The innovation and implementation of appropriate health education

It is a frequent but mistaken assumption that effective and appropriate health education for developing countries is simply a matter of finding out what the community needs and then delivering it. Innovation and implementation are two quite distinct facets and both require an equal amount of study and effort. To be truly effective, health education needs to be based upon an accurate assessment of individual community needs; it needs to be provided in a format that is acceptable to, and practical for, that community; and it needs the provision of a supportive ongoing system. A list of criteria against which both past and prospective campaigns can be assessed are presented.