aims to educating people on how to maintain personal health. However, in broader aspects, health education also aims to improving the overall health of a community. It also covers various areas of health as – physical health, mental health, psychological health, emotional health, sexual health and reproductive health.

State of Health Education in India

The need for public health education in India was realized as early as in 1940, when a committee under the chairmanship of Sir Joseph Bhore (Indian Civil Servant) emphasized on the inadequate teaching on public health in undergraduate training programs for medical students.

Today health education in India has been considerably improved, backed by various institutes and a trained workforce including doctors, nursing workers paramedics etc who specialize in areas of public health.

Presently, India has two types of public health professionals – one who is trained in core public health or specializes in a specific public health area; second, who acquire a medical degree or diploma before specializing in public health.

Though, the state of health education in India is constantly improving because of various government initiatives to improve and increase trained workforce; still, there is a shortage of trained professionals and a need to increase their numbers and skills.

Role of Health Educator/Teacher in Health Education

The spread of diseases and subsequent deaths could best be prevented by educating people on the various areas of health education. Here comes the role and need for a health educator. A health educator is a professionally trained individual who specializes in areas regarding public health. He is well equipped with resources and strategies to educate individuals, groups or communities on how to maintain proper health and hygiene. School teachers are also trained in areas public health under various programs, in order to increase the workforce and to reach out to more and more people.

Despite all the institutes that provide professional courses on public health, there is a shortfall of trained public health work force in India. There is a need to set up more institutes and including professionals from other fields in order to fill the gap. Also, the number of students opting for public health is considerably low with regards to other professional degree or diploma courses. Thus, for improving public health, we need to build institutes giving public health professionals, create job opportunities for those professionals and framing a career path for them.

Health Education Essay 4 (500 Words)

Health Education constitutes educational programs directed towards improving the state of health and hygiene among individuals and communities. Health Education provides information about the factors that affect the health and hygiene of an individual or a community.

Strengths of Health Education in India

One of the main strengths of Health education in India is the presence of an adequate multi level infrastructure both in the government and non government sectors. The central health education bureau works in collaboration with the state health education bureau, up to the block level.

Another strength of Health education in India is an efficiently trained work force. Majority of health educators in India are either graduate or post graduate.

Another strength of health education in India lies in the successful information dispensation throughout its states, despite the linguistic variations. India has 15 official languages and several local dialects; even then health education programs are able to successfully convey the message.

Weaknesses of Health Education in India

Weaknesses of the health education in India include high dependability on print media, lack of research and conventional training methods of educators, inability to reach all the remote villages and no avenues of professional growth for health educators.

Most of the campaigns on health education, either in government or non government sector rely on print media for promotion; through, newspapers, posters and pamphlets. Around 40% of Indians are unable to read or write, which defeats the purpose as the promotion fails to reach the uneducated at ground level.

Another weakness of Health education in India is the absence of better growth avenues for the functionaries. Because of not being properly organized, the profession is non lucrative for youths, who rather opt for other more promising professional courses.

Also, the mode of training and education in public health is conventional and there is a dire need to integrate modern techniques along with better exposure to the professionals.

Methods to Improve Health Education in India

One of the best ways to improve the state of public health education in India is to let a well trained workforce reach out to people in remote areas. More emphasis should be given on interacting with the villagers on occasions of public gathering like – fares, markets etc. Moreover, methods like plays, folk shows should be used to convey the message, rather than print media.

People visiting hospitals and clinics are more conscious about health issues and so efforts must be made to educate them. They naturally tend to be more receptive and benefit from the programs.

Schools could also play a significant role in spreading health education. Schools are the best place to interact with children belonging to different sections of society. Teachers could be adequately trained to impart health education to the children. Children on the other hand could share their knowledge with their parents, relatives and friends.

Also it should be made compulsory for any medical professional to serve a fixed tenure in some remote village, where s/he is vested with the responsibility of educating people about health and hygiene along with addressing their ailments.

It is imperative for India to improve to a never seen before standards of health. For which it also necessary to target the marginalized sections of Indian society; for it is them who are deprived of basic health amenities and are oblivious of many health concerns. There is a need to open new avenues of health education, at ground level as well as strengthening the infrastructure related to health education.

Health Education Essay 5 (600 Words)

“Health Education” aims to impart knowledge regarding measures to be taken by an individual or community in order to improve their overall health. India is a developing nation, but various communicable and non communicable diseases still claim thousands of lives annually. Also, the figures reveal varying infant mortality rates from states to states – it is 6 per 1000 births in Kerala and in Uttar Pradesh it is 64 per 1000 births.

The prime cause of high infant mortality is the absence of trained medical professionals and people’s own ignorance about health conditions. In such state of affairs, it becomes imperative for India to have an effective infrastructure backed by equally effective work force to address to the medical needs of people and also to raise their level of health education and literacy.

Importance of Health Education

Health education improves the status of overall health of an individual and community, ultimately resulting in a better overall health of the nation. Health education is directly related to a nation’s economical growth, as a better health education results in high life expectancy and a raised standards of living.

Who Provides Health Education

Health Education is provided by trained professionals known as – health educators. They are certified specialists holding a certificate in public health or on a specific health issue. The work force of Public health education constitutes of doctors, paramedics and the nursing staff. They are trained in areas of health and hygiene and also are well equipped with necessary resources to reach out to people and educate them. Many professionals from different fields too, volunteer to provide health education to masses after going a required amount of training.

Motive of Health Education

Health education aims at improving the health condition of an individual and a community. It teaches an individual the ways to stay healthy and remain safe from diseases. It also aims at developing in them a sense of responsibility towards themselves as well as towards the community.

Health education is very significant in developing nations. It imparts to the people, the basic health knowledge about health and hygiene, by shaping their day to day activities. Moreover, other than physical health, health education also aims for addressing other serious issues like stress, depression or other emotional disturbances.

