Issues in Community and Public Health
Definition of Terms
Governmental Agencies
Governmental agencies are intended to administer and manage certain functions or specific duties. Agencies are distinct from both governmental departments and ministries. Governmental agencies can be created throughout local (state), regional or national governments within a federal system. Governments have numerous agencies that have their own roles and purposes.
Quasi-government
Quasi-governments are created and funded by government but have operational and political independence. These can be started off as a government agency that becomes a separate entity. This usually means that the employees do not work for the government but for the private sector and are hired by the government to perform certain duties.
Non-government agencies
Non-governmental agencies are not for profit organizations run by ordinary citizens. These organizations perform a wide range of duties and events. Some of these duties and events and are targeted issues such as human rights, environment or health.
Difference between public health and medical services
Public Health includes community health. Public health is “the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals”. (http://sph.rutgers.edu/about/public_health.html). Public health is involved with threats to health based on the population health analysis. Public health integrates the interdisciplinary approaches of epidemiology, biostatistics and health services, environmental health, community health, behavioral health, health economics, public policy, insurance medicine and occupational health are other key subfields. Community health is the health of a group of individuals, including the distribution of health levels within the targeted group. The goal of community health is to improve the health of a given population. Community health involves doctors, nurses and other health care professionals.
Community Health Worksheet
|
Column A |
Column B |
Column C |
Column D |
Column E |
|
Health Concern |
Government |
Quasi Government |
Non-Government |
Why this issue is a significant community/public health concern? |
|
Premature Infants |
https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/ maternalinfanthealth/pretermbirth.htm |
https://medlineplus.gov/prematurebabies.html |
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/What-We-Do/Global-Development/Maternal-Newborn-and-Child-Health |
Preterm or premature birth is when a baby is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. 1 out of 10 births result in premature infants. And, while it’s too early to know what caused this increase or if this is the start of trend, we do know that racial and ethnic disparities persist. In 2015, the rate of preterm birth among African-American women (13%) was about 50 percent higher than the rate of preterm birth among white women (9%). (www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/maternalinfanthealth/pretermbirth.htm) |
|
Obesity |
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/) |
http://www.candoonline.org/fort-collins .html) |
|
“Obesity is a complex disorder involving an excessive amount of body fat. Obesity isn’t just a cosmetic concern. It increases your risk of diseases and health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.” (MayoClinic.org/diseases-condition /obesity/basics/definition/con-20014834. Being obese can mean an individual is likely to have weight-related health problems. |
|
Diabetes |
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/home/) |
American Diabetes Association (http://www.diabetes.org/) |
International Diabetes Federation http://www.idf.org/ |
Diabetes is a world threat disease, costing nations billions of dollars every year. Nations are coming together to share strategies to avoid world-wide scourge of diabetes especially in the 21st century (Barrett, 2004) |
|
Smoking |
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_ statistics/fact_sheets/adult_data/cig_smoking/) |
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) (http://store.samhsa.gov/home) |
https://therealcost.betobaccofree.hhs.gov |
Smoking and the use of other tobacco-related products or worsen numerous diseases and conditions. Secondhand smoke is toxic to nearby people. “Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., causing over 438,000 deaths per year. Secondhand smoke is a serious health hazard for people of all ages, causing more than 41,000 deaths each year. Marijuana smoke contains many of the same toxins, irritants and carcinogens as tobacco smoke.”(lung.org) |
References
Barrett, E. J., (2004). Clinical Diabetes. Diabetes Epidemic is a World Treat. Retrieved from: http://clinical.diabetesjournals.org/content/22/1/47.full
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/maternalinfanthealth/pretermbirth.htm
Health Effects of Cigarette smoking. Retrieved from:
http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/health_effects/effects_cig_smoking/
Lung.org. Stop Smoking. Retrieved from www.lung.org/ stop-smoking/smoking-facts/health-
effects.html
Rutgers School of Public Health. Retrieved from: http://sph.rutgers.edu/about/public_health.html
The Mayo Clinic.
Retrieved from: MayoClinic.org/diseases-condition /obesity/basics/definition/con- 20014834