Community Health Nursing (Theory) Lecture Notes PDF

Community Health Nursing (Theory) Lecture One LEARNING OBJECTIVES Upon mastery of this lecture, students should be able to: – Define health and distinguish different aspects of health. – Describe illness and illness classification. – Explain the concept of c...

Community Health Nursing (Theory) Lecture One LEARNING OBJECTIVES Upon mastery of this lecture, students should be able to: – Define health and distinguish different aspects of health. – Describe illness and illness classification. – Explain the concept of community. – Explain types of community. – Define community health. – Describe the factors affecting community health. Health According to world health organization definition health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Total health includes the following aspects: 1. Physical health 2. Social health 3. Mental health 4. Emotional health Illness State of discomfort resulting from disease or injury which impairs the person’s health. – Acute Illness  Illness that develops suddenly  Illness that lasts a short period of time  May lead to long-term problems – Chronic Illness  Illness that comes on slowly  Lasts a long time 1|Page Community Health Nursing (Theory) Lecture One – Terminal Illness  Illness in which there is no potential for cure  Terminal stage of an illness is when a person is approaching death Community A community is a group of people in defined geographical area with common goal and objective that interact with each other. A community is a group of people with common interest, needs, resources, environment and common characteristics. Types of community 1. Geographic Community Community defined by its geographic borders (city, town, village). Geographic community is a society of people holding common rights and benefits. – Geographic community is clear target for analysis health needs – Available data (mortality, morbidity...) can use for planning health programs – Health education efforts easily reached to population (Media campaigns on the importance's of breast feeding) 2. Common-Interest Community Community identified by a common interest or goal. A group of people distributed geographically but have the same interest or goal. (Community of farmers) 3. Community of Solution Community of solution is a group of people who come together to solve a problem that affect all of them. Example (In water pollution problem several region agencies and people must work together to control sources of water supply, industrial waste disposal…) 2|Page Community Health Nursing (Theory) Lecture One Community Health The identification of health needs, protection and improvement of health in a geographically defined area called community health. Factors affecting community health 1) Physical Factors  Industrial development  Community size  Environment  Geography 2) Social /Cultural Factors  Beliefs, Traditions, Social Norms  Economy, Politics, Religion  Socioeconomic Status 3) Community Organization  Ways in which communities organize their resources;  Tax vs. Non-tax supported services 4) Individual Behaviors Individual behaviors have the great effect on community to work voluntary programs. 3|Page