India’s Stand on Health Education

In the recent years there has been an increasing trend in non medical professional institutes in India, offering public health programs to the students. Today around 23 institutes in India today offer Master in Public Health with annual enrollment of 573 candidates.

School Health Program was launched by the Government of India in 2009, with aim of addressing to the health needs of school going children. The program not only caters to the physical well being of school going children but also to their emotional, psychological and nutritional needs. Every year huge funds from centre and states are allocated for the programs which benefit millions of students from marginalized sections of the society.

The Pradhanmantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojna (PSSY) was also launched in 2003, with the aim of making tertiary healthcare services affordable to the masses and also to improve the quality of medical education.

Despite various government programs regarding improving and promoting quality of health education in India, many still don’t have access to basic healthcare services and are out of the reach of public health educators, due to the lack of necessary infrastructure at ground level. Many programs which aimed at raising public awareness about AIDS, cancer, malaria etc, failed to build the necessary infrastructure at the grass root level. In order to make health education in India a success, there is a need for adequate infrastructure and well trained and equipped work force.

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Essay on Health: Long and Short Essay Samples

• Updated on  
• Jan 3, 2024

Essay on Health:

Earlier, health was said to be the ability of the body to function well. However, as the time evolved, the definition of health also evolved. Health now, is the primary thing after which everything else follows. When you maintain good health, everything else falls into place.

In an era where our lives are increasingly busy and filled with demands, our health often takes a backseat. Yet, it’s a priceless asset that influences every facet of our existence. In this blog, we explore the multifaceted realm of health through both long and short essay samples. From the significance of well-being to practical tips for maintaining it, our collection delves into the critical role health plays in our lives. Join us in this journey to uncover the secrets of a healthier, happier life.

Table of Contents

• 1 How to Maintain Health?
• 2 Importance of Health
• 3 Sample Essay On Health in 150 Words
• 4 Sample Essay On Health in 300 Words

Must Read: Essay On My Hobby

How to Maintain Health?

Good health is above wealth. Listed foundational practices below promote overall health and well-being: 

• Balanced Diet: Eat a variety of nutrient-rich foods, including fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. Do not miss out on the essential nutrients; take each of them in appropriate quantities.
• Regular Exercise: Exercise daily, it can be for a duration of 15-30 minutes. Include strength training exercises to build muscle and bone strength.
• Adequate Sleep: Prioritize 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night to support physical and mental well-being. Instead of using your phone, go to sleep at a reasonable hour.
• Stress Management: Practice stress-reduction techniques such as meditation, yoga, or mindfulness.
• Regular Check-ups: Schedule routine health check-ups and screenings to detect and address health issues early.
• Avoid Bad Habits: Do not smoke or drink as it has serious harmful consequences.

Importance of Health

Good health is vital for a fulfilling life. It empowers us to thrive physically, mentally, and emotionally, enhancing overall well-being. It is of paramount importance for various reasons:

• Quality of Life: It directly affects our daily lives, enabling us to enjoy activities, work, and relationships to the fullest.
• Productivity: Good health enhances productivity, allowing us to perform better in our personal and professional endeavours.
• Longevity: It contributes to a longer life, giving us more time to pursue our goals and spend time with loved ones.
• Financial Well-being: Staying healthy reduces medical expenses and the economic burden of illness.
• Emotional Well-being: Physical health is closely linked to mental well-being, impacting our mood, stress levels, and overall happiness.
• Preventive Care: Maintaining health through regular check-ups can detect and address potential issues before they become severe.
• Community and Societal Impact: Healthy individuals contribute to stronger communities and societies, reducing the strain on healthcare systems and promoting collective well-being.

Must Read: Essay On Human Rights

Sample Essay On Health in 150 Words

Maintaining good health is dependent on a lot of factors. Those factors range from the air you breathe to the type of people you choose to spend your time with. Health has a lot of components which carry equal importance. If even one of them is missing, a person cannot be completely healthy.Health is our most valuable asset. It encompasses physical, mental, and emotional well-being, shaping our lives profoundly. A healthy lifestyle, characterized by a balanced diet, regular exercise, and adequate sleep, is essential. It not only prevents diseases but also boosts energy and productivity.

Mental health is equally vital, requiring stress management and emotional support. Regular check-ups aid in early disease detection, increasing the chances of successful treatment. Good health influences longevity and quality of life, allowing us to pursue dreams and cherish moments with loved ones. It also eases the financial burden associated with illness. Ultimately, health is the foundation of a joyful, fulfilling existence, and its importance cannot be overstated.

Sample Essay On Health in 300 Words

Health is undeniably one of the most precious aspects of life. It encompasses not only the absence of diseases but also the presence of physical, mental, and emotional well-being. In this essay, we will explore the multifaceted importance of health in our lives.

Firstly, physical health is the cornerstone of our existence. It allows us to carry out daily activities, pursue our passions, and engage with the world. Maintaining good physical health involves a balanced diet that provides essential nutrients, regular exercise to keep our bodies fit, and sufficient rest to recuperate. A healthy lifestyle not only prevents various ailments but also increases our vitality and longevity.

There is this stigma that surrounds mental health. People should take mental illnesses seriously. In order to be completely fit, one must also be mentally fit. When people completely discredit mental illnesses, it makes a negative impact. Hence, we should treat mental health the same as physical health.

Mental health is equally crucial. It involves managing stress, maintaining emotional stability, and seeking support when needed. Neglecting mental health can lead to conditions like anxiety and depression, which can have a profound impact on the quality of life.

Moreover, health plays a pivotal role in determining our overall happiness and well-being. When we are in good health, we have the energy and enthusiasm to enjoy life to the fullest. It enhances our productivity at work or in our daily chores, leading to a sense of accomplishment.

Furthermore, health is closely linked to financial stability. Medical expenses associated with illness can be overwhelming. Maintaining good health through preventive measures and regular check-ups can save us from substantial healthcare costs.

