PublicnHealth 1: Issues & Priorities

Question 1

What is the definition of Public Health?

Answer 1

The art and science of preventing disease, promoting health and prolonging life through organised efforts of society.

Question 2

What is public health?

Answer 2

Interventions aimed at protecting promoting the health of a population.
Organized community efforts aimed at the prevention of disease and promotion of health.
Multi-disciplinary - everyone has a role.

Question 3

Public health Issues

Answer 3

Prevention of disease

• Prevention of disease
• Direct and indirect protection, Herd Immunity
• Uptake rates crucial
• Communiable disease majr killer in developing countries.
• Many millions of deaths are preventable
• Political/Economic barriers

Question 4

Outbreaks e.g. Influenza

Answer 4

• 1918”Spanish” Flu epidemic
• c50 million people died of the disease
• 500 million, or 1/3 were infected.
• If the same proportion of the world’s population (3%) died now, there would be 210 million deaths worldwide.
• Surveillance
• Sharing of information
• Emergency response plans
• Vaccines
• Treatments
• Communications

Question 5

HIV/AIDS

Answer 5

• Global epidemic slowing
• Improved prevention interventions
• Targetted ART - e.g. vertical Tx
• High risk areas remain
• Transmission routes vary
• Antibodies
• Vaccines

Question 6

Screening Programmes

Answer 6

Pick up disease before symptoms present
Identify risk factors
Identify high risk groups
Give preventative treatment
Intervene early
Reduce morbidity and morality

Question 7

Malaria

Answer 7

20% of childhood deaths in Africa

1 child dies every 30 seconds

Question 8

What do we d about it?

Answer 8

Educate people
Regulate threats
Prevent risk and disease

Question 9

Educate People

Answer 9

Programmes in schools

TV and press advertising, for example

Question 10

Defining nutrient requirements for health

Answer 10

Intake of a nutrient:

• Needed to maintain a given circulating level or tissue concentration
• Needed by individuals/groups which are associated with the absence of any deficiency signs
• Needed to maintain balance
• Needed to cure clinical deficiency signs
• Associated with an appropriate biological markers of nutrient adequacy