HMS Focus Area 1: Health for Individuals and Communities

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering health concepts, dimensions, epidemiology, social justice principles, determinants of health, skills for strengthening individuals, advocacy, organisations, health promotion models, and the Sustainable Development Goals.

World Health Organization (WHO) definition of health

A state of complete, physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

Physical dimension of health

The well-being of your body meaning it functions properly and is free from illness or injury.

Mental dimension of health

Refers to your emotional and psychological well-being including thinking, feeling, and behaving, which affects how you relate to others and make choices.

Emotional dimension of health

Refers to your ability to understand, manage, and express your feelings.

Spiritual dimension of health

Refers to having a sense of purpose, meaning, and connection in life, often related to personal beliefs.

Social dimension of health

Refers to the ability to form and maintain healthy relationships with others, as well as effectively communicate and interact in social settings.

Health continuum

A model that represents a spectrum of health ranging from illness to optimal well-being, acknowledging that health is a dynamic process rather than a static state.

Epidemiology

The study of how often diseases occur in different groups of people and why, providing information on the health status, incidence, prevalence, and patterns of disease in a population.

Mortality

Typically measures the number of people within a specified population that dies in a given year, represented per 100,000 of the population.

Infant mortality

The number of deaths of children under one year of age.

Morbidity

Having a disease or a symptom of disease, or the amount of disease within a population.

Incidence

The rate of new cases or events over a specified period for the population at risk for the event (how many people get the disease over a certain period).

Prevalence

The proportion of a population who have a specific characteristic in a given time period, or the percentage with the disease in the population at risk (how many people have the disease now).

Health promotion

A process that empowers individuals and communities to take control of their health and improve their well-being.

Social justice principles

Principles (Participation, Equity, Access, Rights) that aim to reduce or eliminate inequality, foster inclusivity and diversity, and create supportive environments for individuals.

Participation (Social justice principle)

Involvement in decisions; seeks to shift power imbalances within society through giving voice to weak or marginalised groups.

Equity (Social justice principle)

Recognises that each person has different circumstances and allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome.

Access (Social justice principle)

Permission, liberty, or ability to enter, approach, or pass to and from a place or to approach or communicate with a person or thing, including access to education, healthcare, shelter, and food.

Rights (Social justice principle)

Legal and human entitlements ensuring the protection of everyone's civil, political, economic, cultural, and social rights, such as the right to life, food, housing, education, privacy, and access to information.

Determinants of health (SHEBB)

The 5 categories of factors identified by the AIHW that determine health status: Socioeconomic characteristics, Health behaviours, Environmental factors, Biomedical factors, and Broad features of society.

Socioeconomic characteristics (Determinant of health)

Factors including SES, education, employment, cultural background, disability, social networks, social expectations and attitudes, cultural traditions, and media.

Health behaviours (Determinant of health)

Individual beliefs and actions such as smoking, alcohol, drugs, physical activity, diet, and sexual practices.

Environmental factors (Determinant of health)

Factors including geographic location, quality of air and water, safe workplaces, community safety, and access to physical resources within a community.

Biomedical factors (Determinant of health)

Factors related to genetics, blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol levels, and physical impairment.

Broad features of society (Determinant of health)

Broad societal aspects including culture, affluence, social cohesion, social inclusion, political structure, media, and language.

Culture

The ideas, behaviours, and socially accepted norms of a group of people.

Self-efficacy

A person's confidence in their ability to manage tasks, emotions, behaviour, and motivation.

Health literacy

The ability to understand and interpret health information and use it to promote and maintain good health.

Resilience

The ability to cope with life's ups and downs, which directly influences an individual's level of health.

Ethical behaviour

Acting in ways that are consistent with what society and individuals typically think are good values.

Advocacy

The process of arguing in support of a cause or position or acting on behalf of yourself or another individual to ensure that your or others' best interests are taken into account.

Government organisations

Agencies or bodies that are part of the government at various levels (local, state, or federal) responsible for implementing laws, regulations, and public policies.

Non-government organisations

Independent, typically non-profit groups that operate separately from the government to work towards specific social, environmental, or humanitarian goals.

Communities

Groups of people who live in the same areas or share common interests, values, or goals.

Office of the Advocate for Children and Young People (ACYP)

A NSW government organisation that advocates for youth rights and wellbeing, promotes youth participation in decision-making, and advises on youth policy.

National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO)

A national non-government organisation that supports ACCHOs, advocates for culturally safe healthcare, influences national health policy, and builds the Indigenous health workforce.

Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA)

A national non-government organisation that represents youth with disability, advocates for inclusive education and services, provides policy advice, and supports youth-led advocacy.

Biomedical model of health

An approach to health that focuses on treating illness but does not consider social or lifestyle factors much.

Sociocultural model of health

An approach to health that looks at how culture, society, and environment affect health, involving communities in health programs.

Salutogenic model of health

An approach to health that focuses on what keeps people healthy and builds their ability to cope with problems.

Ecological model of health

An approach to health that considers how individual, family, community, and society all affect health together.

Ottawa Charter action areas

The five key areas for health promotion: Developing personal skills, Creating supportive environments, Strengthening community action, Reorienting health services, and Building healthy public policy.

Five Ps of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The main focus areas of the SDGs: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnership.