HHD: AOS 3 SAC 3

Prevalent diseases common 1900s

• Infectious diseases: Microorganisms, such as Bacteria, Viruses and Parasites.

• Parasitic diseases: Parasites, such as worms enter body through contact, contaminated food/ water.

• Cancer

• Cardiovascular disease

• Respiratory diseases

• Injury/ Poisoning

Reasons as to why mortality has declined

• Control of Infectious diseases

• Better Hygiene

• Improved Nutrition

• Higher Vaccine Rate

• Public Health: Ways in which government monitors, regulates, and promotes health status/ Diseases

Old Public Health (1900s - 1950s)

Refers to government actions that focused on changing the physical environment to prevent the spread of disease.

• Mass immunisation programs

• Improved water/ sanitation (eliminating contact between humans and hazardous waste)

• Better quality housing and fewer slums

• Better quality food/ Nutrition

• Safer working conditions

Health Promotion

Process of enabling people to increase control over, and improve their health.

• Designed to bring about individual behaviour change by creating awareness of ill health.

Biomedical approach to health (1900s - present day)

Focuses on physical/ biological aspects of disease and illness. Practised by doctors/ health professionals and is associated with diagnosis, treatment, cure.

• Focuses on individuals who are ill

• Relies on services by doctors, and technologies to diagnose, treat, cure.

• Quick fix approach: does not educate/ address reasons for illness

Strengths of Biomedical approach to health

Improved quality of life/ HALE: Chronic conditions can be managed with medications, therapy, surgery, reducing pain and suffering.

Increased Life expectancy: Causes of death common in past such as infectious diseases, can now be treated/ cured, increasing life expectancy

Limitations of Biomedical approach to health

Not always affordable: Not everyone can afford medical technologies/ resources apart of biomedical approach.

Not every Condition can be treated: Individuals may rely on biomedical approach to restore optimal H&W, yet experience conditions that cannot be cured/ treated effectively.

• Example: cancer has treatments available, sometimes no cure.

Social model of health (1975 - present day)

Approach that recognises improvements in health and wellbeing can only be achieved by directing effort towards addressing physical, sociocultural, and political environment.

• Key aspects = Policies, educations and health promotion

Strengths of social model of health

Focuses on vulnerable population groups: Promoting equity. Disadvantaged groups = target of health promotion programs etc, Indigenous Peoples.

Education can be passed on: Uses education to enhance H&W, knowledge can be passed onto future generations.

Limitations of social model of health

Health promotion messages may be ignored: Relies on public corporation. If people ignore health message H&W may not improve.

Not promote development of medical technology/ knowledge: Focuses on broader determinants of H&W, not promoting medical advancements.

Ottawa Charter for health promotion

Approach to health developed by World Health Organisation (WHO), that aims to reduce inequalities in health.

1: Build Healthy Public Policy (Ottawa Charter)

Implement Laws/ Policies that make it more difficult for people to undertake unhealthy behaviours, and seek to make healthier choices the easier choices.

• etc. Removing GST on unprocessed food to make it cheaper

• Increase tax on alcohol/ cigarettes.

2: Create Supportive Environments (Ottawa Charter)

Aims to promote a healthy physical and socio cultural environment for all members of the community.

• etc. Ensuring smoke free environments

• Providing shaded areas in school playgrounds/ outdoor areas (reduce UV exposure)

3: Strengthen Community Action (Ottawa Charter)

Building links between individuals, the community, and centres around the community, working together to achieve a common goal.

• etc. Immunisation programs that involve media, doctors,schools, and parents to increase immunisation rates amongst children.

4: Develop Personal Skills (Ottawa Charter)

Increasing health knowledge/ skills, so they have increased capacity to make choices regarding their health, allowing them to perform health promoting behaviours.

• etc. Community health centre running cooking classes

• Quit campaign, educating people of harmful effects of smoking.

5: Reorient Health Services (Ottawa Charter)

Changing the health system so that it promotes H&W, rather than just focusing on diagnosing, and treating illness.

• etc. Doctors focusing on discussion around healthy eating, rather than just medication, surgery.