Introduction to Public Health PDF

TREATMENT OF DISEASE PREVENTION OF DISEASE  OVERVIEW OF PUBLIC HEALTH HEALTH ⦿ “is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity,” (WHO, 1995) PUBLIC HEALTH ⦿ “is the science and art of preventing disease, prolon...

TREATMENT OF DISEASE PREVENTION OF DISEASE  OVERVIEW OF PUBLIC HEALTH HEALTH ⦿ “is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity,” (WHO, 1995) PUBLIC HEALTH ⦿ “is the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, promoting health and efficiency through organized community effort for the sanitation of the environment, control of communicable diseases, the education of individuals in personal hygiene,  CURATIVE VS. PREVENTIVE NONCOMMUNICABLE VS. COMMUNICABLE EVOLUTION OF PUBLIC HEALTH (a.k.a. Community MEDICINE; Community HEALTH) ⦿ Late 19th Century: a package of sanitary and industrial safety measures Services: Assurance of safe water supply Sanitary disposal of waste Clearance of slums Improving the work environment and working conditions of industrial workers ⦿ Early 20th Century: inclusion of measures for prevention of communicable diseases Services: Immunization: cholera, smallpox, rabies, typhoid, anthrax, etc. Control of vectors and reservoirs of infection ⦿ 1920: full spectrum of preventive and promotive services were incorporated Services: ⚫ Maternal and child health ⚫ Family planning ⚫ School health ⚫ Nutrition promotion ⚫ Mental health ⚫ Health education ❖ Primary health centers and subcenters were constructed to provide the health services mentioned. ⦿ Early 1960’s: education of the public not to take risky lifestyles was included upon realization of the role of risk factors such as sociocultural and behavioral factors in the causation of non-communicable diseases particularly chronic degenerative disease like hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, cancers, ulcerative colitis, etc. ⦿ 1981: putting health care/services in the hands of every person regardless of nationality, caste, creed, educational status and economic stature in order for him/her to enjoy a level of health that would enable him/her to lead a socially and economically productive life Other Terminologies Synonymous with Public Health ▪ Hygiene ▪ Preventive Medicine ▪ Social Medicine ▪ Community Medicine ▪ Community Health  Roles of Medical Technologists in Public Health ⦿ Health Programs/Projects Field Coordinator ⦿ Health Programs/Projects Monitoring Officer ⦿ Health Programs/Projects Evaluation Officer ⦿ Field Epidemiologist (outbreak investigation; contact tracing; surveillance) ⦿ Sanitary Inspector ⦿ Quality Control/Assurance Officer for Pharmaceutical products, test kits/materials and other biological agents ⦿ Health Education and Promotion Officer ⦿ Academician ⦿ Researcher ⦿ Clinical Laboratory Scientist in Public Health Lab ⦿ Infection Control Officer Approaches in Public Health ⦿ Biostatistics ⦿ Epidemiology ⦿ Health Policy ⦿ Public Health Promotion and Education ⦿ Microbiology ⦿ Parasitology ⦿ Nutrition ⦿ Environmental and Occupational Health PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES