Principles of community

health
Dr. Kakande Elijah
Department of Public Health
Definitions
• Community
A group of people that may or may not be spatially connected, but who
share common interests, concerns or identities.
• Health
A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not
merely the absence of disease or infirmity."
• Community Health
environmental, social, and economic resources to sustain emotional
and physical well being among people in ways that advance their
aspirations and satisfy their needs in their unique environment
Definitions
Health Protection;
Preservation of individuals, groups and populations from single cases of
infectious disease, incidents and outbreaks, and non-infectious
environmental hazards such as chemicals and radiation. ;
Health Promotion;
“Health promotion is the process of enabling people to increase control
over, and to improve their health
Components of Community Health

Components of community Health

1. Primary Health Care and primary

prevention
2. Secondary Health Care and
secondary prevention
3. Tertiary Health Care
Components of community health
Primary Health Care
• An approach to health focused on;
• The whole of society
• Centered on the needs and preferences of individuals, families, and
communities
• Broad span from promotion, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and
palliative care
• As close as feasible to people’s everyday environment
Primary prevention
 Early avoidance and identification of risk factors that may lead to certain
diseases and disabilities e.g Immunization
Components of community health
• Secondary prevention
Refers to improvements made in a patient's lifestyle or environment
after the onset of disease or disability. E.g Lifestyle modifications
among Diabetic patients, breast self examination, screening for high
blood pressure.
• Tertiary prevention
Preventive measures aimed at rehabilitation following significant illness
-Retrain, re-educate, rehabilitate
Why community health is so important
• It brings the greatest health benefits to the greatest number of
people. 
• It helps to reduce health gaps caused by differences in income,
education, race and ethnicity, location and other factors that can
affect health
Core functions of Public Health
Core functions of public health
Core functions of public health continued
Question
• How do we measure Health?