In conclusion, health is not merely the absence of illness; it is the presence of physical, mental, and emotional well-being. 

Related Reads:

Good health enables a fulfilling life, impacting longevity, happiness, and productivity.

Health encompasses physical, mental, and emotional well-being, signifying a state of overall vitality.

Health is evident in energy levels, a balanced mind, regular check-ups, and the ability to engage in daily activities with ease.

This brings us to the end of our blog on Essay on Health. Hope you find this information useful. For more information on such informative topics for your school, visit our essay writing and follow Leverage Edu.

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Essay on Health for Students and Children

500+ words essay on health.

Essay on Health: Health was earlier said to be the ability of the body functioning well. However, as time evolved, the definition of health also evolved. It cannot be stressed enough that health is the primary thing after which everything else follows. When you maintain good health , everything else falls into place.

Similarly, maintaining good health is dependent on a lot of factors. It ranges from the air you breathe to the type of people you choose to spend your time with. Health has a lot of components that carry equal importance. If even one of them is missing, a person cannot be completely healthy.

Constituents of Good Health

First, we have our physical health. This means being fit physically and in the absence of any kind of disease or illness . When you have good physical health, you will have a longer life span. One may maintain their physical health by having a balanced diet . Do not miss out on the essential nutrients; take each of them in appropriate quantities.

Secondly, you must exercise daily. It may be for ten minutes only but never miss it. It will help your body maintain physical fitness. Moreover, do not consume junk food all the time. Do not smoke or drink as it has serious harmful consequences. Lastly, try to take adequate sleep regularly instead of using your phone.

Next, we talk about our mental health . Mental health refers to the psychological and emotional well-being of a person. The mental health of a person impacts their feelings and way of handling situations. We must maintain our mental health by being positive and meditating.

Subsequently, social health and cognitive health are equally important for the overall well-being of a person. A person can maintain their social health when they effectively communicate well with others. Moreover, when a person us friendly and attends social gatherings, he will definitely have good social health. Similarly, our cognitive health refers to performing mental processes effectively. To do that well, one must always eat healthily and play brain games like Chess, puzzles and more to sharpen the brain.

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Physical Health Alone is Not Everything

There is this stigma that surrounds mental health. People do not take mental illnesses seriously. To be completely fit, one must also be mentally fit. When people completely discredit mental illnesses, it creates a negative impact.

For instance, you never tell a person with cancer to get over it and that it’s all in their head in comparison to someone dealing with depression . Similarly, we should treat mental health the same as physical health.

Parents always take care of their children’s physical needs. They feed them with nutritious foods and always dress up their wounds immediately. However, they fail to notice the deteriorating mental health of their child. Mostly so, because they do not give it that much importance. It is due to a lack of awareness amongst people. Even amongst adults, you never know what a person is going through mentally.

Thus, we need to be able to recognize the signs of mental illnesses . A laughing person does not equal a happy person. We must not consider mental illnesses as a taboo and give it the attention it deserves to save people’s lives.

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Home Essay Samples

Essay Samples on Health

The healthcare college majors belong to those students that have to compose a great number of essays that include reflective journals, shadowing experience reports, lab analysis explorations, argumentative papers, and assignments on theorists. Since these are quite complex, it’s important to know the difference between these essay types. You should check twice with your grading rubric and always ask questions if you are in doubt. As a way to provide you with some guidance, we have compiled a collection of free health essay examples. These focus on various branches of nursing, healthcare administration, pharmacology, international issues, and the basic health subjects that every medical student may face. Take your time to analyze at least five health essay samples by starting with the introduction section. Your first essay paragraph must provide information about the problem before coming up with your thesis statement. Remember that you should have at least five reliable sources that support your argument or the basic facts that you may require for debates. Speaking of medical lab reports, you can use various assignments below as a template that will help you structure your health paper. Take your time to explore free samples and it will always pay off!

Unveiling My Career Goals in the Healthcare Field

What are your career goals related to the healthcare field? This question unveils my aspirations to contribute to the well-being of individuals, families, and communities by venturing into the dynamic and impactful realm of healthcare. A career in healthcare is not only a path to...

• Career Goals
• Health Care

The Nursing Discourse Community: Shared Knowledge and Collaboration

Nursing is a noble and demanding profession that thrives on collaboration, empathy, and the exchange of knowledge. Within the vast healthcare landscape, the concept of a nursing discourse community emerges as a dynamic network of professionals who share a common language, values, and goals. This...

• Discourse Community

Pursuing Public Health: Navigating a Path to Achieve Career Goals

Public health career goals reflect the aspirations of individuals committed to safeguarding and improving the well-being of communities on a large scale. In a world where health challenges are diverse and ever-evolving, a career in public health offers a unique opportunity to make a lasting...

• Public Health

How Does Community Influence You: Shaping Identity, Values

How does community influence you? This question delves into the multifaceted impact that the communities we are a part of have on shaping our identity, values, aspirations, and the lens through which we perceive the world. Whether we realize it or not, the influence of...

• Under The Influence

Effects of Drugs on Community: Unraveling the Impact

The effects of drugs on community are far-reaching and profound, touching every aspect of society. This essay explores the significance of drug-related issues, the multifaceted impact on communities, the challenges they pose, and the importance of collaborative efforts to mitigate the harm caused by drugs....

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Community Health Nursing: Bridging Care and Empowerment

Community health nursing is a vital branch of nursing that plays a pivotal role in promoting the well-being of individuals, families, and communities at large. This essay delves into the significance of community health nursing, its core principles, the role of community health nurses, and...

My Future Career as a Nurse: Way for Compassionate Healing

The journey toward a future career as a nurse is one that intertwines empathy, expertise, and the unwavering commitment to provide compassionate care. In this essay, I take you on a voyage through my aspirations, motivations, and the profound impact I intend to make as...

