Role of Health Awareness Campaigns in Improving Public Health:A Systematic Review

Abstract

Public health is a multidisciplinary field that intervenes at organizational, community, and individual levels to prevent disease, improve quality of life, and create an environment in which people can enjoy good health. Public health campaigns are used worldwide for a variety of purposes and are based largely on psychological theories. Such theories attempt to understand the effect of many elements in human behavior that influence decisionmaking when it comes to health issues and their solutions. Health awareness campaigns are designed in the way that their role is to promote or protect health or prevent illness in communities or individuals by creating awareness. Health awareness campaigns are an essential part of public health as through health promotion and education, awareness levels of individuals can be increased leading to better adoption of preventive strategies. The aim of this research is to review the available literature about the role of health awareness campaigns in public health. Health awareness programs that include the use of different forms of communication media and the provision of health-related products are effective in changing people's attitudes and behavior. Through behavioral modification, health communication can reduce mortality and morbidity, thus reducing disease burden. During the current digital era, health awareness and communication can be easily conducted on mass media platforms. Health awareness campaigns tend to increase the knowledge and awareness levels of individuals and communities. This is supported by current literature, however, more research in the future can help us better understand the role of health awareness campaigns in the field of public health.

Impact of a Nyakaza Move-for-Health Intervention Programme among Adolescents in a Resource-Constrained South African Community

“…Participant 4 mentioned that “before the Nyakaza campaign, I didn’t realise how dangerous sitting around all the time could be, posters and messages made me think twice about being inactive”. The findings are consistent with recent research studies which found that targeted health campaigns can effectively raise awareness and change health behaviours [ 50 ]. Participant 13 stated that “knowing about the benefits” and “messages on the exercise book covers changed how I perceive exercise”, highlighting how educational materials can shift perceptions about physical activity.…”

“…Now, I try to move more, even if it's just a little bit every day". The sentiments of Participant 3 were aligned with recent studies, stating that "awareness of health risks is a critical motivator for behaviour change" [50][51][52][53]. Participant 11 emphasised the campaign's effectiveness, stating that "The Nyakaza campaign didn't just talk about exercise, it showed us the real dangers of doing nothing.…”

Increasing the Productivity of Public Health Awareness Through Quality Education

“…Health education plays an important role in improving public health and raising awareness of various health problems. It is a lifelong process that aims to improve the health and quality of life of individuals and communities (Bugshan et al, 2022). Higher education institutions (PT) also have a significant impact on sustainable development, including its social, environmental, and economic aspects (Finder et al, 2019).…”