Introduction

Behavior change is complex and is most successful when resources align at the individual, interpersonal, and community levels. Health behavior change theory provides a roadmap to the major factors that influence behavior, articulates the relationships among the various factors, and considers when, where, and how these factors operate.

This roadmap is critical for the development and implementation of effective approaches to health behavior change. Health behavior change theory and practice have evolved over time to focus on integrative models that examine the interplay of individual, interpersonal, social, cultural, and environmental factors. In the last two sessions, you have learned about the relationships of health and behavior and also different factors affecting the health as well as the behavior of an individual/community.

In this session you are going to learn about the two major behavior change models, Health belief model and Theory of diffusions of innovations which are conceptualized in order to influence the determining factors of both the health and behavior of an individual or community