HLT 3381 Chapter 1: Community and Public Health: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
31 Jan 2019
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Document Summary
Introduction: many improvements in health since 1900, reduced infant mortality, better family planning. Personal health activities vs. community and public health activities. Individual actions and decision-making that affect the health of an individual or his/her immediate family members or friends: eating wisely, wearing a safety belt, visiting the doctor. Factors that affect the health of a community. In tropical climates, parasitic and infectious diseases are a leading community health problem: poor soil conditions result in inadequate food production and malnutrition. In temperate climates, obesity and heart disease are important community health problems. Social and cultural factors: fast-paced urban life stress-related illnesses, cultural factors arise from guidelines that individuals inherit from being a part of a particular. Isolated rural areas reduced availability or quality of health care society. Politics: politicians can improve or jeopardize the health of their community through the policies they make. Religion: some religious communities limit the type of medical treatment their members may receive.
