Professional Practice
What is health promotion practice?
Health Promotion practice involves the process of enabling people to increase control
over, and to improve, their health. It moves beyond a focus on individual behaviour
towards a wide range of social and environmental interventions.
The first International Conference on Health Promotion was held November 1986 in
Ottawa, Canada. The strategies and actions in the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion
– 30 years later – remains central to health promoters today.
Who can practice health promotion?
Anyone can practice health promotion if they use and are competent in the Pan-Canadian Health
Promoter Competencies in their work. Health promoters can come from a variety of
disciplines (medicine, nursing, nutrition, community development, social work,
communication/public relations, etc.) and a variety of education backgrounds (health promotion, Master of Public Health, global affairs, public policy, adult education, etc.). Some people earn undergraduate and graduate degrees specifically in health promotion.
Where do health promoters work or volunteer?
Health promoters can work or volunteer anywhere. People practicing health promotion can find employment or volunteer opportunities in public health units, government agencies, community health centres, not-for-profit organizations, hospitals, think-tanks, academic and research organizations, private workplaces, etc.,
What topics does health promotion address?
The goal of health promotion is to keep people as healthy as they can be. Naturally, this covers a large swath of topics. The topics are too great to list all of them but the list below will provide an overview of areas in which health promoters work:
Social determinants of health
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Poverty
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Housing
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Income
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Structural oppression
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Etc.
Natural and built environment:
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Active transportation
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Green space
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Population density
Primary prevention
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Tobacco
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Alcohol
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Cannabis
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Unregulated substance (e.g., opioids)
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Mental health and well-being
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Nutrition and healthy eating
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Physical activity and sedentary behaviour
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Early childhood development, including Adverse Childhood Events
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Sleep
Secondary prevention:
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Screening for diseases such as cancer
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Social prescribing
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One-on-one education for people with a chronic disease
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What are key health promotion charters and frameworks?
Health promotion involves various charters and frameworks designed to guide and support efforts in public health. Here are some key charters related to health promotion, along with links for further exploration:
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Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion (1986)
This landmark document outlines the fundamental strategies for health promotion. It emphasizes the importance of enabling, mediating, and advocating for health. -
Bangkok Charter for Health Promotion in a Globalized World (2005)
This charter highlights the impact of globalization on health and emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach to health promotion. -
Nairobi Declaration on the Health of Women and Children (2011)
This declaration focuses on health promotion specifically for women and children, stressing the need for improved health outcomes in these populations. -
Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity, and Health (2004)
This strategy aims to promote healthy diets and physical activity globally, recognizing their role in preventing chronic diseases. -
Health Promotion Action Plan (WHO Europe)
This plan provides a framework for health promotion actions across European countries, emphasizing collaboration and community involvement. -
WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (2003)
While primarily focused on tobacco control, this framework includes health promotion elements aimed at reducing tobacco use and its health impacts. -
United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
This agenda includes health promotion as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 3, which focuses on ensuring healthy lives.
These charters and frameworks provide a comprehensive view of health promotion and offer guidelines for improving health at various levels. For more detailed information, you can follow the links provided.
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