ADJETEY KAI PRISCILLA-BACS22027

We, first of all, have to understand the meaning of the health belief model for our health care

recommendations.

The health belief model is also known as the behavioral health belief help combine knowledge,

opinions, and actions which are taken by an individual about his or her health. According to the

model, health programs can be designed to help reduce barriers, and improve upon knowledge to

help people be motivated to make healthier lifestyle choices when the factors that influence

individuals' health choices are properly understood.

The Health Belief Model proposes that the perception of a personal health behavior threat is

influenced by at least three factors, general health values, which include interest and concern

about health; specific health beliefs about vulnerability to a particular health threat; and beliefs

about the consequences of the health problem (Hochbaum & Rosenstock, 1952).

We will now narrow our topic to interpersonal communication as an essential action area of

health communication

Interpersonal communication is the process of exchanging information, ideas, and feelings

between two or more people through the use of verbal and nonverbal communication.

Some verbal communications are Culture, Age group, Gender, Family Values, Personal

Preferences whiles the non-verbal communications are signs and symbols (postures, gestures,

gazing, eye contact, yawning)

Regarding verbal clues of health communication, we could say that people have their own

culture they believe in relating to their health-wise.

In the Ga community, it is believed that the priests are to wear only white aside that other colors

will hurt them. They also believed that they don't watch dead bodies because it's a form of bad

luck for them. They hate dirt. In some cultures, there are some cultures that when someone has

an infection in the eyes which in local terms is called "Apollo" the person's cultural belief says

getting the breast milk of a nursing mother squeezed in the eye is the best solution to cure.

Another core cultural belief is that when someone has skin rashes he or she is advised to apply

corn dough onto the skin for faster healing of the skin disease. There is also a belief that in most

cultural homes people believe in orthodox medicine for healing or visiting shrines for priests to

get the herbs for healing.

Though the cultural belief is not scientifically approved because their beliefs manifest practically

for them they will either comply with the recommendation of the healthcare provider if he or she

is well convinced with the kind of communication shared. Though that practices are good they

have to look at the negative effect and damages they will have on their health. The

communication must be effective with proof. This helps in successful interaction between the

healthcare users and the healthcare providers.

Another verbal communication is the Age group. It is culturally believed that children or newly

born babies with measles on their body are to use a locally named powder called, "Korle Bu

Powder" because there is a belief that it heals them quickly. They do not believe in going to the

hospital to be prescribed medicines. Sometimes, this happens because there might be financial

constraints that they think going the normal way would help as an alternative to their healthcare.

There is also a belief that White clay applied to newly born babies makes them put on weight and

look more attractive. They do not consider the healthcare of the child. For them to comply with
the healthcare provider's recommendations they must be a way to illustrate the negative effect of

these relating to the health-wise of the children which now they will comply with the healthcare

provider's recommendations.

Also, adults with measles are advised to take in herbs infused with alcohol which they believe

that taking it and applying some on their body will cure them both internally and externally.

With gender, it is believed that women are naturally weak and may easily fall sick as compared

to men who are always strong. They believe men are to go out there and do the hard job not

thinking about its effect on their health. They fall sick and are not willing to take in medicine or

visit the hospital because they think it's a mere sickness and that they will heal soon.

Taking family values into consideration, some people have beliefs that they stick to no matter the

circumstances. Some families believe in lesser gods as their healer so whenever any of those

family members falls sick they pour libation to seek spiritual healing. Some also believe in the

supreme God that whenever any family member falls sick they believe in praying over water

with anointing oil in it for healing than going to the hospital

Personal preferences also play a vital role in her. Some people believe in smoking as a way of

preventing them from falling sick because they think it will boost their health system especially

weed. They believe it's herbal and has a positive effect.

Others also recommend drugs for themselves which has not been approved by healthcare

providers. Some people may be having headaches but they go in for a G tablet. A tablet for
someone having a stomach ache. They recommend the wrong prescription for themselves

thinking that's the best approach because of their preferences.

Some nonverbal clues are signs and symbols. Nonverbal clues are sending and receiving

messages in a variety of ways without the use of verbal codes or words. Some nonverbal clues

are body movement and postures, eye contact and gaze, gestures, facial expressions, and color.

Using a family planning campaign as an example, hard for you to see men in such campaigns.

They think women must attend and not theirs. Their actions alone will show that they are not

interested in the campaign. That means they are not willing to comply with what the health care

provider has.

Looking at gesture as a key example we could use self preferences as a key point here. Someone

who smokes when a healthcare provider advises him or her to avoid it because of the dangers

involved they will see that as a threat. But because the person has been smoking for a long time

without any harm, hearing another negative aspect of it from the healthcare provider will make

the victim portray a kind of displeasure on his face. But for him to comply with the healthcare

provider's recommendations needs to influence him or her positively to help a change of mind.

In a Ga community, the priests called "Wulormei" disregard all colors except white. They claim

they are pure and hate dirty. But colors especially green have a healing effect. So as a health

provider a message you carry to such people should tell them how effective wearing another

color will impact positively on their healthcare.

Yawning portrays displeasure especially when someone is advising you on something. Using age

for example. With the taking of the alcohol for healing measles faster. When a healthcare

provider advises those people that alcohol is not good for their health the displeasure some might
show will be in a form of yawning. That alone will prompt the healthcare provider how

disinterested the people are in the form of complying with the positive healthcare routine that's

going to the hospital for a test to be run to get the appropriate medication.

For a healthcare provider's aim and obligations to be met to be successful, the person must be

liberal in mind so that they can accept the recommendation. But in a case of not being liberally

minded, they do not accept it.