In this country, the gap between the urban `haves and the rural `have-nots´ continues to be an increasing problem. WHO and UNICEF see primary health care(PHC) as the key to achieving an acceptable level of health throughout the world as a community development
PHC is essential health care made accessible to individuals and families in the community by means acceptable to them. It is the first level of contact of individual, the family, and community with the national health system. It includes at least education on health system. It includes at least education on health problems, promotion of food supply, MCH including family planning immunization against infectious diseases. control of endemic diseases, treatment of common diseases and injuries, promotion of mental health, and provision of essential drugs.
However, of the aboves, education concerning prevailing health problems and the methods to identify, prevent and control them is the principal step of establishment In Korea, the category of PHC worker includes the physician as public doctor, and nurse as primary health care practitioner, and community health leader as village health worker. PHC workers of the aboves will thus function best if they are appropriately trained to respond to the health needs of the community.
However. in this country, since the national PHC service project launched in 1980, the government has not developed and performed appropriate and enough education and training activities.
In light of above reasons, several categories of health education activities had been planned and performed being aimed at above specific target groups and the main focus was on the village health workers for about one year from July 1991 to July 1992 in Yeoju Kun of Kyonki Province.
At the end of the period, evaluation of education input was carried out to measure the improvement of healthful life of people in terms of awareness. attitude,, and practice.
The totals of 80 village health workers, 13 public health practitioners and 9 public doctors took in the course of health education for a few hours at every month and the evaluation works of educational effect were taken.
The results of the study were as follows,
1) Number of persons who realized the maxim "health care of the people is a duty of the government" increased after the education course. On the other hand, the rate of satisfaction on the effort of government for health promotion of the people decreased
2) Public doctors and primary health care practitioners(nurses) liked and enjoyed the education schedule as a meeting of peer group. It provided chances of communication with staffs of Korea University Hospital. It was said that lectures covered great deal of knowledge and technique they urgently needed in the field,
3) After finishing the education course, more of village health workers(VHW) thought they adapted themselves to their roles and functions showing increased number of home visit and contact with primary health care practitioners by month.
4) In case of patient refer, VHW preferred primary health care practitioners to public doctors.
5) Capability of VHWs in most of their functions increased dramatically after when the. education course finished except tuberculosis control.
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