Public Health Midterm tamu

Public Health

A collective effort to prevent disease, prolong life, and promote health across populations.

Core Values of Public Health

Engagement, equity, and continuous improvement.

Core Public Health Functions

Includes assessment, investigation, communication, mobilization, policy development, service access, workforce development, evaluation, and infrastructure maintenance.

Historical Achievements in Public Health

Successful vaccination campaigns, improved safety, control of infectious diseases, enhanced food safety, improved maternal and infant health, family planning, water fluoridation, and tobacco control.

Leading Causes of Mortality

Shift from infectious diseases to chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer, with the COVID-19 pandemic as a major recent cause.

Determinants of Population Health

Influenced by social, economic, cultural, environmental, behavioral, and biological factors.

Social Ecological Framework

Illustrates how health determinants operate at various levels from individual behaviors to community and policy environments.

Public Health System Infrastructure

Governance shared among federal, state, and local levels, each with distinct roles in health policy and service delivery.

Federal Public Health Agencies

Include CDC, FDA, NIH, SAMHSA, which provide leadership and funding.

Importance of Community Engagement

Effective public health responses require partnerships among government agencies, healthcare providers, community organizations, and the public.

Community Service Initiative Example

Liceria & Co. supports public health by improving the quality of life for hospice and Alzheimer’s patients through various charitable acts.

Multi-faceted Understanding of Public Health

Integrates historical context, foundational principles, systemic infrastructure, and social determinants with active student engagement.