Lesson Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:

1. Define public health and explain its importance.

2. Describe the core functions of public health.

3. Explain the difference between public health and clinical medicine.

4. Identify major determinants of health in populations.

Key Content

1. Definition of Public Health

• WHO Definition: Public health is “the art and science of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting health through organized efforts of society.”

• Focuses on populations, not individual patients.

2. Core Functions of Public Health

• Assessment: Monitor health status to identify problems.

• Policy Development: Create policies that support population health.

• Assurance: Ensure access to health services and programs.

3. Difference Between Public Health & Clinical Medicine

4. Determinants of Health

• Biological Factors – genetics, age, gender.

• Behavioral Factors – lifestyle, diet, physical activity.

• Social Factors – education, income, cultural practices.

• Environmental Factors – clean water, sanitation, pollution.

5. Public Health Achievements

• Immunization programs.

• Control of infectious diseases.

• Improved maternal and child health.

• Safe food and water systems.

Summary
Public health is concerned with the health of entire populations, aiming to prevent illness and promote well-being through organized, community-wide efforts. Unlike clinical medicine, which treats individuals, public health emphasizes prevention, policy, and health promotion.

Video provides a powerful way to help you prove your point. When you click Online Video, you can paste in the embed code for the video you want to add. You can also type a keyword to search online for the video that best fits your document. To make your document look professionally produced, Word provides header, footer, cover page and text box designs that complement each other.

For example, you can add a matching cover page, header and sidebar. Click Insert, then choose the elements you want from the different galleries. Themes and styles also help to keep your document coordinated. When you click Design and choose a new Theme, the pictures, charts and SmartArt graphics change to match your new theme.

When you apply styles, your headings change to match the new theme. Save time in Word with new buttons that show up where you need them. To change the way a picture fits in your document, click it and a button for layout options appears next to it. When you work on a table, click where you want to add a row or a column, then click the plus sign.

Reading is easier, too, in the new Reading view. You can collapse parts of the document and focus on the text you want. If you need to stop reading before you reach the end, Word remembers where you finished – even on another device. Video provides a powerful way to help you prove your point.

When you click Online Video, you can paste in the embed code for the video you want to add. You can also type a keyword to search online for the video that best fits your document. To make your document look professionally produced, Word provides header, footer, cover page and text box designs that complement each other. For example, you can add a matching cover page, header and sidebar.

Review Questions

1. 1. Define public health and explain its primary focus.

   2. List and explain the three core functions of public health.

   3. Give two differences between public health and clinical medicine.

1. Identify three determinants of health and give an example for each.