What Motivates You to Pursue a Career in Medicine

The world of medicine is a tapestry of compassion, science, and unwavering commitment. In this essay, we embark on an exploration of the question: what motivates you to pursue a career in medicine? By delving into the layers of empathy, fascination, and the desire to...

Why You Choose Nursing as a Career: A Comprehensive Analysis

The decision to pursue a nursing career is often rooted in profound motivations and a desire to make a meaningful impact on the lives of others. In this essay, we embark on a thorough analysis of why individuals choose nursing as a career, exploring the...

Cell Phone Addiction: Unraveling the Digital Dilemma

In the modern age of technology, cell phones have become an integral part of our lives, offering convenience, connectivity, and access to a world of information at our fingertips. However, the rapid proliferation of cell phones has given rise to a concerning phenomenon: cell phone...

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Why Smoking is "Good" for You: Unraveling the Enigma

The Complex Landscape of Smoking: An Exploration Observing the individual engrossed in his smoke, one can't help but notice the allocated space designated exclusively for smokers. Evidently, his financial prosperity allows him to indulge in this habit, as smoking tends to be associated with those...

• Tobacco Use

Why Should We Legalize Abortion: Empowering Women's Choice and Safety

The debate over legalizing abortion has been a subject of intense discussion and controversy for decades. In this essay, we will explore the compelling reasons why many advocate for the legalization of abortion, focusing on the importance of women's rights, public health, and the reduction...

• Pro Choice (Abortion)

Why Should Abortions Be Made Legal: Advancing Women's Rights

The topic of why should abortions be made legal has sparked heated debates around the world. In this essay, we will delve into the compelling reasons why abortion should be legal, highlighting the importance of women's rights, public health, and the avoidance of unsafe practices....

• Women's Rights

Why I Agree: Abortion from a Supportive Perspective

This essay focuses on arguments in favor of abortion, highlighting reproductive rights, autonomy, health considerations, and societal benefits. Introduction Abortion is a topic that has sparked intense debate and has led to differing viewpoints across societies. This essay takes a stance in favor of abortion,...

• Reproductive Rights

Why Abortion Should Not Be Banned: Preserving Choice

The debate over whether abortion should be banned is a deeply complex and emotionally charged one. In this essay, we will explore the reasons why many argue against banning abortion, highlighting the importance of women's rights, healthcare access, and the potential consequences of prohibition. By...

The Life of a Doctor: Challenges, Commitment, and Compassion

This essay delves into the multifaceted life of a doctor, exploring the demands of their profession, the impact they have on patients and communities, and the personal fulfillment that comes from their vocation. Introduction The life of a doctor is often revered and admired, symbolizing...

The Importance of Doctors: Nurturing Health and Healing

This essay highlights the significance of doctors in society as healers, innovators, advocates, and compassionate caregivers. Doctors play a crucial role in diagnosing and treating diseases, preventing health issues, leading medical advancements, advocating for public health, and nurturing human connections. Their contributions extend far beyond...

The Evolution and Controversy of Abortion Laws

Abortion laws have long been a source of contentious debate around the world, reflecting the complex interplay of cultural, religious, ethical, and political factors. This essay delves into the historical evolution of abortion laws, examines the diverse legal approaches taken by different countries, and explores...

• Controversial Issue

The Controversy Surrounding Abortion Rights

The issue of abortion rights is one of the most contentious debates in modern society, touching upon deeply held beliefs about women's autonomy, morality, and the role of government in personal decisions. This essay seeks to provide an in-depth analysis of abortion rights, examining the...

The Case for Legal Abortion: Balancing Women's Rights and Health

The question of whether abortion should be legal is a subject of profound ethical, medical, and social importance. In this argumentative essay, we will explore the reasons why many advocate for legalizing abortion, highlighting the importance of women's rights, access to safe medical procedures, and...

The Argumentative Discourse About the Legalization of Abortion

The topic of the legalization of abortion has ignited passionate and contentious debates worldwide, touching on issues of ethics, women's rights, healthcare, and government intervention. This essay delves into the argumentative discourse surrounding the legalization of abortion, exploring its ethical implications, women's agency, healthcare access,...

The Argumentative Case for Legalizing Abortion

The contentious topic of legalizing abortion has been at the center of heated debates for decades, drawing on a multitude of ethical, societal, and personal considerations. In this argumentative essay, we delve into the rationale behind legalizing abortion, highlighting how it empowers women's autonomy, safeguards...

The Argument for Legalizing Abortion: Safety and Reproductive Rights

Introduction The debate surrounding the legalization of abortion is a contentious and complex issue that touches upon ethics, women's rights, and societal norms. This essay aims to present a comprehensive argument in favor of legalizing abortion, highlighting the importance of empowerment, safety, and reproductive rights...

The Abortion Proposal: A Constructive Approach to a Polarizing Issue

Introduction Abortion remains one of the most divisive topics in many societies, consistently sparking passionate debates. The complexities surrounding the issue necessitate an approach that transcends political, religious, and cultural lines. This abortion proposal essay seeks to outline a multi-faceted strategy that combines education, access...

The Abortion Problem: A Deep Dive into Its Complexities

Introduction The abortion problem has been a matter of intense debate for centuries. This complex issue intertwines medical, ethical, cultural, and political facets. As societies have evolved, so have the perceptions and policies regarding abortion. The discussions often diverge into two primary perspectives: pro-choice, emphasizing...

• Social Problems

The Abortion Issue: Exploring Diverse Perspectives

The abortion issue remains one of the most contentious and emotionally charged debates in modern society. This essay aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the multifaceted aspects surrounding the abortion issue, examining the historical, legal, ethical, and societal dimensions that shape individual viewpoints and...

• Pro Life (Abortion)

The Abortion Discussion: Diverse Perspectives and Complex Considerations

Introduction The abortion discussion is a contentious and deeply nuanced discourse that engages individuals, communities, policymakers, and societies across the globe. This essay aims to delve into the multifaceted dimensions of the abortion discussion, considering the range of perspectives, ethical considerations, legal frameworks, and societal...

