Commuity Health Chapter 1

Communicable diseases

Diseases that can be transmitted from one person to another or through other infectious sources.

Importance of addressing infectious diseases

They remain a major problem, especially in low-income countries, where prevention, sanitation, healthcare, and resources may be limited.

Three major communicable diseases

Malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis.

Respiratory infections

Infections that affect the respiratory system and can spread between people.

Malaria

A communicable disease that is especially common in many low-income regions and can cause serious illness and death.

HIV

A communicable viral infection that can lead to serious health problems and can be transmitted between people.

Tuberculosis

A communicable disease caused by bacteria that can especially affect the lungs and spread between people.

Public health concerns related to unsafe water

Unsafe water can cause disease and death.

Public health concerns related to poor sanitation

Poor sanitation can contribute to the spread of disease and can lead to illness and death.

Why children are vulnerable to unsafe water

Children are especially vulnerable to diseases and health problems caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation.

Basic health needs related to sanitation

Safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene.

Importance of safe drinking water

Safe drinking water helps prevent disease and is a basic health need.

Importance of sanitation to public health

Good sanitation helps prevent the spread of disease and protects communities from illness.

Importance of hygiene to public health

Good hygiene helps prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

What hunger includes

Hunger includes insufficient food and poor nutrition.

Malnutrition

Poor or inadequate nutrition caused by not getting enough food or not getting the nutrients the body needs.

Relationship between hunger and malnutrition

Insufficient food and poor nutrition can lead to hunger and malnutrition.

Who is vulnerable to hunger and malnutrition

Children are especially vulnerable.

Impact of malnutrition on children

Malnutrition contributes to childhood deaths and can seriously affect children's health and development.

Why hunger is a public health concern

Insufficient food and poor nutrition can cause serious health problems and contribute to deaths, especially among children.

Migration

The movement of people from one place to another, often across communities, regions, or countries.

Events causing migration

War, persecution, conflict, and disasters can displace millions of people.

Effects of war on public health

War can displace people, destroy communities and healthcare resources, and make it difficult for people to access healthcare.

Effects of persecution on public health

Persecution can force people to leave their homes and may make it difficult for them to access healthcare and other resources.

Effects of conflict on public health

Conflict can displace millions of people and disrupt healthcare and community resources.

Effects of disasters on public health

Disasters can displace people, damage infrastructure, and make access to healthcare and basic resources more difficult.

How migration affects healthcare access

Refugees and migrants may have difficulty accessing healthcare.

Health challenges faced by refugees and migrants

Difficulty accessing healthcare and increased pressure on health systems and community resources.

Factors affecting health

Physical, social, cultural, environmental, and behavioral factors.

Physical factors affecting health

Physical characteristics of a person's environment or geography that can influence health.

Geographic factors affecting health

Altitude, climate, and latitude.

Social factors affecting health

Social conditions and relationships within a community that can influence people's health and access to resources.

Cultural factors affecting health

Culture can influence beliefs, behaviors, traditions, and attitudes toward health and healthcare.

Environmental factors affecting health

The physical environment can expose people to conditions that either support or harm their health.

Behavioral factors affecting health

Individual behaviors and lifestyle choices that can influence health outcomes.

Importance of religion on health

Religion can influence health positively or negatively, depending on beliefs and practices.

Public health definition

The field focused on protecting and improving the health of populations and communities.

Public health focus

Protecting populations and preventing disease and health problems.

Public health vs. individual treatment

Public health focuses on protecting populations rather than only treating individual patients.

Examples of public health measures

Sanitation, vaccination, germ theory, and organized health programs.

How does sanitation improve public health?

It reduces exposure to harmful organisms and helps prevent disease.

Role of vaccinations in public health

Vaccinations help prevent infectious diseases and reduce their spread through populations.

Importance of germ theory in public health

It established that microorganisms can cause disease, leading to better prevention and treatment methods.

Organized health programs

Programs organized to protect and improve the health of populations and communities.

Major current public health concerns

Chronic disease, environmental problems, substance abuse, and disasters.

Chronic diseases

Long-lasting health conditions that often require ongoing management.

Environmental health problems

Health problems caused or influenced by harmful conditions in the environment.

Substance abuse

The harmful or problematic use of substances that can negatively affect health and communities.

Why are disasters a public health concern?

They can cause injuries, illness, displacement, and disrupt healthcare.

Major global public health problems

Unsafe water, hunger, poor sanitation, and migration.

Main purpose of public health

To protect populations and prevent disease and health problems.

Three examples of public health improvements

Sanitation, vaccination, and germ theory.

Edward Jenner

Scientist who created the first vaccination for smallpox.

Louis Pasteur

Scientist who helped prove the germ theory of disease.

Robert Koch

Scientist who linked specific bacteria species to specific diseases.

John Snow

Scientist who investigated a cholera epidemic in London.

Major public health accomplishment in the 1960s

Passing Medicaid and Medicare to provide health insurance to poor and elderly Americans.

Function of the CDC

Tracks diseases and helps guide mitigation and public health efforts.

Function of the FDA

Regulates foods and medications to ensure their safety for human use.

21st-century public health concerns

Exploding healthcare costs, decreasing vaccination rates, and increases in lifestyle-related diseases.

Lifestyle diseases

Diseases influenced by behaviors and lifestyle factors such as alcohol use, tobacco use, and poor diet.

Why are increasing lifestyle diseases a public health concern?

They can cause serious health problems and affect large numbers of people.

Why are healthcare costs a public health concern?

Exploding healthcare costs can reduce affordability and accessibility.

Why are decreasing vaccination rates a public health concern?

Lower vaccination rates can hinder the prevention of vaccine-preventable diseases.

Main categories of factors affecting health

Physical, social, cultural, environmental, and behavioral factors.

Differences between physical and behavioral factors

Physical factors relate to the environment, while behavioral factors involve individual actions.

Differences between environmental and social factors

Environmental factors involve the physical surroundings; social factors involve community relationships.

How public health prevents communicable diseases

Through sanitation, vaccination, hygiene, safe water, disease tracking, and organized health programs.

Why sanitation is a public health measure

It reduces exposure to disease-causing organisms.

Why vaccination is a public health measure

It helps protect individuals and populations from infectious diseases.

Why germ theory is important to public health

It improved understanding and prevention of infectious diseases.

Impact of unsafe water on health

Unsafe water can contain pathogens that cause serious illness.

Why children are vulnerable to poor nutrition

Children are still growing and vulnerable to inadequate nutrition effects.

Effects of war and disasters on healthcare access

They can displace people and damage healthcare infrastructure.

Impact of migration on community resources

Migration can place pressure on healthcare systems and other community resources.

Relationship between migration and health

Migrants may face difficulties accessing healthcare, impacting health systems.