PUBLIC HEALTH

• What is Public Health?–Objectives of Public Health.–History of Public Health.–Modern Concept of Public Health

What is Public Health?

• Public Health is “the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals” (1920, C. E. A. Winslow).– Threats to health based on population health

analysis; local area to several continents– Dimensions of health

• Objective:

–Prevent and manage diseases, injuries and other health conditions, through• Surveillance of cases• Promotion of healthy behaviors, communities

& environments

History:

• Modern concept of human development in science– Theory of miasma– Attempts to regulate behaviour that related to

health– Development of public health policies & programs

• Early public health interventions– Proper diversion of human waste (Roman times)– Practice of variolation (1000 BC)

– Practice of vaccination 1820’s (Edward Jenner – treatment smallpox)

– 14th century Black Death in Europe– Medieval period: Quarantine– 1829 – 1851, Cholera pandemic 1st fought by

“Social Medicine” borne of the miasma theory– 1854 Cholera outbreak in London;• Dr. John Snow’s identification of polluted public water

well →Germ theory• 1880s; Modern era with Louis Pasteur’s germ theory

and production of artificial vaccines.

Modern Public Health

• Following Pasteur;– Latrinization, sewers, collection of garbage

(incineration or landfill), clean water, draining stagnant water etc

– Vaccination & immunization (early 20th century)• 20th century;– Chronic diseases & emerging infectious diseases– From 1980s focus shifted from individual

behaviours & risk factors to population-level issues;- inequality, poverty and education.

• Modern Public Health is concerned with addressing the determinants of health across a population.

• Factors affecting health include;– Where we live– Genetics– Income levels– Educational status– Social relationshipsSOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH

New Public Health seeks to address these health inequalities by advocating for population-based policies that improve health in an equitable manner.

• Modern public health incorporates the interdisciplinary approaches of – epidemiology,– biostatistics,– health services,– behavioural science/health education,– environmental health,– emergency medical services,

– Health Economics– International/Global health– Maternal and Child Health/Family Health– Nutrition– Occupational Health– Public Health Laboratory Practice– Public Health Policy– Public Health Practice

• PH practice therefore requires multidisciplinary teams of professionals including … … …