The Abortion Debate: Exploring Both Sides of the Argument

Introduction The issue of abortion has long been a topic of fervent debate, stirring impassioned arguments from various corners of society. This essay aims to provide a comprehensive examination of the arguments on both sides of the abortion debate. By delving into the viewpoints of...

• Abortion Debate

The Abortion Controversy: Navigating Complex Ethical Arguments

Introduction The abortion controversy stands as one of the most polarizing and emotionally charged debates in society. This abortion controversial argumentative essay seeks to delve into the multifaceted dimensions of the abortion controversy, analyzing the diverse arguments and perspectives that shape this ongoing discourse. The...

• Ethical Dilemma

Teenage Pregnancy and Abortion: Navigating Complex Choices

The issue of teenage pregnancy and abortion is a multifaceted topic that intersects with issues of sexuality, education, health, and personal choices. In this essay, we will explore the challenges posed by teenage pregnancy, the implications of abortion for young women, and the importance of...

• Teenage Pregnancy

Supporting Abortion: Empowering Women's Rights and Health

The issue of abortion is a topic that invokes a range of emotions and opinions. In this essay, we will delve into the reasons for supporting abortion, emphasizing the importance of women's rights, bodily autonomy, and the advancement of public health. By exploring these facets,...

Should Abortion Be Made Legal? A Comprehensive Examination

The question of whether abortion should be made legal is a deeply divisive and complex issue that elicits passionate arguments from individuals on both sides of the debate. This essay aims to explore the arguments for and against legalizing abortion, considering a range of ethical,...

Should Abortion Be Legalized? Argument for Reproductive Freedom

This essay presents a comprehensive argument in favor of legalizing abortion, focusing on reproductive freedom, women's health, and societal impact. Introduction The question of whether abortion should be legalized is a topic that generates intense debates worldwide. This essay aims to provide a comprehensive examination...

Should Abortion be Legal or Illegal: Legalization vs. Criminalization

The question of whether abortion should be legal or illegal is at the heart of a contentious and deeply complex debate. In this argumentative essay, we will examine the merits and drawbacks of both sides of the argument, exploring the ethical, medical, and societal considerations...

Should Abortion Be Illegal? The Controversial Debate

The question of whether abortion should be illegal is a contentious and morally charged issue that revolves around conflicting beliefs about the value of life, women's rights, and societal well-being. In this argumentative essay, we will explore the reasons why some argue that abortion should...

Roe vs. Wade and the Abortion Debate

The landmark Supreme Court case of Roe v. Wade in 1973 marked a pivotal moment in the ongoing abortion debate, shaping the legal landscape surrounding reproductive rights in the United States. This essay examines the Roe v. Wade decision, delving into its historical context, ethical...

Research about Abortion: The Complex Landscape

The topic of abortion is one that elicits passionate debates and encompasses a myriad of ethical, medical, social, and legal dimensions. In this research essay, we will delve into the multifaceted nature of abortion, exploring its historical context, ethical considerations, medical practices, legal frameworks, and...

Reasons Why Abortion Should Be Legalized: A Comprehensive Exploration

The debate over whether abortion should be legalized is a complex and contentious issue, raising ethical, medical, and societal considerations. In this essay, we will delve into the compelling reasons why abortion should be legalized, focusing on the importance of women's autonomy, safeguarding public health,...

Reasons Abortion Should Be Legal

The question of whether abortion should be legal is a deeply divisive and complex issue, intertwining ethical, medical, and societal factors. In this essay, we will delve into the compelling reasons why abortion should be legal, focusing on the ethical importance of women's autonomy, public...

Persuasive Writing: The Imperative of Legal Abortion

The topic of legal abortion has been a point of intense contention, evoking impassioned debates on ethics, women's rights, and the role of government in personal decisions. In this essay, we will explore the compelling reasons why legal abortion is not only a necessity but...

Navigating the Complex Issue of Abortion: Ethics, Rights, and Choices

The issue of abortion has long been a subject of profound ethical, legal, and social debate, spanning cultural, religious, and philosophical landscapes. With divergent perspectives and deeply held beliefs, this complex issue encompasses questions about the sanctity of life, individual autonomy, medical ethics, and the...

Is Abortion Morally Wrong? Unpacking Moral Perspectives

The moral status of abortion has long been a contentious and complex issue, eliciting impassioned debates that touch on ethics, religion, philosophy, and individual beliefs. The question of whether abortion is morally wrong stands at the heart of these discussions, prompting diverse viewpoints and thought-provoking...

Is Abortion Morally Right? Exploring the Moral Dilemma

Abortion has been a topic of intense ethical and moral debate for decades, sparking discussions on the rights of women, the sanctity of life, and the role of government in personal decisions. The question of whether abortion is morally right elicits strong opinions from individuals...

In Defense of Abortion: Exploring the Argument for Reproductive Rights

The essay presents a comprehensive argument in favor of abortion, focusing on reproductive rights, women's autonomy, and the complexities of individual circumstances. Introduction The topic of abortion is one of the most debated and controversial issues in society. This essay seeks to present a strong...

How Do You Show Empathy to Patients: The Heartfelt Approach

**How do you show empathy to patients?** This question lies at the core of providing patient-centered care that goes beyond medical treatment to touch the realms of emotional support and understanding. Empathy is the art of connecting with patients on a human level, acknowledging their...

For Abortion: An Argumentative Analysis

The issue of abortion has been a subject of intense controversy and debate for decades, with individuals and societies holding contrasting viewpoints on its moral, ethical, and legal implications. This argumentative essay aims to explore the various perspectives surrounding abortion, delving into the arguments both...

