Concept

of
Health, Well-being and Disease

School of Public Health

(Unit -1, Scientific approach to Public Health – PPT 1 – Concept of

Health, Well-being and Disease)
Objective of the session:
• By the end of the session, students will able to
explain what is health, what is well-being and
what is Disease And its importance for
individual and community
Concept of Health
 Concept of Health
• An understanding of health is the basis of all
health care
• Health is not perceived the same way by all the
members of a community including various
professional groups
• Health has evolved over the centuries as a
concept from an individual concern to a world
wide social goal and encompasses the whole
quality of life
• Over the years changes have been witnessed on
concept of health
 Changing Concepts of Health

Biomedical Concept:
• Health has been viewed as an absence disease,
and if one was free from disease, then the
person was considered healthy
 Changing Concepts of Health Cont…
Ecological Concept:
• Health is viewed as a dynamic equilibrium
between man and his environment and
disease a maladjustment between human and
environment
 Changing Concepts of Health Cont…

Psychosocial Concept:
• Health is influenced by social,
psychological, cultural, economic and political
factors of the people concerned.
• Health i s both a biological and social
phenomenon
 Changing Concepts of Health Cont…
Holistic Concept:
• Holistic approach implies that all sectors of the
society have an effect on health (in particular,
agriculture, animal husbandry, food, industry,
education, housing, environment,
economics, public works and other sectors)
According to you, which concept of health is most
appropriate? Explain.
 WHO Definition of Health

Health is a state of complete physical,

mental and social well-being and not
merely an absence of disease or infirmity
(WHO, 1948)
In recent years, the statement is
amplified to include the ability to lead a
socially and economically productive life.
 Dimensions of Health

• Physical dimension: The state of Physical health

implies the notion of perfect functioning of the body.
It conceptualizes health biologically as a state in which
every cell and every organ is functioning at optimum
capacity and in perfect harmony with rest of the body.
 Dimensions of Health cont...
• Mental dimension: Mental health is a state of well-
being in which an individual realizes his or her own
abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can
work productively and is able to make a contribution to
his or her community.
 Dimensions of Health cont...

• Social dimension: It includes the levels of

social skills one possesses, social functioning
and the ability to see oneself as a member of
a larger society.
 Dimensions of Health cont...
• Spiritual dimension: Part of individual which reaches out
and strives for meaning and purpose in life. It includes
integrity, principles and ethics, the purpose of l i fe,
commitment to some higher being.
• Emotional dimension: focuses on feelings, thoughts and
behavior of individual or groups.
• Vocational dimension: Relates
professions/employment/work and occupational
environment (as one third of the day is spent on jobs/
professional activities…etc.)
Q2: For Interaction: What are the Dimensions of
Health
 New Philosophy of Health
Health is wealth
• Health is a fundamental human right
• Health is essence of productive life
• Health is intersectoral
• Health is an integral part of the develeopement
• Health is central to the concept of quality of life
• Health involves individuals, state,
country and international
responsibility
• Health and its maintenance is a major social
investment
• Health is a worldwide social goal
 Well-being

• Well-being includes the presence of positive

emotions and moods (e.g., contentment,
happiness), the absence of negative emotions
(e.g., depression, anxiety), satisfaction with
life, fulfillment and positive functioning. In
simple terms, well-being can be described as
judging life positively and feeling good.
Concept of Disease
 Concept of Disease
Definition:
• Disease as a condition of the body or some part or organ of the
body in which its functions are disrupted or deranged (Oxford
English dictionary)
• Diseases occurs in mild, moderate and severe form
 Types of Disease
Broadly Diseases are classified into two groups:

1. Communicable Disease
2. Non-communicable Disease
 Communicable Disease
Communicable Diseases: A communicable disease is one that is spread from
one person to another through a variety of ways that include:

A. Direct Transmission:
1. Direct Contact - Scabies
2. Droplet Infection – TB, Covid-19
3. Contact with soil – Parasitic infection (hook worm)
4. Injecting into skin – Hepatitis B, HIV
5. From mother to baby in the womb - HIV

B. Indirect Transmission:
1. Vehicle borne – Cholera, Typhoid (Water and Food)
2. Vector-borne – Malaria, Dengue (through mosquito)
3. Air borne – TB, Measles, Covid -19
4. Fomite borne – Skin disease (through bed-sheet, clothes)
5. Unclean hands and fingers – Typhoid, Dysentery
 Non-communicable Disease
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are medical conditions or
diseases that are not transmitted from one person to another
person.

• These are chronic diseases of long duration, and generally

slow progression.

• These are the result of a combination of genetic,

physiological, environmental, behaviours and lifestyle factors.

• Example: Diabetes, Cardiovascular, Cancers, Chronic

Respiratory illness, Obesity etc. These groups of NCDs are
increasing and require long term treatment and high cost of
treatment.
 Final outcome of Disease

• End Point or Final outcome of Disease:

–Recovery
–Disability
or
–Death
Thanks