Health Education and Promotion: Main Exam, 12 July 2022

Mount Kenya University · Department of Community Health · Certificate in Community Health · CPH1303

Mount Kenya University Health Education and Promotion unit past paper 2021-2022 with model answers.

INSTRUCTIONS

This paper has two parts: Section 'A' AND Section 'B'.

Section 'A' has ONE question which is COMPULSORY and carries 40 Marks.

Section 'B' has three questions of which you are required to attempt TWO.

The Two questions in Section 'B' Carries a Total of 30 Marks.

SECTION A: (40 MARKS) (40 marks)

1. Define the following terms:

  1. a) Health. (2.5 marks)
    Model answer
    • Health: A state of complete physical, mental and social well‑being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
    • It enables individuals to lead productive lives and adapt to their environment.
  2. b) Health education. (2.5 marks)
    Model answer
    • Health education: A systematic process of informing, influencing and empowering individuals and communities to adopt behaviours that promote, maintain or restore health.
    • It uses appropriate teaching methods, media and cultural contexts to facilitate informed health‑related decisions.

2. Identify priorities for health promotion. (5 marks)

Model answer
  • Disease prevention: focus on reducing incidence of communicable and non‑communicable diseases
  • Maternal and child health: improve nutrition, immunisation and safe childbirth
  • Oral health promotion: encourage proper oral hygiene and reduce dental caries
  • Health literacy: increase public knowledge and skills for healthy decision‑making
  • Mental health and well‑being: promote stress management and early detection of mental disorders
  • Environmental health: ensure safe water, sanitation and reduce exposure to pollutants
  • Lifestyle modification: encourage physical activity, balanced diet and tobacco/alcohol cessation

3. Explain the basic strategies for health promotion. (5 marks)

Model answer
  • Basic strategies for health promotion
  • Health education – increase knowledge and skills through curricula, media campaigns and peer education.
  • Community development – empower groups to identify problems and take collective action.
  • Policy development – enact laws, regulations and guidelines that create supportive environments (e.g., tobacco tax, nutrition labeling).
  • Enabling environments – improve access to resources such as clean water, safe housing and recreational facilities.
  • Advocacy – mobilise public opinion and political will to address health determinants.

4. Describe extended parallel process model. (5 marks)

Model answer
  • Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM)
  • Describes how people respond to fear‑based health messages.
  • Two appraisal processes: threat appraisal (perceived severity + susceptibility) and efficacy appraisal (response efficacy + self‑efficacy).
  • If threat is high and efficacy is high → danger control (protective action).
  • If threat is high but efficacy is low → fear control (denial, avoidance).
  • Low threat → no motivation to act regardless of efficacy.
  • Guides message design: increase realistic threat, boost confidence in recommended response.

5. Explain key principles of health promotion. (5 marks)

Model answer
  • Key principles of health promotion
  • Empowerment – enable individuals and communities to take control of their health.
  • Participation – involve target groups in planning, implementation and evaluation.
  • Holistic approach – address physical, mental, social and environmental dimensions.
  • Equity – reduce health disparities and reach vulnerable populations.
  • Intersectoral collaboration – coordinate actions across health, education, transport, agriculture, etc.
  • Sustainability – develop long‑term, culturally appropriate interventions.
  • Evidence‑based practice – use research and data to guide decisions.

6. State two aims of health education. (5 marks)

Model answer
  • Promote knowledge: Increase awareness and understanding of health issues among individuals and communities.
  • Facilitate behavior change: Encourage adoption of healthy lifestyles and reduction of risky practices.

7. Highlight roles of health educator. (5 marks)

Model answer
  • Assess community needs: Conduct surveys and needs assessments to identify health problems.
  • Develop educational programmes: Design curricula, materials and activities tailored to target groups.
  • Deliver training and workshops: Facilitate sessions, seminars and outreach events.
  • Evaluate outcomes: Monitor and assess the impact of education on knowledge, attitudes and behaviours.
  • Advocate for health policies: Influence decision‑makers to adopt supportive health legislation and resources.

8. Outline fundamental conditions and resources needed for good health. (5 marks)

Model answer
  • Adequate nutrition: Access to sufficient, safe, and balanced food.
  • Safe water and sanitation: Clean drinking water and proper waste disposal.
  • Housing and shelter: Secure, ventilated, and overcrowding‑free living conditions.
  • Health services: Availability of preventive and curative care.
  • Education: Literacy and health knowledge to empower choices.
  • Environmental safety: Clean air, reduced pollutants and safe workplaces.

SECTION B: (30 MARKS) (30 marks)

9. Discuss components of communication.

Model answer
  • Sender: Originator of the message who encodes information.
  • Message: Content that is transmitted, including verbal and non‑verbal cues.
  • Channel: Medium used (face‑to‑face, print, electronic).
  • Receiver: Person or group who decodes and interprets the message.
  • Feedback: Response from receiver that informs the sender about understanding.
  • Context/Environment: Cultural, social and physical setting influencing interpretation.
  • Noise/Barriers: Any factor that distorts or interferes with the message.

10. Discuss areas for priority action identified in Ottawa Charter 1987.

Model answer
  • Develop personal skills: Empower individuals with knowledge and competencies for healthy choices.
  • Create supportive environments: Modify physical, social and economic settings to make healthy options easier.
  • Strengthen community action: Mobilise community groups to plan and implement health initiatives.
  • Reorient health services: Shift focus of health systems toward prevention and health promotion.
  • Build healthy public policy: Enact legislation, taxation and regulations that promote health.
  • Develop healthy public policy: Ensure policies across sectors (education, transport, housing) support health goals.
  • Advocate for equity: Prioritise actions that reduce health disparities among vulnerable groups.

11. Discuss in detail the Jakarta Declaration five priorities for health promotion.

Model answer
  • Build healthy public policy – enact legislation, taxation and regulations that create environments supportive of health (e.g., tobacco control, nutrition labelling).
  • Create supportive environments – develop safe, accessible settings such as schools, workplaces and communities that facilitate healthy choices.
  • Strengthen community action – empower local groups to identify health problems, plan interventions and take collective action.
  • Develop personal skills – provide education, life‑skill training and information that enable individuals to make informed health decisions.
  • Reorient health services – shift health‑care focus from curative to preventive, integrating health promotion into routine services.
  • More answers: integrate health‑promotion into all sectors, ensure equity, monitor and evaluate outcomes.

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