Work

Community as Locus for Health Formal and Non-Formal Education: The Significance of Ecological and Collaborative Research for Promoting Health Literacy

Year: 2014

Type: article

Abstract: The World Health Organization (2002) considers that a balance between government, community, and individual action is necessary for health education and promotion, recognizing that non-governmental organizations, local groups, and community institutions are central in this process. This argument reinforces the idea that individuals should be empowered and encouraged to make use of accurate health-related information. This paper highlights the potential of a socio-political perspective for the development of health literacy within children and adolescents and presents two studies conducted in two daily life contexts: a community organization and a school. Both studies are based on methodological pluralism and collaborative research approaches and explore the promotion of health knowledge in formal and informal settings. Study 1 is based on a mixed methodology, using focus group discussions and questionnaires with children and youth with chronic diseases to explore the perceived impact of their participation in support associations. Study 2 presents four intensive case-studies in schools where adolescents used community profiling, a participatory research methodology, to explore health rights and access to healthcare in both a historical and prospective vision. The results enable a deeper understanding on how powerful tool ccommunity resources can be for individual and collective empowerment on health issues.

Source: Frontiers in Public Health

DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2014.00283

Authors: Sofia C. Pais, Mariana Rodrigues, Isabel Menezes

Institutions: Centro de Estudos Sociais, University of Coimbra, Universidade do Porto, Centro de Investigação e Intervenção Educativas

Language: English

Topic: Community Health and Development

Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Quality education

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,801