Introduction to Public Health

UNIT 1
 MODULE OVERVIEW
❖ This module is designed to provide foundational knowledge of public health
practices, principles, and systems.
❖ It will equip students with the theoretical and practical frameworks necessary for
understanding the key determinants of health, disease prevention, and health
promotion strategies.
❖ You will develop a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between
population health and global health trends.
 LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course, the student is expected to:

❖ Explain the core concepts of public health and its role in promoting population
health and preventing disease.
❖ Analyze the determinants of health, including social, environmental, and
behavioral factors influencing health outcomes.
❖ Develop public health interventions and strategies that address communicable
and non-communicable diseases in diverse populations.
 COURSE CONTENT
1. Introduction

2. History of Public Health

3. Public Health Approach to Disease Prevention

4. Factors Influencing the Public's Health

5. Health and Society

INTRODUCTION
 Public Health Definition and Key Terms/terminolo
Public Health

❖ The science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting

health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society,

organizations, public and private communities, and individuals.

❖ PH aims to provide maximum benefit for the largest number of people.

Dimensions / Pillars of Public Health

❖ Epidemiology
❖ Biostatistics
❖ Environmental health
❖ Health policy
❖ Health education
❖ Health promotion
❖ Health services.
 Key Terms in Public Health
Access

❖ Potential for or actual entry of a population into the health system.

Assessment

❖ Collecting, analyzing, and using data to educate and mobilize communities,

develop priorities, garner resources, and plan actions to improve public

health.
Behavioral risk factors

❖ These may include behaviors that are believed to cause, or to be contributing

factors to most accidents, injuries, disease, and death.

Community health assessment

❖ Regular and systematic collection, analysis, and making available of

information on the health of a community.

Disease

❖ A state of dysfunction of organs or organ systems that can result in

diminished quality of life.

Determinants of health

❖ Direct causes and risk factors which, based on scientific evidence or theory,
are thought to influence directly the level of a specific health problem.
Epidemic or Outbreak

❖ Occurrence of cases of an illness, specific health-related behavior, or other

health-related event clearly in excess of normal expectancy in a community.

❖ Both terms are used interchangeably; however, epidemic usually refers to a

larger geographic distribution of illness or health-related events.

Epidemiology

❖ The study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or

events in specified populations, and the application of this study to the control

of health problems
Health disparities

❖ Health disparities indicate the difference in the incidence, prevalence,

mortality, and burden of diseases and other adverse health conditions that
exists among specific population groups.

Incidence rate

❖ The number of new events (for example, new cases of a disease) in a defined
population, occurring within a specified period of time.
Prevalence

❖ Prevalence is the proportion of people in a population who have some

attribute or condition at a given point in time or during a specified time period.

Prevention

❖ Prevention means actions that reduce exposure or other risks, keep people
from getting sick, or keep disease from getting worse.
Intervention
❖ An intervention is the act of interfering with a condition to modify it or with a
process to change its course.
Morbidity
❖ Illness or lack of health caused by disease, disability, or injury.
Mortality
❖ A measure of the incidence of deaths in a population.
 Importance of Public Health
❖ Public health improves our quality of life: reduces human suffering and saves

money.

❖ Every day, the public health field is working to prevent hazards and keep

people healthy.
❖ Setting safety standards to protect workers.

❖ Developing school nutrition programs.

❖ Advocating for laws to keep people safe, including smoke-free indoor air and

seatbelts.

❖ Addressing the impact of climate change on our health.

 Core Functions of Public Health

Assessment
❖ The assessment function of public health involves systematically collecting,
analyzing, and disseminating data on the health of a population.
❖ This includes identifying health problems and risks, recognizing determinants
of health, and assessing the availability of health resources.
Policy Development
❖ Policy development in public health entails crafting policies that support the
health of the population.
❖ This involves prioritizing health issues, setting goals, and designing
interventions to address public health challenges.
Assurance
❖ The assurance function ensures that public health services are
accessible, effective, and delivered to those in need.
Research for New Insights
❖ Research is vital to discovering innovative solutions to public health
issues.
 Current Public Health Challenges
Infectious Diseases

❖ Remain a significant public health challenge due to their rapid spread and
potential to cause widespread illness.
❖ Factors such as globalization, urbanization, and climate change can
exacerbate the spread of diseases like COVID-19, influenza, and malaria.
Chronic Diseases

❖ Including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, are leading causes of death
and disability worldwide.
❖ Risk factors such as poor diet, physical inactivity, and tobacco use contribute
to their prevalence.
Health Inequities

❖ Persist as a major public health challenge, with disparities in access to care

and health outcomes influenced by social, economic, and environmental
factors.
❖ Vulnerable populations often face greater health risks due to lack of
resources, discrimination, and barriers to accessing healthcare
Mental Health

❖ Mental health issues are rising globally, with significant impacts on individuals
and societies.
❖ Conditions such as depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders affect
millions and require comprehensive public health responses.
Environmental Health

❖ EH is critical for public health as people are increasingly exposed to

pollutants, hazardous substances, and climate-related risks that impact
well-being.
❖ Key concerns include air and water quality, chemical exposures, and the
health effects of climate change.
Health Systems

❖ Strengthening health systems is vital for effective public health responses and
ensuring that healthcare services are accessible, efficient, and equitable.
❖ Challenges include limited resources, workforce shortages, and inadequate
infrastructure.
 Determinants of Health
❖ Determinants of Health are factors that influence health.

❖ These include social, environmental, behavioral, and political.

❖ Structural determinants of health are sources of health inequity and include

economic and social factors affecting people and communities.

Social Determinants of Health
❖ Social determinants of health (SDOH) are the nonmedical factors that
influence health outcomes.
❖ They are the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, worship,
and a
❖ These conditions can be very different for various population subgroups, and
can lead to disparities in health outcomes.
❖ The experience of such conditions may simply be unavoidably different, in
which case they are considered inequalities, or they may in fact be
unnecessary and avoidable, in which case they are considered inequities and
therefore appropriate targets for policies designed to increase equity.
 Examples of Social Determinants of Health
The following list provides examples of the social determinants of health, which can
influence health in positive and negative ways:

❖ Income and social protection

❖ Education
❖ Employment
❖ Working life conditions
❖ Food security
❖ Housing, basic amenities and the environment
❖ Early childhood development
❖ Access to affordable health services of decent quality.
Environmental Determinants of Health
❖ Environmental determinants of health are factors to which an individual is exposed

in their daily life that negatively affect their health.

❖ These determinants include pollution*, chemicals, water quality, sanitation, extreme

temperatures, infectious diseases, floods and droughts, and microplastics.

❖ The WHO estimates that 13–32% of the global disease burden is attributable to

most of these environmental determinants.

SDGs That Address five Determinants of Health
 Behavioural / Cultural Determinants of Health
❖ Cultural Values

❖ Social Values

❖ Personal Habits

❖ Behavioural Patterns

These are usually learnt through observations (Parents, peers, media etc)
 Political Determinants of Health
❖ The political determinants of health refer to the policies, laws, and political systems that shape

the distribution of power and resources, ultimately impacting public health outcomes.

❖ This concepts encompass the broader socio-political and economic environment in which

people live.

❖ It recognizes that health disparities are often rooted in political decisions that allocate

resources, influence social norms, and create or dismantle systems that either support or

hinder public health.

 Knowing which determinants are key to a given

individual, based on their unique circumstances can

have a significant influence on fostering better health

outcomes.
END OF UNIT 1