Public Health Lecture Notes

Introduction to Public Health

• Public health significantly impacts population health, making people healthy and saving lives.
• Life expectancy in the U.S. increased by over 30 years from 1900 to 1999, with 25 years attributed to public health interventions.

Definition of Health

• World Health Organization (WHO): Health is defined as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, rather than a mere absence of disease or infirmity."
• Emphasizes the importance of looking beyond diseases to include mental and social aspects of health.

What is Public Health?

• Public health is the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting health through organized efforts of society.

Difference Between Public Health and Clinical Medicine

• Clinical Medicine Focus: Individual health issues (e.g., treating a broken leg).
• Public Health Approach: Holistic view; investigates underlying causes of health issues to prevent future occurrences (e.g., analyzing accident causes).
  • Questions to consider regarding accidents:
    • Vision problems?
    • Knowledge of driving skills?
    • Substance influence?
    • Laws and enforcement?
    • Community attitudes towards driving?
    • Support networks for recovery?
    • Safety of roads and vehicles?
    • Economic factors affecting health access?

Determinants of Health

• Health is influenced by a complex interaction of factors:
  • Individual characteristics
  • Lifestyles and behaviors
  • Physical, social, and economic environments
• Social Determinants of Health: Factors that require action across different areas to improve population health.

Responsibility for Public Health

• Responsibility lies with all sectors of society:
  • Health departments play a central role.
  • Requires coordinated efforts from:
    • Government sectors
    • Private sector
    • NGOs
    • International organizations
    • Communities
• Shared goal: Improve population health.

Core Areas and Framework of Public Health

• Three Core Service Areas:

  1. Protection: Control of infectious diseases, environmental hazards management, healthy workplace, and health emergency management.
  2. Promotion: Improving overall health by promoting health behaviors and social determinants.
  3. Prevention: Preventing health issues through activities like vaccination and screening.

• Enablers for Public Health:

  • Good Governance: Effective policy and administration.
  • Advocacy: Obtaining support for health actions.
  • Capacity: Well-trained public health workforce.
  • Information: Accurate and timely data for decision-making and evaluation.

Conclusion

• The lecture provided an overview of public health, its importance, comparison to clinical medicine, responsibility for public health, and how it operates.