Public Health

Introduction

Public health is the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting human health through organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals. It is concerned with threats to the overall health of a community based on population health analysis1(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1447747/).

A group of diverse individuals participating in a public health campaign.

History

The focus of public health interventions is to prevent and manage diseases, injuries and other health conditions through surveillance of cases and the promotion of healthy behaviors, communities and environments. Its aim is to prevent health problems from happening or re-occurring by implementing educational programs, developing policies, administering services and conducting research2(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK220404/).

Historical image of a public health campaign.

Public Health Practice

In many cases, treating a disease or controlling a pathogen can be vital to preventing it in others, such as during an outbreak. Vaccination programs and distribution of condoms to prevent the spread of communicable diseases are examples of common preventive public health measures, as are educational campaigns to promote vaccination and the use of condoms (including overcoming resistance to such)3(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1449220/).

Healthcare professionals administering a vaccination program.

Public Health Research

Public health research aims to understand the factors that influence public health outcomes and patterns in society. It is a complex field, incorporating many disciplines such as biology, environmental science, social science, and policy studies, among others. The results of public health research are used to inform policy decisions and to develop strategies for improving the health of communities4(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1448524/).

Researchers conducting a public health study.

Public Health Policy

Public health policy refers to decisions, plans, and actions that are undertaken to achieve specific health care goals within a society. An explicit health policy can achieve several things: it defines a vision for the future which in turn helps to establish targets and points of reference for the short and medium term5(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK230711/).

References

1. "Public Health: What It Is and How It Works". ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 2021-04-30. 2. "The Future of Public Health". ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 2021-04-30. 3. "Preventing Chronic Disease: Public Health Research, Practice, and Policy". ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 2021-04-30. 4. "Public Health Research: A Handbook for Researchers". ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 2021-04-30. 5. "Public Health Policy: Issues, Theories, and Advocacy". ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 2021-04-30.