PUBHLTH 1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Orthohantavirus, Prostate Cancer, Malaria
Document Summary
Science is how we understand threats to health, determine what interventions might work, and evaluate whether the interventions worked. Politics is how we as a society make decisions about what policies to implement. Example: tobacco- lung cancer/ policy of non-smoking area. Epidemiology ( epidemics/obesity, prostate cancer in western countries and asia), new diseases. Statistics (calculate risks, testing the new drug) Aims to control spread of infectious diseases. Seeks causes of chronic disease and ways to limit harmful exposures. These numbers are diagnostic tools for the health of the community. The science of statistics is used to calculate risks, benefits. Behavior is now the leading factor in affecting people"s health. Theories of health behavior: social environment affects people"s behavior. Major health threats: tobacco, poor diet and physical inactivity, injuries. Maternal and child health a social issue. Role of medical care in public health. Cost of medical care in u. s. is out of control.
