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Public Health

Public health is the science of improving community health through prevention, research, and promotion of healthy lifestyles. It encompasses various disciplines, including epidemiology, environmental health, and health policy, focusing on preventing diseases rather than treating them. Training in public health aims to foster curiosity, initiative, and engagement with decision-makers while grounding approaches in human rights.

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1 views17 pages

Public Health

Public health is the science of improving community health through prevention, research, and promotion of healthy lifestyles. It encompasses various disciplines, including epidemiology, environmental health, and health policy, focusing on preventing diseases rather than treating them. Training in public health aims to foster curiosity, initiative, and engagement with decision-makers while grounding approaches in human rights.

Uploaded by

Noor
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Introduction to Public Health

 Public health is the science of protecting and improving the health of people and
their communities.
 All official or governmental efforts to promote, protect, and preserve the people’s
health.
 This work is achieved by promoting:
» healthy lifestyles
» researching disease
» injury prevention,
» detecting, preventing & responding
to infectious diseases
“The science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health
and efficiency through organized community effort.”
American Biologist -CEA Winslow, 1920
“The process of mobilizing and engaging local, national, and international
resources to assure the conditions in which people can be healthy”
-The Oxford Textbook of Public Health
“The science and practice of protecting and improving the health of the community,
as by preventive medicine, health education, control of communicable diseases,
application of sanitary measures, and monitoring of environmental hazards.”
-The American Heritage Dictionary of Public Health
Public Health is many things
A System
A Profession
A Method
Government Service

The Health of the Public


Public Health Specialist and Clinician
 In the medical field, clinicians treat diseases and injuries of one patient at a time.
 In public health, we prevent disease and injury.
 For example, instead of treating a gunshot wound, we work to identify the causes of
gun violence and develop interventions.
 Instead of treating premature or low birth-weight babies, we investigate the factors
at work and we develop programs to keep babies healthy.
 Instead of prescribing medication for high blood pressure, we examine the links
among obesity, diabetes and heart disease
—and we use our data to influence policy aimed at reducing all three
conditions.
Components of Public health
• Public health is an interdisciplinary field.
• It includes:
» Epidemiology
» Biostatistics
» Management of health services
» Environmental health
» Community & Behavioralhealth
» Health economics
» Public policy
» Mental health
» Occupational safety
» Gender issues in health
» Sexual and reproductive health.
In public health:

 Microbiologists work to find a vaccine for malaria,

 Behavioral scientists research ways to discourage populations from smoking.

 Environmental health scientists work to discover which foods prevent cancer.

 Health policy analysts evaluate health insurance programs and make

recommendations

 Epidemiologists identify trends in health and illness, looking for links, causes and

interventions in areas such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and infant mortality.


Seven goals for public health training
Proposed by Martin McKee, Professor of European Public Health, European Centre on
Health of Societies in Transition.
1. We want to stimulate curiosity
2. We want to produce people who are willing to take the initiative
3. We want to help people to make connections
4. We want to convey the big picture
5. We want people to know what they are up against
6. We must support people to engage with key decision makers on all levels
7. We must ensure that our students’ approaches to public health are firmly grounded
in human rights
WHERE WE ARE STANDING ?🤔🤔🤔

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