Effectiveness of Health Education in Water Supply Region

Objective To investigate the effectiveness of health education on the water supply-related health knowledge and health behavior in water supply region. Methods Health education in the forms of propaganda pictures and wired broadcasting was conducted in 5 water supply region in China Hebei, Inner Mongolia, Jiangxi, Hubei, and Yunnan, 1998～2000. From 2000 to 2001, investigation in the forms of questionnaire survey and observation was conducted among 6101 fourth graders of primary schools and 3023 housewives aged 20～45 before health education and 4864 fourth graders and 2047 housewives after health education in the project villages in these 5 provinces by random sampling. Results The health knowledge correct answer rate was 40.33%～62.85% before health education and was 74.83%～95.06% after health education, and the healthy behavior rate was 39.60%～59.95% before health education and was 66,65%～89.33% after health education, among the pupils. The health knowledge scores were 1.84～2.23 before health education and were 2.57～3.59 after health education. The healthy behavior rate was 25.29%～68.81% before health education and was 66,65%～89.33% after health education, among the housewives. Conclusion Health education is effective to improve the water supply-related health knowledge and health behavior.