Update 2025/2026
Public Health - Answers Public health is the science of protecting and improving the health of
families and communities through promotion of healthy lifestyles, research for disease and
injury prevention and detection and control of infectious diseases (CDC Foundation).
Public Health Services - Answers Vaccination
Environmental health (ex: restaurant inspection)
Vector control (ex: rats, mosquitos)
WIC
Infectious disease control
Clinics (ex: primary care, prenatal care, STDs, dental)
Vital stats- birth and death certificates
Policy enforcement (ex: tobacco)
Public awareness campaigns (ex: tobacco, nutrition)
Chronic disease promotion
Emergency preparedness & response
Vital stats- birth and death certificates
Policy enforcement (ex: tobacco)
Public awareness campaigns (ex: tobacco, nutrition)
Chronic disease promotion
Emergency preparedness & response
Unique Features of Public Health - Answers Basis in Social Justice Philosophy
Inherently political
Dynamic, ever-expanding agenda
,Link with government
Grounding in the Sciences
Use of prevention as a prime strategy
Uncommon culture and bond (interdisciplinary field)
Ten Public Health Achievements - Answers Vaccination
Motor-vehicle safety
Safer workplaces
Control of infectious diseases
Decline in deaths from CHD & stroke
Safer and healthier foods
Healthier mothers and babies
Family planning
Fluoridation of drinking water
Recognition of tobacco use as a health hazard
Health - Answers Absence of Disease
Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well being and not merely the absence
of disease and infirmity." World Health Organization
The blending of physical, emotional, social, intellectual, & spiritual resources as they assist in
mastering the developmental tasks necessary to enjoy a satisfying & productive life
Community - Answers is a group of people with common characteristics
Community Health - Answers includes both private and public efforts of individuals, groups, and
organizations to promote, protect, and reserve the health of those in the community.
Public Health - Answers what we as a society do collectively to assure the condition in which
people be healthy
Personal Health - Answers Individual actions and decision making that affect the health of an
, individual or his or her immediate family members of friends. Seldom directly affect the
behavior of others.
Community Health - Answers Activities that are aimed at protecting or improving the health of a
population or community.
Factors Affecting Community Health - Answers Physical factors
Social and Cultural Factors
Community Organization
Individual Behaviors
Determinants of Population Health - Answers Social/Societal Characteristics (2)
Total Ecology (1)
Genes and Biology (5)
Health Behaviors (4)
Medical Care (3)
Physical Factors - Answers Industrial Development
Community Size
Environment
Geography
Social/Cultural Factors - Answers Beliefs, Traditions, and Prejudices
Economy, politics, religion
socioeconomic status
social norms
Community Organization - Answers Ways in which communities organize their resources
tax vs non-tax supported services
Individual Behaviors - Answers Takes the concerted effort many if not most to make a
community voluntary program work
Dr. Edward Jenner - Answers Demonstrated vaccine success against smallpox in 1796
Young boy given cowpox material