Concept of health Biomedical concept “Absence of disease ..., Lecture notes of Public Health

Download Concept of health Biomedical concept “Absence of disease ... and more Lecture notes Public Health in PDF only on Docsity! Concept of health Biomedical concept “Absence of disease” Human body = machine Disease = break down Doctor’s task = repair of machine. Breakdown Body Physician Limitation: it has minimized the role of environmental, social, psychological & cultural determinants of health. Environmental concept Health: is a dynamic equilibrium between man & his environment Disease: maladjustment of the human organisms to the environment. The concept supports the need for clean air, safe water, ozone layer in the atmosphere, etc. to protect us from exposure to unhealthy factors. Psychosocial concept Health is not only a biomedical phenomenon, but also influenced by social psychological, cultural, economic factors of the people concerned. Holistic Concept: Biomedical + ecological + psychosocial It has been defined as multidimensional process involving the well-being of the whole person in his environment. Holistic concept includes that, all sectors of society have an effect on health Definitions of Health 1- WHO definition: (Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity) 2- Oxford dictionary definition: (The state of being free from illness or injury) 3- Webster’s 1913 Dictionary definition: (The state of being hale, sound, or whole, in body, mind, or soul; especially, the state of being free from physical disease or pain) Signs of physical health - A good complexion - A clean skin - Bright eyes - Lustrous hair - Not too fat - A sweet breath 4) Emotional dimension 5) Spiritual dimension 1) Physical dimension Refers to the state of body. Its composition, development, functions and maintenance. 2) Social dimension Building and maintaining satisfying relationships. - Ability to interact with people - Build networks among different kinds of people 3) Mental dimension Mental health is absence of mental illness. Mentally healthy person is: - Free of internal conflicts - Not at war with him self - Well with others - He knows himself, his needs, problems and goals - He has self-control - He faces his problems and tries to solve them 4) Emotional dimension Is ability to accept and cope with our own and others feelings 5) Spiritual dimension Refers to our personal beliefs and values. Health dimensions are like separate pieces that need to be fitted together to make meaning. Definition of Public Health: (The art or process of preventing diseases, prolonging life and promoting health by organized community efforts). Epidemiology: (The study of the distribution and determinants of disease frequency in man). MacMahon 1960 Scope of Public Health In the past, public health was seen as a discipline In the present, public health is seen as a multidisciplinary field The New Public Health (NPH) includes all community and individual activities directed toward - improving the environment, - reducing risk factors Public health focuses on: - social justice , - Populations, - Prevention . social justice: In public health, all individuals in a population should have access to the same health services. Focus on population: - Medicine deals with individual. - Public health focuses on people Focus on prevention: - Medicine focuses on diagnosis and treatment. - Public health focuses on prevention Public Health and community health - Community health deals with local health issues - Public health deals with global health issues Evolution of Public Health 1) Hippocrates The relationship between environment and health. 2) The Romans - public health administration systems - water supply and sanitation systems - medical care system 3) The Middle Ages - Health laws 4) The Renaissance (late 1300s to early 1600s) Sickness: Biological concept of social dysfunction. Disease causation 1- Miasma theory 2- Germ theory 3- Epidemiological triad 4- Multi-factorial causation 1- Miasma theory Inhalation of bad air 2- Germ theory Germ + man sick man + 3- Epidemiological triad Environment Host Agent 4- Multi-factorial theory Agent + other factors = disease Natural History of Disease Is the way in which a disease evolves over time from the earliest stage of its pre-pathogenesis phase to its termination. 1- Pre-pathogenesis phase 2- Pathogenesis phase 3- Termination phase 1- Pre-pathogenesis phase The period before onset of disease (the agent has not yet entered man) 2- Pathogenesis phase This phase begins with entry of agent in man 3- Termination phase The disease usually results in terms of: - Recovery - Death - Disability Responsibility for health Individual responsibility: There are many activities that can be done by individual and contribute to the health. Behaviors related to diet, sleep, exercise, smoking, alcohol, drugs, immunization, seeking and accepting treatment … etc (Self care) Community responsibility: Involvement of community in health programs in all phases Planning, implementation, utilization, evaluation - Human resources (manpower) - Financial resources (money) - Logistic support (Community-based organizations) State responsibility: Includes health services that delivered by governmental organization such as ministry of health, locality International responsibility: United Nations (UN) World Health Organization (WHO) World Food Programme (WFP)