Chapter 5

Question 1

What is old public health strategy?

Answer 1

They were government actions that focused on changing the physical environment to prevent the spread of disease, such as providing safe water, sanitation and sewage disposal,, improved housing conditions and better work conditions.

Question 2

New Public health:

Answer 2

an approach to health that expands the traditional focus on individual behaviour change to one that considers the ways in which physical, sociocultural and political environments impact on health. Also referred to as the social model of health.

Question 3

The biomedical model of health

Answer 3

focuses on the physical or biological aspects of disease and illness. It is a medical model practised by doctors and health professionals and is associated with the diagnosis, treatment and cure of disease.

Question 4

Advantages of biomedical model of health

Answer 4

• It enables many common conditions, illnesses, injuries to be quickly and effectively treated(e.g. the common flu through medication and antibiotics).
• It creates the opportunity for advancements in technology and research. Without the biomedical model, there would be no x-rays, anesthetics, and therefore little knowledge about how to actually treat and diagnose diseases.

Question 5

Disadvantages of biomedical model of health

Answer 5

• It relies on health professionals and technology which can be costly this means that smaller, rural- based health clinics may not be able to afford medical technology and resources.
• it does not focus on the underlying causes of ill health and does not encourage people to be responsible for their own health.

Question 6

The social model of health

Answer 6

A conceptual framework that recognises improvements in health and wellbeing can only be achieved by directing effort towards addressing the physical, sociocultural and political environments that have an impact on individuals and population groups health

Question 7

Advantages of the social model of health

Answer 7

• As the social model of health doesn’t just focus on the diseases once symptoms are present ,it encourages people to make better choices and take care of their health to prevent the onset of disease.
• Education (in particular health literacy) can be passed on from generation to generation.
• It focuses on the vulnerable population groups (indigenous, low SES and rural) and aims to reduce social inequalities in the long term rather than just a ‘quick fix’.

Question 8

Disadvantages of the social model of health

Answer 8

• Not every condition can be prevented (e.g. genetic conditions).
• It does not promote the development of technology and medical knowledge

Question 9

Differences b/w biomedical and social model of health?

Answer 9

focuses on the physical or biological aspects of disease and illness. It is a medical model practised by doctors and health professionals and is associated with the diagnosis, treatment and cure of disease.

A conceptual framework that recognises improvements in health and wellbeing can only be achieved by directing effort towards addressing the physical, sociocultural and political environments of health that have an impact on individuals and population groups.

Focuses on the individual and attempts them to return to pre-illness state and is concerned with the condition itself .
Focuses on the community and preventing illness in the community and is concerned with the influences and underlying causes for ill health(rather than condition itself).