Exploring the Anti-Abortion Perspective: Values and Ethics

Introduction The topic of abortion has long been a contentious and deeply divisive issue, sparking intense debates worldwide. This essay delves into the anti-abortion perspective, also known as the pro-life stance, which emphasizes the sanctity of human life from conception and opposes the practice of...

Exploring Abortion Solutions: A Comprehensive Examination

Introduction The complex issue of abortion prompts a search for practical and ethical solutions that balance women's rights, societal values, and the well-being of all involved. This essay delves into a range of abortion solutions, exploring approaches that address the diverse challenges surrounding this contentious...

Empowering Choice and Advancing Women's Health

The topic of abortion remains a subject of impassioned discourse, with diverse viewpoints rooted in ethics, religion, personal beliefs, and women's rights. In this persuasive essay, we will explore the critical arguments in favor of legalizing abortion, focusing on how it empowers women's agency, protects...

Disadvantages of Abortion: Navigating Ethical and Emotional Challenges

Introduction The topic of abortion is a contentious and emotionally charged subject that sparks debates around the world. While discussions about abortion often focus on individual rights, women's health, and legal considerations, it's crucial to also explore the disadvantages associated with this complex decision. This...

Arguments Against Abortion: The Ethical and Moral Debate

The topic of abortion has long been a subject of passionate debate, with opinions ranging from staunch support to vehement opposition. This essay will delve into the arguments against abortion, exploring the ethical, moral, and religious perspectives that contribute to this contentious issue. The Sanctity...

Anti-Abortion Argument: Protecting Life and Ethical Considerations

Introduction The debate over abortion is characterized by deeply held beliefs and passionate arguments from both sides. This essay delves into the anti-abortion argument, also known as the pro-life stance, which asserts that the fetus has a right to life and should be protected from...

Agreeing with Abortion: Upholding Reproductive Rights and Autonomy

Introduction The topic of abortion is marked by passionate debates, with various perspectives and viewpoints coming to the forefront. This essay explores the arguments in favor of abortion, specifically focusing on the principles of reproductive rights, bodily autonomy, and the importance of providing individuals with...

Agree with Abortion: Exploring the Rationale and Ethical Perspectives

This essay has explored the rationale behind agreeing with abortion, shedding light on the ethical and contextual factors that contribute to this perspective. While the topic of abortion remains contentious, understanding the arguments of those who support it is essential for engaging in informed and...

Agree to Abortion: Exploring a Pro-Choice Perspective

Introduction The topic of abortion has been a subject of intense debate, sparking impassioned arguments from both proponents and opponents. This essay delves into the reasons and arguments for agreeing with the practice of abortion, focusing on women's autonomy, reproductive rights, and the complex circumstances...

Against Abortion: Examining the Argument for Protecting Fetal Life

The essay presents a comprehensive argument against abortion, focusing on fetal rights, ethical considerations, and alternatives to abortion. Introduction The debate surrounding abortion is one that elicits strong emotions and differing viewpoints. This essay delves into the argument against abortion, also known as the pro-life...

Against Abortion: Examining Ethical Concerns

Introduction The issue of abortion has long been a subject of intense debate, with passionate arguments on both sides. This essay delves into the arguments against abortion, focusing on ethical concerns and moral perspectives that drive opposition to this practice. By analyzing the sanctity of...

Against Abortion: Examining Ethical and Moral Considerations

Introduction The topic of abortion is inherently complex and evokes strong emotions from various perspectives. This essay delves into the arguments against abortion, focusing on ethical and moral considerations that underlie the opposition to this practice. It acknowledges the nuanced nature of this issue and...

Against Abortion Persuasive Arguments: Voicing Opposition

Introduction The topic of abortion is one that evokes strong emotions and polarizing opinions. In this persuasive essay, we will delve into the reasons why one might take a stance against abortion. By exploring the sanctity of life, the potential for alternatives, and the potential...

Advantages of Abortion: Exploring Benefits and Complexities

Introduction The topic of abortion is one of the most contentious issues in society, sparking debates and discussions on ethics, morality, and women's rights. While the debate often focuses on the disadvantages and challenges associated with abortion, it's important to also consider the potential advantages...

Advantages and Disadvantages of Abortion: Weighing the Pros and Cons

Introduction The topic of abortion is a complex and sensitive issue that elicits strong opinions from individuals across the globe. While the debate often centers around the ethical, moral, and legal aspects of abortion, it's important to consider both the advantages and disadvantages associated with...

About Abortion: Exploring a Complex Topic

Introduction Abortion is a complex and contentious topic that elicits strong emotions and differing viewpoints. It revolves around the termination of a pregnancy, raising significant ethical, legal, and societal questions. This essay provides an overview of abortion, exploring its history, methods, legal status, and the...

Abortion: Navigating the Ethical and Personal Choice

The topic of abortion is an ethical and emotional minefield that sparks passionate debates on both sides. The central issue revolves around a woman's right to choose and the moral status of the unborn fetus. This short argumentative essay will delve into the key points...

Abortion: Navigating Complex Choices in 1000 Words

Introduction The topic of abortion is both intricate and polarizing, encompassing a multitude of moral, ethical, legal, and personal considerations. This essay will explore the various dimensions of abortion, ranging from its historical context to the current debates surrounding it. While no concise essay can...

Abortion: Arguments For and Against

The topic of abortion is one that elicits strong opinions and impassioned debates. While some individuals firmly believe in a woman's right to choose, others advocate for the sanctity of unborn life. This essay will examine the arguments both for and against abortion, highlighting the...

Abortion: An Examination of Yes and No Arguments

Introduction The debate over abortion has polarized societies, sparking impassioned arguments from both proponents and opponents. This essay delves into the arguments for and against abortion, exploring the complexities and ethical considerations that underlie the "yes" and "no" perspectives on this divisive issue. Proponents of...

