Health: Health is defined in the WHO constitution of 1948 as: A state of complete physical, social and mental well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Within the context of health promotion, health has been considered less as an abstract state and more as a means to an end which can be expressed… Read More

Health behaviour: Any activity undertaken by an individual, regardless of actual or perceived health status, for the purpose of promoting, protecting or maintaining health, whether or not such behaviour is objectively effective towards that end. Reference: Health Promotion Glossary, 1986 It is possible to argue that almost every behaviour or activity by an individual has an… Read More

Health communication: Health communication is a key strategy to inform the public about health concerns and to maintain important health issues on the public agenda. The use of the mass and multimedia and other technological innovations to disseminate useful health information to the public, increases awareness of specific aspects of individual and collective health as… Read More

Health development: Health development is the process of continuous, progressive improvement of the health status of individuals and groups in a population. Reference: Terminology Information System. WHO, Geneva, 1997 The Jakarta Declaration describes health promotion as an essential element of health development. Source: Health Promotion Glossary (1998), WHO/HPR/HEP/98.1

Health education: Health education comprises consciously constructed opportunities for learning involving some form of communication designed to improve health literacy, including improving knowledge, and developing life skills which are conducive to individual and community health. Reference: modified definition Health education is not only concerned with the communication of information, but also with fostering the motivation, skills and… Read More

Health expectancy: Health expectancy is a population-based measure of the proportion of expected life span estimated to be healthful and fulfilling, or free of illness, disease and disability according to social norms and perceptions and professional standards. Reference: new definition Health expectancy belongs to a new generation or type of health indicator which are currently… Read More

Health for All: The attainment by all the people of the world of a level of health that will permit them to lead a socially and economically productive life. Reference: Glossary of Terms used in Health for All series. WHO, Geneva,1984 Health for All has served as an important focal point for health strategy for… Read More

Health gain: Health gain is a way to express improved health outcomes. It can be used to reflect the relative advantage of one form of health intervention over another in producing the greatest health gain. Reference: new definition The Jakarta Declaration indicates that health promotion “acts on the determinants of health to create the greatest health… Read More

Health goal: Health goals summarize the health outcomes which, in the light of existing knowledge and resources, a country or community might hope to achieve in a defined time period. Reference: new definition Health goals are general statements of intent and aspiration, intended to reflect the values of the community in general, and the health sector in particular, regarding… Read More

Health impact assessment: Health impact assessment is a combination of procedures, methods and tools by which a policy, program, product, or service may be judged concerning its effects on the health of the population. Reference: Modified definition (WHO Regional Office for Europe, 1999). Health impact assessment is usually conducted at the local or regional level,… Read More