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D : Dissemination of Information
 
186
INFORMATION ON HEALTH FOR LAY PERSONS, ITS AVAILABILITY, ACCESSIBILITY & ACCEPTABILITY AT THE GRASS ROOT LEVEL
Sudha S Murthy: MLAI Bulletin 1990, 5, 53-60.

Health is one of the basic rudiments for any activity in life. Efficiency in health care depends on its awareness among its users i.e., lay Persons,. While medical care, prophylaxis and prevention form one aspect of the disease, awareness of it among its users, their faith, belief and knowledge of the treatment given, are the other important factors which are often ignored. Even though 75% of the population in India are covered by health care and a significant contribution has been made in the last three to four decades in raising health status of the population, prevalence of communicable diseases and malnutrition still remain as major public health problems. This may be attributed to lack of health consciousness and health related factors such as social, economic, spiritual and environmental among lay persons, as important reasons in prevention of the disease. This paper briefly attempts to identify the lay persons by grouping them to literates/illiterates, determining their needs and wants, and its impact on health of the community. A review of the availability of health related information, their evaluation, selection and presentation using various communication media such as literature, press, audio visuals, posters and graphics is made. Finally, its acceptability by the lay persons at the grass root level has been discussed by presenting a case on the disease "Tuberculosis" and attempts made in this direction by the National Tuberculosis Institute, Bangalore.

KEY WORDS: HEALTH INFORMATION, GRASS ROOT LEVEL, FEASIBILITY, DISSEMINATION.
 
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