Abortion: An Argumentative Examination of a Complex Issue

The topic of abortion is a contentious and deeply divisive subject that elicits strong emotions and stirs heated debates. At the heart of this issue lies the clash between the right to bodily autonomy and the sanctity of life. This essay seeks to provide an...

Abortion: A Complex and Controversial Issue in 500 Words

Abortion, the termination of a pregnancy, is a deeply divisive topic that elicits strong emotions and diverse perspectives. The controversy surrounding abortion arises from the collision of moral, ethical, religious, and societal values, making it one of the most complex issues in contemporary discourse. The...

Abortion Should Not Be Banned

Introduction The topic of abortion is one of deep ethical, moral, and societal significance. The question of whether abortions should be banned is a highly debated issue, with differing perspectives on both sides. This essay argues that abortion should not be banned, highlighting the importance...

Abortion Should Be Legal: An Argumentative Perspective

Introduction The legalization of abortion is a deeply polarizing issue that sparks debates encompassing ethics, human rights, women's autonomy, and societal well-being. This essay presents a comprehensive argument in favor of legalizing abortion, addressing both the practical and moral considerations surrounding this complex topic. Historical...

Abortion Should Be Legal: A Persuasive Argument

Introduction The topic of abortion has long been a subject of heated debate, sparking conversations about ethics, women's rights, and societal values. This persuasive essay aims to present a compelling case for the legalization of abortion, highlighting the importance of respecting women's autonomy, safeguarding their...

Abortion Should Be Allowed: Ensuring Women's Autonomy and Health

Introduction The question of whether abortion should be allowed is a complex and highly debated topic that revolves around women's rights, medical ethics, and societal values. This essay argues in favor of allowing abortion, highlighting the importance of women's autonomy over their bodies, protecting their...

Abortion Rights: Complexities of an Argumentative Landscape

Introduction The debate over abortion rights remains one of the most contentious and emotionally charged issues in modern society. The clash of ideologies and moral beliefs has led to a multifaceted discussion that touches upon ethical, legal, religious, and personal considerations. The focus of this...

Abortion Rights: Balancing Autonomy and Ethics

Introduction Abortion rights, the subject of ongoing debates, involve the intersection of women's autonomy, medical ethics, and societal values. This essay explores the complexities surrounding abortion rights, delving into the historical, legal, ethical, and social dimensions that shape this contentious issue. Historical Evolution The history...

Abortion Legalization: Examining the Complex Issue

The legalization of abortion is a topic that evokes strong emotions and opinions from individuals on all sides of the debate. This essay delves into the multifaceted discussions surrounding the legalization of abortion, exploring the arguments presented by proponents and opponents and the broader implications...

Abortion Laws and Reproductive Rights: Argumentative Debate

The issue of abortion laws has been a hotly debated topic that touches on ethical, moral, and legal considerations. This argumentative essay explores the opposing viewpoints surrounding abortion laws and the broader implications for reproductive rights and women's autonomy. Proponents of Restrictive Abortion Laws Advocates...

Abortion Information: Exploring the Complexities and Perspectives

Abortion is a deeply contentious and multifaceted topic that touches upon matters of ethics, human rights, public health, and personal beliefs. This informative essay aims to provide a comprehensive overview of abortion, shedding light on its historical context, legal landscape, medical procedures, and the various...

Abortion in America: A Complex and Controversial Issue

The topic of abortion in America is one that remains deeply divisive and emotionally charged. As a fundamental issue of women's rights, personal choice, and ethical considerations, the debate over abortion laws and access continues to shape the social, political, and legal landscape of the...

Abortion Facts for an Argument

Abortion is a complex and emotionally charged topic that elicits strong opinions from individuals across society. When constructing an argumentative essay on abortion, it is essential to base your points on accurate and well-researched facts. Here are several key abortion facts that can serve as...

Abortion Disagree: Ethical Concerns and Alternative Perspective

Introduction The topic of abortion is a highly contentious and morally complex issue that evokes deeply-held beliefs and diverse perspectives. This "Abortion Disagree" essay aims to present arguments against abortion by exploring the ethical concerns and alternative viewpoints held by those who do not agree...

Abortion as a Social Issue: Navigating Perspectives and Impacts

Introduction Abortion is a multifaceted social issue that intertwines ethics, women's rights, religion, public health, and societal values. This essay delves into the complexities surrounding abortion as a social issue, exploring its historical context, the diverse viewpoints it elicits, and the broader implications for individuals...

Abortion Argumentative: Navigating the Complex Ethical Debate

Introduction The topic of abortion is a deeply contentious and ethically charged subject that has sparked heated debates for years. This abortion argumentative essay aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the complex ethical considerations surrounding abortion. The discourse on abortion is multifaceted, involving discussions...

Abortion and the Moral Debate: Is It Murder?

The topic of abortion sparks intense moral and ethical debates, with one of the central questions being whether abortion can be equated with murder. This essay aims to delve into the complexities of this debate, examining the perspectives of both pro-life advocates who contend that...

Abortion and Philosophy: Navigating Ethical and Moral Dimensions

The topic of abortion is a philosophical dilemma that challenges individuals to grapple with complex ethical and moral questions. This essay delves into the philosophical underpinnings of the abortion debate, examining the various perspectives and philosophical arguments that contribute to the discourse. The Moral Status...

• Personal Philosophy

Abortion and Euthanasia: Ethical and Moral Dilemmas

Introduction The ethical debates surrounding abortion and euthanasia are among the most contentious and complex issues in contemporary society. Both topics touch on deeply personal and profound matters related to life, death, autonomy, and the value of human existence. This essay delves into the ethical...

Abortion Analysis: Exploring Complex Factors and Perspectives

Introduction The topic of abortion is a deeply complex and emotionally charged issue that spans medical, ethical, legal, and social domains. This essay undertakes a comprehensive abortion analysis, delving into the various factors, perspectives, and considerations that contribute to the ongoing debate surrounding this sensitive...

