The principles and values of health promotion: building upon the Ottawa charter and related WHO documents

Abstract

Objectives: This paper reviews the main principles and values underlying health promotion and reflects upon recent health promotion efforts in Korea. Methods: The essay approaches these issues through the framework of the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion (WHO, 1986) and other related (WHO) documents. The Ottawa Charter has been an important basis for health promotion worldwide over the last three decades since 1986. Emphasizing the instrumental value of health and the prerequisites for health, it provides the definition of health promotion and elaborates the strategies for health promotion as well as the main health promotion actions. Results: Beyond the values of health as both a fundamental human right and a resource for everyday life, the values and principles related to health promotion shown in WHO documents and other literature include holism, social justice and equity, public and community participation, autonomy, empowerment, socioecological approaches to health, sustainability, intersectoral collaboration, partnership-building, responsibility for health, and so on. Conclusions: Reflecting, subjectively, on health promotion efforts in Korea, some values, including holism in terms of target population, equity, public and community participation, empowerment, and socio-ecological approaches have been realized to some extent, while other values like intersectoral collaboration and partnership have not been considered sincerely in public efforts relating to health promotion. Therefore, future health promotion efforts in Korea should concentrate on incorporating these critical values and principles-based approaches into health promotion activities.