UNIT I.

CONCEPTS AND PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC HEALTH

Definition of terms and concepts

Public Health- refers to a group of people living together of all ages faced with a multitude of genetic,
psychological, social and environmental threats to health.

 a group of people sharing the same culture, beliefs, practices and norms.

COMMUNITY- society of people holding common rights and privileges (citizens of a town)

 sharing common interests (community of farmers)

 living under the same laws and regulations (a prison community)
 same subcultures (community of nuns, priests or scholars)
 people living in a locality in which they live.
 A collection of people who share some important feature(s) of their lives in common.
 A group of people who interact with one another and whose common interests or
characteristics form the basis for a sense of unity or belonging.
 Simply stated, a COMMUNITY is an area in which people engage in social interaction and
have one or more common ties or bonds.

Characteristics of a Community

 The POPULATION has certain identifiable characteristics such as AGE and SEX ratios.
 Geographic boundaries- “STRUCTURE” such as a city, town, neighborhood.
 Common INTEREST or GOAL that binds members together.

Characteristics of a Healthy Community

 Awareness that “we are a community”.

 Conservation of natural resources.
 Recognition and respect for the existence of subgroups.
 Participation of subgroups in community affairs.
 Preparation to meet crises.
 Ability to solve problems.
 Communication through open channels.
 Resources available to all.
 Settling of disputes through legitimate means.
 Participation by the people in decision-making.
 Wellness of a high degree among its members.

HEALTH- a state of complete physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being and not merely the absence
of disease or infirmity (WHO 1948)
  The definition reflects concern to the INDIVIDUAL as a TOTAL PERSON functioning physically,
psychologically and socially. Mental processes determine people’s relationship with their
physical and social surroundings, their attitudes about life, and their interaction with others.
 Places health in the context of ENVIRONMENT. People’s lives and therefore their health,
affected by everything they interact with- not only environmental influences such as climate
and the availability of nutritious food, comfortable shelter, clean air to breathe, and pure
water to drink, but also other people, including family lovers, employers, co-workers, friends
and associates of various kinds.
 Equate health with PRODUCTIVE and CREATIVE LIVING. It focuses on the living state rather
than on categories of disease that may cause illness or death.

PUBLIC HEALTH- The science and art of Preventing diseases, Prolonging life, Promoting health and
efficiency through ORGANIZED COMMUNITY EFFORT for the:

 Sanitation of the environment.

 Control of CD (Communicable Diseases)
 Education of individuals in personal hygiene.
 Organization of medical and nursing services for early diagnosis and preventive treatment of
disease.
 Development of social machinery to ensure everyone a standard of living adequate for the
maintenance of health, so organizing these benefits as to enable every citizen to realize his
birth right of health and longevity.
 The field of medicine concerned with safeguarding and improving the health of the
community as a whole.

Scope of Public Health

1. Those fields in which activity must be on community basis.

a) Supervision of food, water, and milk supply in the community.
Ex. Food handlers, licensing, water treatment, inspection of food establishments.
b) Insect control
Ex. Insect eradication thru insecticide sprays.
c) Prevention of atmospheric and stream pollution.
Ex. Policies related to control of pollutants like carbon dioxide from combustion, fumes,
gases, dumping garbage on rivers.
2. Those field which deal with preventable illness, disability or premature death
a) Community diseases including infestation (CCD)
 Control of diarrhea, ARI, TB, etc.
b) Dietary deficiency
 Nutrition program.
c) Effects of addicting drugs and narcotics.
 Rehab of drug dependents
d) Certain mental personality and behavioral disorders
  Psychiatric treatment and counselling.
e) Occupational health
f) Home, community and industrial accidents.
g) Rehab of victims of accidents and diseases.
h) Certain risks of maternity cases growth and development among children (MCH)
i) Cancer (prevention and limitation of progress)
j) CVD and metabolic disorders (prevention and limit progress)
k) Certain hereditary conditions.
l) Dental caries (DH)
3. Those fields of medicine which need organized leadership
a) Facilitation of pre and post grad education.
b) Promo of equitable distribution of personnel and facilities.
c) Assistance in the development and maintenance of the quantity of community resources
and facilities.
4. Research- Scientific investigations and evaluation helps DOH progress and looks into “S”
(strength) and “W” (weakness), established cause and effect of problems.

Priorities in PH
1. The survival of human species.
2. The prevention of conditions which lead to the destruction of retardation of human
function and potential in early years of life.