Intro to PH Basic Concepts and Principles_Student_S25

Introduction to Public Health

• Basic Concepts and Principles

• Overview of key topics in public health

Historical Context

• Quote by Herophilus of Chalcedon (335-280 BCE):

  • "When health is absent, wisdom cannot reveal itself..."

Learning Objectives

• Define public health

• Identify Top 10 public health achievements of the 20th and early 21st centuries

• Describe the ecological approach and the interconnectedness of various factors influencing health:

  • Human behavior

  • Genetics

  • Social ecology

  • Physical environment

  • Health care

• Provide examples of determinants of health

• Familiarity with the Health Impact Pyramid

• Explain and exemplify the three types of prevention:

  • Primary, Secondary, Tertiary

• Understand the concept of "Health in All Policies"

Changes in Life Expectancy

Life Expectancy in Historical Context

• In 1900:

  • Male: 46 years

  • Female: 48 years

• In 2000:

  • Male: 77 years

  • Female: 81 years

• ~85% of life expectancy gain attributed to public health advances

Life Expectancy Trends (1970-2022)

• 2022 life expectancy: 77.5 years

• Declining life expectancy in the U.S. (2021) compared to peer countries rebounding

• COVID-19 effects on global life expectancy (2020)

Definition of Public Health

• Public Health:

  • The science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting health through community efforts to ensure adequate living standards necessary for health.

General Purpose of Public Health

• Prevent epidemics and disease spread

• Protect against environmental hazards

• Injury prevention

• Promote healthy behaviors

• Disaster response and community recovery

• Assurance of quality and accessible services

• Focused on population-level prevention

Top 10 Public Health Achievements (1900-1999)

1. Vaccination

2. Motor-vehicle safety

3. Safer workplaces

4. Control of infectious diseases

5. Decreased deaths from heart disease and stroke

6. Safer and healthier foods

7. Healthier mothers and babies

8. Family planning

9. Fluoridation of drinking water

10. Recognition of tobacco as a health hazard

Public Health Achievements (2000-2010)

• Examples include:

  • Vaccine-preventable diseases

  • Tobacco control

  • Cardiovascular disease prevention

  • Cancer prevention

  • Public health preparedness and response

Challenges in Public Health

Complexity of Health

• Defining health is challenging

• Measuring health status is dynamic

• Multiple determinants of health:

  • Social

  • Economic

  • Personal factors

• Divergence of opinions among experts and communities

Ecological Approach to Health

• Layer 0: Fixed determinants (e.g., age, sex, hereditary factors)

• Layer 1: Individual lifestyle factors affecting health

• Layer 2: Social and community networks influencing health

• Layer 3: Living and working conditions affected by various factors

• Layer 4: Broader socio-economic, cultural, and environmental conditions

Promoting Healthy Behaviors

• Strategies to promote health involve:

  • Targeting conditions

  • Reorganizing policies for healthier environments

Determinants of Health

Types of Determinants:

• Policies and interventions

• Behavior

• Physical environment

• Individual and social environment

• Biology

• Access to quality health care

Healthy People 2020

• Focus on Social Determinants of Health (SDoH):

  • Conditions affecting health across the lifespan

Examples of Determinants of Health

• Income, geography, social status

• Education and literacy levels

• Personal health practices and coping skills

• Employment and working conditions

• Social support networks

• Gender, culture, age, and biological factors

Health Impact Pyramid

• Types of Interventions:

  • Socioeconomic factors

  • Changing the context to promote healthy decisions

  • Long-lasting interventions

  • Clinical interventions

  • Counseling and education for behavior change

Types of Prevention

Levels and Goals:

• Primary Prevention: Prevent disease in healthy individuals through health promotion.

• Secondary Prevention: Reduce severity in individuals with early, non-symptomatic disease through screening and diagnosis.

• Tertiary Prevention: Minimize suffering for symptomatic individuals through rehabilitation.

Public Health vs. Medicine

• Public Health focuses on populations and community health.

• Medicine emphasizes individual care and treatment.

Health in All Policies

• Collaborative approach for health promotion across all sectors.

• Considerations at organizational, state/national, and global levels.

References

• List of relevant resources for further reading on public health concepts and achievements.