Abortion Advantages: Empowering Reproductive Autonomy

Introduction The topic of abortion is deeply nuanced, encompassing a range of perspectives and considerations. This essay explores the advantages of abortion, emphasizing the importance of reproductive autonomy, individual well-being, and the empowerment of women in making decisions about their bodies and futures. Reproductive Autonomy...

Abortion Advantages and Disadvantages: Weighing the Complexities

Introduction The topic of abortion is fraught with ethical, social, and personal considerations, making it a subject of ongoing debate and reflection. This essay delves into the advantages and disadvantages of abortion, shedding light on the complex factors that individuals and societies must grapple with...

A Visit to the Doctor: Navigating Care and Wellness

This essay has explored the various aspects of a visit to the doctor, highlighting its significance in navigating care and wellness. From the decision to seek medical attention to the interactions with healthcare professionals, a visit to the doctor is a pivotal step in the...

A Thoughtful Speech about Abortion: Exploring Diverse Perspectives

Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, and fellow citizens, today we gather to delve into one of the most complex and emotionally charged topics of our time: abortion. The issue of abortion is marked by strong convictions and divergent viewpoints, and as we engage in this...

Why I Am Thankful for My Health: Celebrating Well-Being

My health is a precious gift that allows me to live life to the fullest, pursue my passions, and experience the world's wonders. Each day of well-being is a reminder of the importance of taking care of myself and cherishing the vitality that enables me...

Why Healthcare Should Not Be Free

The debate over healthcare reform has sparked discussions about the best way to ensure access to medical services for all individuals. While the idea of free healthcare may seem appealing on the surface, a closer examination reveals potential drawbacks that must be considered. This essay...

Why Birth Control Should Be Free: A Step Towards Progress

Access to affordable healthcare is a fundamental human right, and within that scope, access to contraception and birth control is equally crucial. The debate over whether birth control should be freely accessible has been ongoing for years. In this essay, we will delve into the...

• Birth Control

Unraveling the Factors: Exploring Causes of Mental Illness in Youth

Mental illness among youth has become an increasingly pressing concern in today's society. Adolescence is a critical developmental period characterized by significant changes in emotions, behaviors, and social interactions. This essay delves into the complex web of the causes of mental illness in youth, including...

• Mental Illness

The Impact of COVID-19 on Education: An Unprecedented Challenge

Over the past few years, the world has experienced a transformative event that has disrupted every aspect of human life. The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the novel coronavirus, has left an indelible mark on societies across the globe. One of the most profound areas affected...

The Foundation of Well-Being: Exploring the Importance of Mental Health

In the pursuit of a fulfilling and balanced life, one aspect often overlooked is mental health. Just as physical health is crucial for our well-being, our mental well-being is equally essential. This essay delves into the significance of mental health, its impact on various aspects...

• Mental Health

The Effects of Not Getting Enough Sleep

Sleep is a fundamental aspect of human well-being, yet the modern world often places demands on individuals that can lead to inadequate sleep. The effects of not getting enough sleep are far-reaching and impact various aspects of physical, mental, and emotional health. In this essay,...

• Sleep Deprivation
• Sleep Disorders

The Art of Caring in Nursing and Its Impact on Patients

Nursing is often described as both a science and an art. While the scientific aspect involves medical knowledge and technical skills, the heart of nursing lies in the art of caring. The art of caring goes beyond the application of treatments and medications; it encompasses...

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Nursing Student's Reflection on Clinical Experience

Stepping into the world of clinical practice as a nursing student was both exhilarating and nerve-wracking. The opportunity to apply classroom knowledge to real patients brought a newfound sense of purpose and responsibility. In this essay, I will reflect on my clinical experience as a...

Is Healthcare a Basic Human Right: Exploring the Complex Issue

Access to healthcare is a fundamental concern that touches upon the well-being and dignity of individuals. The question of whether healthcare is a basic human right is a topic of ongoing debate and has significant implications for society. In this essay, we will explore arguments...

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Moscow statement

The moscow statement: health, wellbeing and education: building a sustainable future.

The 5th European Conference on Health Promoting Schools was held on 20–22 November 2019 in Moscow, Russian Federation, with over 450 participants from 40 countries.

A range of topics was addressed through more than 160 contributions and nine keynote presentations focusing on conceptual aspects of the Health Promoting School approach, implementation and dissemination, and current social change processes, such as digitization and heterogeneity. As a result of the research and case studies presented and discussions among conference participants, the following recommendations for action have been developed. They are addressed to all actors in governmental, nongovernmental and other organizations at international, national and regional levels, engaging with schools and/or school health promotion.

The Moscow statement (English version)

The Moscow statement (Italian version)

The Moscow statement (Polish version)

The Moscow statement (Russian version)

Article on the Moscow conference statement : "Health, well-being and education: Building a sustainable future. The Moscow statement on Health Promoting Schools"

WHO: Moscow conference report (English)

WHO: Moscow conference report (Russian)

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Possible amendments to the Health Education and Social Care Chamber Rules 2008

Applies to england and wales.

The Tribunal Procedure Committee welcomes views on possible changes to the Health Education and Social Care Chamber Rules regarding whether Special Educational Needs appeals can be dealt with on the papers without the consent of both parties.

This consultation closes at 11:59pm on 5 December 2024

Consultation description

The Tribunal Procedure Committee is interested in your views on a proposal to amend the procedure rules governing the First-tier Tribunal (Health Education and Social Care Chamber) for special educational need and disability appeals.

Stakeholder views are sought on whether such rules should be adopted as well as the content of such rules.

Consultation document

PDF , 171 KB , 7 pages

Questionnaire

PDF , 64.4 KB , 3 pages

Ways to respond

[email protected]

Tribunal Procedure Committee Access to Justice Directorate Policy, Communications and Analysis Group Ministry of Justice Post Point: Area 5.20 102 Petty France London SW1H 9AJ

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