Health education challenges in a rural context: A case study

Abstract

The case study reported in this paper is part of a larger study being undertaken in a rural village on the north-eastern coast of Trinidad. The larger study was designed to document and analyse some of the traditional practices and beliefs existing in the village with a view to ascertaining the degree to which young people and adults in the village are committed to them. The sub-study described in this paper focuses on one of the key informants in the village, and it explores how she makes use of both conventional science and traditional knowledge. The findings are compared with practices in the adult health education delivery systems. The paper highlights the need for personnel working in this area to explore further the ways in which “official” knowledge is treated by the people as they attempt to use it in practical action and also ways in which traditional knowledge may be used to encourage healthy living. Implications for school science curricula are also discussed briefly.