[Changes and challenges in the work of professionals dealing with health promotion and reproductive health education]

Health and reproductive health education for women and men is a priority area for societies that consciously plan their future.

The aim of this study is to provide an overview of the current situation of general and reproductive health education and development, focusing on (1) the professionals performing the task and the targeted individuals, (2) the fields of activity and topics, and (3) the methods. A further aim is to identify the difficult points and find answers to the question: "What should be done in the future?"

In the last few decades, many new regulations have been introduced to help professionals define their tasks precisely and perform their work competently. The number of professionals has grown significantly, education must extend to the whole population, including clients with special needs and the topics, knowledge and methods have been regulated. Based on our professional experience, it is difficult that scientific results change rapidly, we have to teach a lot of new information to clients who are not always motivated, parents have different needs, educational institutions have different attitudes towards this topic, reproduction is still a taboo topic, professionals are overworked, and preventative work is still not as important as it should be.

On the positive side, the professionals performing the task, client, activities, topics, and methods have become clearer, but these parameters can also be a source of difficulties when it comes to each new educational program.

The key to success lies in the hands of healthcare professionals (obstetricians-gynecologists, family doctors, pediatricians, specially trained doctors and specialists, public health nurses, midwives). The benefits of teamwork and intersectoral cooperation could be better used. Motivation, working with couples and families, and new methods could also be the way of the future. Orv Hetil. 2026; 167(13): 499-511.