Basic Concepts of

Community Medicine
By Dr Dolopei
Introduction
Community health is a major field of study within the medical and
clinical sciences

Which focuses on the maintenance, protection, and improvement of

the health status of population groups and communities.

It is a distinct field of study that may be taught within a separate

school of public health.
 Introduction

Community health tends to focus on a defined geographical community

Definition
The specialty which deals with population

Comprises those doctors who try to measure the needs of sick and
healthy

Who plan and administer the service to meet the needs

Who are engaged in research & teaching

Community Medicine
• Successor of the terms:
Hygiene
Public Health
Preventive Medicine
Social Medicine
Community Health (1992)
All share common ground i.e, prevention of diseases & promotion of
Health
Hygiene
Greek word “Hygeia” Goddess of health

Hygeia represents a woman holding bowl in hand & Serpent drinking

from bowl

Serpent testifies the art of healing

Term hygiene was first used by Galen

Public Health by Winslow
Winslow defined it as “The science and art of preventing disease,
prolonging life and promoting health through organized community
efforts

Efforts are - control of infection

- Sanitation
- Health education
- Provision of health care service
Public Health by Winslow in 1920

Deals with maintenance & improvement of sanitation, cleanliness

and personal hygiene

Largely matter of sanitation – like proper disposal of waste, provision

of safe water, safe food, and over-all safe environment
Pioneers in Public Health
James Lind – control trail for scurvy

Edward Jenner – smallpox vaccination

CEA Winslow – defined public health

William Budd – investigated infectious diseases

Robert Koch – understanding of cause/epidemiology

Pioneers in Public Health
“Edwin Chadwick”
-anti-filth crusade
-great sanitary awakening
(Public Health Act (1848))

“John Snow”
-Cause of Cholera outbreaks

“Louise Pasteur”
-Germ theory of Disease (1873)
Preventive Medicine

“Art and science of health promotion and disease prevention”

Preventive medicine is applied to “healthy” people

Its primary objective is prevention of diseases and promotion of

health
Preventive Medicine

Prevention is linked with James Lind and Edward Jenner

Leavell and Clark defined general measures of health promotion

Preventive Medicine

• Vaccination
• Nutritional supplement
• Disinfection
• Insecticide treatment
• Antibiotics
• Screening of diseases
• Control of social factors
Social Medicine

Defined as “The study of man in his social environment and the study
of social factors affecting health and disease”

Jules Gerin – first used the term and, importance of social factors in
the etiology of disease was stressed
Community Medicine

Branch of medicine which deals with the preventive, promotive and

curative services through organized community efforts
Community Medicine
MCI in 1992 recommended this term

Base on the principle………”prevention is better than cure”

Prevention is also:
o Simpler than cure
o Safer than cure
o Cheaper than cure
o Easier than cure
Community Medicine
With advent of epidemiology “PSM” was replaced by “Community
Medicine”

Defined as study of health and diseases in the population of defined

community

Aim is to achieve “Health For All”

“JM Last” defined Community Medicine
with Goals
Study of health and diseases in population of a defined community

Goals are:
o To identify health problems and needs (Community Diagnosis)
o To plan and implement measures (Community health Care/Services)
o To evaluate extent of effectiveness (Health Care Evaluation)
Ultimate Goal of Community Medicine

Ultimate goal of community medicine is:

• To prevent the disease

• To promote the health

• To prolong life
Branches of Community Medicine
Epidemiology
Environmental Health
Rural/Urban Health
Communicable Diseases
Non-communicable diseases
Vital Statistics
Occupational Health
Health Planning and Management