Health education & promotion strategies in poor communities One of the primary roles of health educators is to pursue new and better ways to facilitate the learning process. As a health professional you must study individual learning style as a strategy to uncover each individual’s full potential for acquiring knowledge. Also, important is the need to develop an enhanced understanding of the impact of for example “poverty” has on an individual’s learning. The U.S. Census bureau (2015) reports the poverty line for a family of three is $20,090.00, and that of a family of four is $24,250.00. The human cost of poverty include: 1) doing without daily necessities(food, clothing, shelter, transportation, etc.), 2) enduring elevated levels of stress, 3) inequality and limited access to services, and 4) experiencing diminished potential.

Now, given the above circumstance (poverty) what strategies would you implement if you were assigned to conduct health promotion activities in a community stricken by poverty.

1. How do you approach this community?

2. What strategy would you use to ensure you are accepted in the community?3. How do you ensure learning is taking place and bad health behaviors are being changed?

 Remember: Obstacles you are likely to encounter in low income or poor communities include:

Interpersonal obstacles

 Impaired cognitive development  Physical health issues  Low self esteem  Higher external locus of control (e.g. God will take care of it)  Mental health concerns

Environmental Obstacles

 Limited economic resources  Unstable housing or homelessness  Limited social support  Family crisis  Discrimination