Health Belief Model
The Health Belief Model is one of the most widely used models to explain the preventive health behaviour. Health Belief Model (HBM) was initially developed in the early 1950’s by a group of social psycologists, to create awareness among masses regarding preventive measures about fatal diseases. It was the first conceptual model of behaviour developed with a concern for public health issues. This was an effort to provide a framework for analysing why some people who were illness free take actions to avoid illness, whereas others failed to take such protective action.
The model explains the factors that motivate individuals to engage in behaviour for a healthy living.
The health belief model proposes that a person 's health-related behaviour depends on the person 's perception of four critical areas:
1. the severity of a potential illness,
2. the person 's susceptibility to that illness,
3. the benefits of taking a preventive action, and
4. the barriers to taking that action.
• The model postulates that health-seeking behaviour is influenced by a person’s perception of a threat posed by a health problem and the value associated with actions aimed at reducing the threat.
• HBM addresses the relationship between a person’s beliefs and behaviors. It provides a way to understanding and predicting how clients will behave in relation to their health and how they will comply with health care therapies.

The Health Belief Model (HBM) served as the core conceptual