Some thoughts early in the morning from sunny South Africa
You ask about whether Health Fairs are 'effective'. It would depend on how you define 'effective'. If you define it as as improved health status then the answer is no because there is evidence that one-off interventions are unlikely to lead to changes in health status. If you define it as increased awareness then the answer is yes as there is evidence of increased awareness of healht issues as a result of this type of intervention - although if designed and presented by 'experts' then they can (and do) reinforce inequity as they advantage the already advantaged!
Check out the following web sites for effectiveness reviews etc.:
The Cambell Collaboration
http://www.campbellcollaboration.org/
NHS Centre for Reviews & Dissemination
http://www1.york.ac.uk/inst/crd/welcome.htm
Cochrane Health Promotion & Public Health Field
http://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/cochrane/
Health Development Agency
http://www.hda-online.org.uk/
Helen A Lewis Apps
PO Box 12616, Onderstepoort, 0110
Cell: 082 338 1433; Tel: +27 12 540 0244
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