Unit 6
Introduction to Public Health
Definitions
- Public Health
- The science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting
health and efficiency through organized community effort
- Epidemiology
- The study of the distribution and determinants of disease frequency
in human populations
Ecological Approach
- Environment <--> Individuals
- Environmental conditions affect health conditions
- Public health programs must address environment
What is Health?
- Definition has evolved over time
- Various dimensions/components
- World Health Organization: 1940’s
- Health is not merely the absence of disease but the state of complete
physical, mental and social well-being.
Key Components of Health
- physical (body function structure)
- intellectual (thinking)
- psychological (feelings)
- social (interacting)
- spiritual (connecting)
- environmental
What is Wellness?
- Active process of becoming aware and making choices for a healthier
life
- Illness-wellness continuum
- [Diagram]
- From premature death to optimal health
Benefits of Wellness
- decreased morbidity
- decreased mortality
Leading Causes of Death
- All Ages and Ethnic Groups
- Coronary Heart Disease
- Cancer
- Stroke
- College-Age
- Accidents
- Homicide
- Suicide
Underlying Causes Of Death
- Physical inactivity
- Unintentional injury
- Poor diet
- Obesity
- Tobacco use
- Sexual behavior
- Stress
Behavior Change: Transtheoretical Model
- Stages of change
- Pre-contemplation
- Contemplation
- Preparation
- Action
- Maintenance
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