MBI 131 What is Public Health

public health

activities or policies meant to positively

impact the health of a human population

Population

a group of individuals identified by at least

one common characteristic

Population health

health status of a defined group of

people

Public health system

the organizations involved in

public health activities

assessment

1. Monitor health status

to identify and solve

community health

problems

2. Diagnose and

investigate health

problems and health

hazards in the

community

policy development

3. Inform, educate, and

empower people

about health issues

4. Mobilize community

partnerships and

action to identify and

solve health problems

5. Develop policies and

plans that support

individual and

community health

efforts

Assurance

6. Enforce laws and

regulations that protect

health and ensure safety

7. Link people to needed

personal health services

and assure the provision

of health care when

otherwise unavailable

8. Assure competent public

and personal health care

workforce

9. Evaluate effectiveness,

accessibility, and quality of

personal and population-

based health services

health

A state of complete

physical, mental, and social well-being, and not

merely the absence of disease and infirmity

disease

Any deviation from a state of health

• Illness

• Injury

• Disability

• Impairment, activity limitation, and/or participation

restriction that occurs as a result

• Death

infection disease

Disruption of a tissue or organ

caused by microbes or microbial products

• Microbes: bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa

• Also can include diseases caused by larger (non-

microbial) parasitic organisms such as worms

and insects

non infectious disease

Disruption of a tissue or

organ caused by agents other than microbes or

microbial products

communicable disease

Disease-causing agent

spreads from one host organism to another

contagious disease

Disease-causing agent

spreads easily from one host to another

non communicable disease

Disease-causing agent

cannot spread from one host to another

acute disease

Develops quickly and lasts a short

time (3 months or less)

chronic disease

Develops slowly and is long-

lasting (3 months or longer, some life-long)

social determinants of health

the nonmedical factors that influence health outcomes

community

a collective body of individuals identified by common characteristics such as geography, interests, experiences, concerns, values, race, ethnicity, or culture

community health

what we as a society do collectively to assure the conditions in which people can be healthy.

global health

a term that describes a health problems, issues, and concerns that transcend national boundaries and places priority on improving health and achieving equity for all people worldwide through cooperative actions and solutions.

personal health activities

individual actions and decision making that affect the health of an individual or their immediate family members or friends.

community and public health activities

activities that are aimed at protecting or improving the health of a population or community