Read the module homepage and required readings. Read through this assignment, including the instructions and the Assignment Expectations before writing your paper.
Module Overview
Foundations of Public Health from Past to Present
Public Health is a multidisciplinary science and art that can be defined in many ways. In this course we will explore several aspects – the discipline of preventing and controlling disease, promoting health, and extending longevity. We will also examine the roles of public health practitioners.
We should take a moment to ask ourselves, “why is this course important”? According to The National Academies, “all undergraduates should have access to education in public health” (Gebbie et al., 2003; Riegelman et al., n.d.). And according to the Institute of Medicine (IOM), maintaining public health requires both a well-educated public health workforce and an educated citizenry. Developing a solid foundation in public health will allow you to effectively explore areas such as health care management, epidemiology, health education, and environmental health from a scholarly perspective.
Defining Public Health
While there is no single, universally accepted definition of public health, The Institute of Medicine defines public health in terms of its mission, substance, organizational framework, and its core functions. For example, the mission of public health involves “fulfilling society’s interest in assuring conditions in which people can be healthy” (IOM, 1988).
The World Health Organization defines Public Health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being” (Andresen & Bouldin, 2010).
Something to think about: how do these definitions align? How would you personally define public health?
In this course, we will explore how this is achieved, and we will also have a chance to look at current issues in the field.
History of Public Health
Andresen & Bouldin (2010) trace the formal history of public health back to Hippocrates in Greece. As you will learn in the background readings, Hippocrates explored thousands of how air, water, climate, soil, lifestyle, and nutrition were related to disease. Carefully examine the major timeline of events and achievements in public health. How far have we come along in the field of public health?
Current issues in public health
One benchmark of our level of public health is our level preparedness to deal with issues such as infectious disease, and foodborne disease.
Public Health also encompasses addressing non-communicable, preventable diseases, such as the current obesity epidemic and associated issues with cardiovascular disease. We ask relevant questions at the community and population level, such as why aren’t people exercising enough? Or, why aren’t they eating healthy foods?
Controversies
Controversies arise in public health over many factors such as economic impacts of health policies, and moral and religious arguments. Also, ethical issues arise when the health benefits to a group of people must be weighed against the freedom to the individual. Can you think of some examples?
Governance of Public Health: Federal, State, and Local policies
There are various laws, regulations, and policies in place at the local, state, and federal level to address public health. The U.S. Public Health System can be viewed as an organized hierarchy of powers. As you explore the structure of our own system, please begin to think about the term “power” when it comes to protecting and promoting health. Please proceed to the background readings for this Module before completing the assignments.
Required reading
Bouldin, E. (2010). Chapter 1: History and Development of Public Health. In: Andresen, A. & Bouldin, E. (2010) Public Health Foundations: Concepts and Practices. Jossey-Bass Publishers. Hoboken, NJ. eISBN: 9780470890165. Available in eBrary.
Chacko L., & Chacko, R. (2010). Chapter 2: Modern Public Health Systems. In: Andresen, A. & Bouldin, E. (2010). Public Health Foundations: Concepts and Practices. Jossey-Bass Publishers. eISBN: 9780470890165 Hoboken, NJ. Available in eBrary.
Patil, R. (2011, Jan-Mar.) Public Health Controversies: Common Characteristics. Journal of Global Infectious Diseases, 3(1), 97–98. doi: 10.4103/0974-777X.77308. PMCID: PMC3068592. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3068592/
For the Session Long Project (SLP), you will identify a controversial Public Health Topic that is of interest to you, and explore various dimensions of that issue in each modular component of the SLP. Before you begin this assignment, read through the SLP assignments in every module so you understand the project as a whole.
Task
Your task for this first segment of the SLP is to explain the specific nature of the controversy.
You can submit your paper in a Question and Answer format. In other words, list the questions and provide a short answer to each (2–3 pages total).
Identify the controversial public health topic that is you plan to explore. Briefly state whether the controversy is related to economics, morality, religion, ethics, political interference with science, or perhaps another topic. Please explain in 2–3 paragraphs and be sure to cite sources rather than simply stating your opinion.
Briefly discuss the historical context of the controversy. What spurred the controversy? Please write 2–3 paragraphs about this, and be sure to cite sources rather than simply stating your opinion.
Identify stakeholders in the public health controversy. In other words, who were the people or organizations involved and what is their role?
Write a summary paragraph to close your paper.
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