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Health-Definition, Concepts and Dimensions
Health-Definition, Concepts and Dimensions
dimensions
Definition of health
-a state of complete physical, mental and
social wellbeing and not merely an
absence of disease or infirmity and the
ability to lead a socially and
economically productive life
CONCEPTS OF HEALTH
-biomedical concept
-ecological concept
-psychosocial concept
-holistic concept
Biomedical concepts
-traditionally health has been viewed as
absence of disease
-base of this concept is germ theory of
disease (germs cause disease)
-human body is considered as a machine
and disease as a consequence of the
breakdown of the machine and the
doctors task is repair of the machine
-this concept minimized the role of
environmental , social , psychological
and cultural determinants of health
-it is inadequate to solve some of the major
health problems of mankind eg.
malnutrition, accidents, drug abuse etc.
Ecological concept
-health as a dynamic equilibrium between
man and his environment and disease is a
maladjustment of the human organism to
environment
-this concept raises two issues ie imperfect
man and imperfect environment
-human adaptation to his natural
environment can lead to longer life
expectancies and a better quality of life
Psychosocial concept