The Effectiveness of a Training Program Based on Health Education to Improve Health Empowerment Level among Refugees in Jordan

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that a health education training program significantly improves health empowerment among refugees in Jordan, with effects maintained over time, highlighting its potential for vulnerable populations.

Contribution

It provides evidence that a targeted health education program effectively enhances health empowerment in refugee populations, a novel application in Jordan.

Findings

Significant increase in health empowerment scores post-training.

Effects sustained at follow-up, indicating lasting impact.

Training program is effective for vulnerable refugee groups.

Abstract

Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a health education-based training program in enhancing the level of health empowerment among refugees in Jordan. Health empowerment is a key component to promote health as it enables individuals to control and manage their health outcomes and improve them. Refugees are a vulnerable population group with limited access to healthcare. Methodology: The study sample consisted of 38 refugees in Irbid governorate, Jordan, who were conveniently selected in coordination with some organizations working in the field of asylum in the governorate. They were randomly divided into two groups: an experimental group (n = 19) that received the health education training program, and a control group (n = 19) that did not receive any health education training. The Health Empowerment Scale (HES), a validated tool, was used to collect data from both groups in the pre and post-tests, and a follow-up test was conducted for members of the experimental group only. Results: The results showed a statistically significant increase in the health empowerment scores for the experimental group that received the training program compared to the control group. The mean of the pre-test for the experimental group was (1.97 - 0.27), and for the control group, it was (1.84 - 0.21). The post-test mean for the experimental group became (3.88 - 0.13), while for the control group, it was (1.85 - 0.20). The follow-up test also demonstrated that the enhanced health empowerment levels were maintained in the experimental group, with no significant difference between the post-test and follow-up scores, indicating the effectiveness of the health education training program in enhancing health empowerment for refugees in Jordan.