Download What is Public Health?

What is Public Health?
Allyson Hall, PhD
Department of Health Services
Research, Management, and Policy
College of Public Health and
Health Professions
November 28, 2007
WHO’s Definition of Health
HEALTH IS A STATE OF COMPLETE
PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND SOCIAL
WELL-BEING, AND NOT MERELY
THE ABSENCE OF DISEASE OR
INFIRMITY
WHO, 1946
An Ecological Model of
Health

An Ecological Model:
 multiple determinants of health
 linkages and relationships among
determinants are emphasized
Determinants of Population Health: The Ecological
Model
• Psychosocial factors
• Employment status and
occupational factors
• Socioeconomic status
• Natural and built
environments
• Public health and
health care services
Source: Institute of Medicine, 2003
Assumptions about Public
Health
 Public
health problems are multi-
causal
 Personal, group and population
‘behaviors’ are related to public health
problems
 Behaviors are influenced by a wide
range of factors
Public Health’s Mission
Protecting health on a population
level
Social justice emphasis
Health Promotion and
Prevention
Recognized as a means to meet public health
objectives and improve public health
interventions
Concerned with :
 Changing individuals and groups behavior
 Improving their social environment
Health Promotion and Health
Behavior Research and Practice
Strives to:
 Help
people adopt new behaviors
 Help people cease old behaviors
 Reinforce healthy behavior
 Ensure a supportive and healthy
environment
The Fall in the
Standardized Death Rate
(per 1,000) for Nine
Common Infectious
Diseases in Relation to
Specific Medical Measures,
US 1900-1973
Scarlet Fever
Measles
Typhoid
TB
Influenza
Pneumonia
Whooping
Cough
Polio
Diphtheria
Source: McKinlay and McKinlay, 1977
Motor-vehicle related
deaths per 100,000
population and per 100
million vehicle miles
traveled
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention MMWR, 1999
Ten Great Public Health
Achievements – United States,
1900-1999





Control of infectious
disease
Vaccination
Motor-vehicle safety
Safer workplaces
Declines in death from
coronary heart disease
and stroke





Safer and healthier food
Healthier mothers and
babies
Family planning
Fluoridation of drinking
water
Recognition of tobacco
as health hazard
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MMWR, 1999
The Essential Public
Health Services
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Monitor health status to identify community health problems.
Diagnose and investigate health problems and health hazards in the
community
Inform, educate and empower people about health issues
Mobilize community partnerships to identify and solve health problems
Develop policies and plans that support individual and community health
efforts
Enforce laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety
Link people to needed personal health services and assure the provision of
health care when otherwise unavailable
Assure a competent public health and personal health care workforce
Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of personal and
population-based health services
Research for new insights and innovative solution to health problems
Source: Public Health Function Steering Committee
In a nutshell….
Public Health Science
• Defines the problem (the who)
• Identifies risk factors for the disease (the why)
• Develops and implements interventions
• Measures effectiveness
Assessment
Policy
Development
& Program
Implementation
Assurance
Core Public Health Areas
• Epidemiology
• Biostatistics
• Environmental Health
• Health Services Administration/Health Policy
• Social and Behavioral Sciences
The Public Health System
Community
Health care
delivery system
Governmental Public Assuring the Conditions
Health Infrastructure for Population Health
Academics
Source: Institute of Medicine, 2002
Employers &
Business
The Media
The Government Public Health
Infrastructure
•Local Health Departments
• State Health Departments
• Department of Health and Human Services
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• National Institutes of Health
• Health Resources and Services Administration
• Food and Drug Administration
Jobs in Public Health
Health educator
Epidemiologist
Health policy analyst
Community organizer/activist/advocate
Public health department director
Occupational health and safety expert
Food safety expert
Public health lawyer
In conclusion…
There is much work to be
done……
Leading Causes of Death for Males by Race and
Hispanic Origin, United States 2001
All Races
White
Black
All Ages
Diseases of the
heart
Diseases of the
heart
Diseases of the
heart
Diseases of the
heart
1-14
Accidents
Accidents
Accidents
Accidents
15-19
Accidents
Accidents
Homicide
Accidents
20-24
Accidents
Accidents
Homicide
Accidents
25-34
Accidents
Accidents
Homicide
Accidents
35-44
Accidents
Accidents
Diseases of the
heart
Accidents
45-54
Diseases of the
heart
Diseases of the
heart
Diseases of the
heart
Diseases of the
heart
55-64
Cancer
Cancer
Cancer
Cancer
65+
Diseases of the
heart
Diseases of the
heart
Diseases of the
heart
Diseases of the
heart
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Health United States, 2003
Hispanic
Actual Causes of Death in the
United States, 2000
Percent of all deaths
20 18
17
15
10
5
4
3
2
2
1
1
1
0
To
ba
cc
o
Source: Mokdad et al, 2004
Po
o
rD
Al
co
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icr
ob
To
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ho
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iet
ia
ge
la
/P
o
nt
ns
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g
s
e
um
nt
sic
s
pt
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i
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on
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ty
ot
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re
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ici
x
ua
ar
tD
lB
m
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ru
s
eh
hi
gU
av
cle
se
io
s
r
Percent Adult Current Smokers*, by
selected characteristics: United States
1999-2001
35
30
32
27
29
27
26
24
25
18
20
13
15
10
6
5
0
18-24
25-44
45-64
65-74
75+
Below
Poverty
*Smoked at least 100 cigarettes in lifetime and currently smokes
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Health United States, 2003
>= to <2
times
poverty
>=2-<4 < 4 times
times
poverty
poverty
Percent of Women Who Are Overweight*,
by Selected Characteristics: United States
1999-2001
70
59
60
50
40
59
56
55
47
46
51
43
33
30
20
10
0
18-24
25-44
45-64
65-74
75+
Below
Poverty
*BMI greater than or equal to 25
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Health United States, 2003
>= to <2
times
poverty
>=2-<4 < 4 times
times
poverty
poverty
Master of Public Health Program





1 course in each of the 5 core areas of public
health
3-9 courses in a core area of concentration
Public health electives
Internship
Seminar in Contemporary Public Health Issues
Public Health Minor
• Take 15 credits of graduate level courses in senior
year (may start in summer, credits permitting)
• Require 3.0 GPA
• Application process:
–
–
–
–
UF minor application
Transcript
Statement of interest
Turn in to PHHP dean’s office
Combined Degree
• Bachelor’s to Master’s degree – any major
• Use elective credits and take 15 graduate level
public health courses during senior
• 3.2 GPA and GRE
For more information
Contact:
Mischka Garel, MPH
Assistant Director, Student & Academic
Affairs, Public Health Programs
[email protected]