Health Education In India: A Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) Analysis

The purpose of this study was to conduct a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis of the health education profession and discipline in India. Materials from CINAHL, ERIC, MEDLINE, and Internet were collected to conduct the open coding of the SWOT analysis. Strengths of health education in India include an elaborate tiered infrastructure, well trained workforce in health education, resources for information dissemination, school health education programs, and ability to conduct systematic needs assessments. Weaknesses of health education in India include focus on only knowledge-based interventions, primary reliance on print media, inability to reach rural and vulnerable areas, no quality assurance, no promotional avenues for health educators, no organization, and outmoded training of health educators. Opportunities include need to involve folk media, enhance participation of unconventional functionaries such as religious leaders, traditional healers, traditional birth attendants (dais), build systematic patient and worksite health education, apply theoretical approaches such as social marketing, involve physicians, and organize health education and health educators in India. Threats include criticism as motivational manipulation and delivery of health education campaigns as techno-managerial, vertical programs without building the infrastructure at the grassroots level.