Human behavior is a key determinant of health. Consider the leading risk factors for the top causes of death and disabilities: underweight mothers and children; unsafe sex; high blood pressure; smoking; alcohol abuse; unsafe water, poor sanitation and hygiene; high cholesterol; indoor smoke from solid fuels; iron deficiency; and overweight. In poor countries, two risk factors--childhood underweight and unsafe sex-- contribute more to the loss of healthy life-years in the world than all diseases and injuries in high-income countries, and they can be addressed through effective behavior-change interventions. Our standard approaches have had limited success in persuading people to adopt healthier behaviors. Information alone does not usually lead to behavior-change. New and growing evidence points to a different way of approaching behavior-change, and not only in the health sector. The challenge is to adapt this new knowledge and use it in design of reforms for UHC.
This two-hour self-paced course will provide a high-level overview of strategies to influence behavior change to achieve health. These strategies are not limited to health sector but are part of broader health system reforms.
Blog » Behavior Change for Health System Strengthening and Achieving Universal Health Coverage - Self-Paced eLearning Course
Behavior Change for Health System Strengthening and Achieving Universal Health Coverage - Self-Paced eLearning Course
Course updated June 2021 by the World Bank Group HNP Health Systems Flagship Team
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Human behavior is a key determinant of health. Consider the leading risk factors for the top causes of death and disabilities: underweight mothers and children; unsafe sex; high blood pressure; smoking; alcohol abuse; unsafe water, poor sanitation and hygiene; high cholesterol; indoor smoke from solid fuels; iron deficiency; and overweight. In poor countries, two risk factors--childhood underweight and unsafe sex-- contribute more to the loss of healthy life-years in the world than all diseases and injuries in high-income countries, and they can be addressed through effective behavior-change interventions. Our standard approaches have had limited success in persuading people to adopt healthier behaviors. Information alone does not usually lead to behavior-change. New and growing evidence points to a different way of approaching behavior-change, and not only in the health sector. The challenge is to adapt this new knowledge and use it in design of reforms for UHC.
This two-hour self-paced course will provide a high-level overview of strategies to influence behavior change to achieve health. These strategies are not limited to health sector but are part of broader health system reforms.
Course Link: https://olc.worldbank.org/content/behavior-change-health-system-strengthening-and-achieving-universal-health-coverage-self