Functions of Health Communication Information Education Communication IEC

Functions of Health Communication & Information Education Communication (IEC) Dr. M. Salman Shah 17 December 2021 M. B. B. S. , MD. , Fellow -FAIMER (USA)

Functions of Health Communication • • Information Education Motivation Persuasion Counseling Raising morals Health Development Organization 17 December 2021

INFORMATION To provide scientific knowledge to people about health problems & to maintain & promote health Health information should a. Eliminate social & psychological barriers of ignorance, prejudice & misconceptions people might have about the health matters b. Increase awareness of the people to their health needs c. Influence people to convert unfelt needs to felt needs & felt needs to demands 17 December 2021

Motivation • It is the power that drives a person from within to act • Health communication is to motivate individuals to translate health information into personal behavior and life style for their own health • It assist the individual in passing from the state of awareness & interest to the final stage of decision making and adoption of new idea of programme 17 December 2021

Persuasion • A conscious attempt by one individual to change or influence the general beliefs, understanding, values & behavior of another individual or group of individuals in some desired way • It is the art of winning friends and influencing people • It is an art that does not employ force or deliberate manipulation • Persuasion can change life style & modify the risk factors of disease 17 December 2021

Counseling • Process that can help people understand better & deal with their problem & communicate better with those with whom they are emotionally involved • It can improve & reinforce motivation to change behavior • Can provide support at times of crisis • Counseling is an important part of treatment, disease prevention & health promotion 17 December 2021

Raising Morale • Morale is the capacity of a group of people to pull together persistently or consistently • Communication is the first step in an attempt to raise morale of the health team or a group of people 17 December 2021

Health Development • Communication plays an important role in health development by helping to diffuse knowledge in respect of the goals of development & preparing the people for the roles expected of them 17 December 2021

Health Organization • Communication is an important dimension of health organization • Important means of intra and inter sectoral coordination Two major directions • Vertical (upward or downward) • Horizontal or cross communication Direction in which communication flows in an organization suggests the degree of freedom in the internal communication network 17 December 2021