Group health education by health visitors.

This study reviews the history and development of the training of health visitors in the United Kingdom; and it compares work of a similar nature undertaken in the public health field in other parts of the world. It considers the development of health education and also that of midwifery with special reference to preparation for parenthood in relation to the health visitor's role. The method adopted was to select items considered to influence the health education functions of the health visitor and to carry out a study designed to see whether the present training fits the health visitor for the group work she may be required to do. A survey was made of interest in health education and a descriptive analysis of work actually carried out within a twelve month period in the year 1971. The returns showed that in the areas selected health visitors are concerned with a wide variety of group health education projects. In many instances however they felt that they were not wholly prepared for this aspect of their work and voiced the opinion that they should receive further training to reinforce the basic principles of teaching studied during health visitor training. The study of the literature reflects the finding that there is considerable variation in the amount. of group health education undertaken. In particular health visitors are becoming increasingly involved with school children. In many instances their work with expectant mothers is carried out in collaboration with other interested practitioners. A review of the work and training of the public health nurse in countries outside the United Kingdom reveals that the training syllabus, as laid down by the Council for the Education and Training of Health Visitors, prepares the British health visitor for a function that is unique. Finally the study surveys the work undertaken by the health visitors who qualified between 1968-71 in 36 employing authorities including those who trained at Croydon College of Design and Technology. It appears that the training lays a foundation for the work that health visitors are required to do, and that there is a bias in training at Croydon towards health education amongst expectant mothers and parents with young children