Health education in the Extension Service: a historical perspective.

From the beginning of this century, rural health needs have been discussed, and education of the rural resident has been viewed as an important approach to rural health improvement. Many educational efforts have been made, both by the Extension Service and by other organizations. The depth and scope of health education within the Extension Service have varied in relation to many factors over the decades. This article reviews what Extension has done, and some of the influences which appear to have affected the scope and degree of its health education effort. Direct cause-and-effect relationships are usually uncertain, but the Extension Service, like other public educational agencies, responds to current thought trends in its field of effort. Thus, reference to some significant evidence of health concerns in various decades seems pertinent in order to gain a true historical perspective on health education in Extension.