- "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'."
It is the study of the distribution of health and disease in a population and the measures taken to maintain and enhance the health of the population.
Epidemiology: Study of the distribution and determinants of diseases, conditions, and health-related events in populations and the application of this study to control health problems.
Biostatistics: Application of statistical methods to medical and biological problems in public health research.
Environmental health: Study of the natural and built environment and its impact on human health, including exposure to air and water pollution, hazardous waste, and climate change.
Social and behavioral sciences: Study of the social, cultural, and psychological factors that influence health behaviors and outcomes.
Global health: Study of health issues and disease burdens that affect populations around the world, as well as the policies and programs that address these concerns.
Health policy and management: Study of the organization, financing, and delivery of healthcare services, including hospital administration, health information systems, and healthcare quality improvement.
Nutrition and dietetics: Study of the relationship between food and health, including the role of nutrients in disease prevention and management, and the design and implementation of interventions to improve dietary habits.
Occupational health and safety: Study of the prevention and control of occupational hazards, including exposure to chemicals, radiation, and physical hazards in the workplace.
Health promotion and disease prevention: Study of the development and implementation of programs and policies to encourage healthy behaviors and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
Maternal and child health: Study of the health and wellbeing of women, infants, and children, including reproductive health, child development, and strategies to decrease morbidity and mortality among these populations.
Health disparities: Study of the unequal distribution of health risks, resources, and access to healthcare services among different populations, including racial and ethnic minorities, low-income groups, and individuals with disabilities.
Infectious disease control: Study of the prevention and control of infectious diseases, including the use of vaccines and screening programs, and the development of treatment regimens for emerging pathogens.
Health informatics: Study of the collection, management, and analysis of health data using computer technologies and applications.
Health services research: Study of the organization and delivery of healthcare services, including the ability to measure and quantify health outcomes, and the assessment of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of healthcare interventions.
Epidemiology: The study of how diseases spread and how to prevent them.
Biostatistics: The application of statistical analysis in healthcare to understand patterns and trends.
Environmental Health: The study of how environmental factors like pollution affect human health and wellbeing.
Global Health: The health of populations in a global context, including health disparities, infectious diseases, and access to healthcare.
Health Promotion: The process of enabling individuals and communities to increase control over their health through education, support, and resources.
Health Education: The communication and education provided to individuals and communities to promote healthy behaviors and improve overall health.
Maternal and Child Health: The health of mothers and children, including prenatal care, obstetrics, and pediatrics.
Occupational Health: The study of how work environments can affect employee health and wellbeing, including workplace safety and health risks.
Public Health Administration: The management and administration of public health programs and services.
Social and Behavioral Health: The study of how social and behavioral factors, such as stress, lifestyle, and culture, affect health and wellbeing.
- "Analyzing the determinants of health of a population and the threats it faces is the basis for public health."
- "Epidemiology, biostatistics, social sciences and management of health services are all relevant."
- "Other important sub-fields include environmental health, community health, behavioral health, health economics, public policy, mental health, health education, health politics, occupational safety, disability, oral health, gender issues in health, and sexual and reproductive health."
- "Public health, together with primary care, secondary care, and tertiary care, is part of a country's overall healthcare system."
- "Common public health initiatives include promotion of hand-washing and breastfeeding, delivery of vaccinations, promoting ventilation and improved air quality both indoors and outdoors, suicide prevention, smoking cessation, obesity education, increasing healthcare accessibility, and distribution of condoms to control the spread of sexually transmitted diseases."
- "There is a significant disparity in access to health care and public health initiatives between developed countries and developing countries, as well as within developing countries."
- "In developing countries, public health infrastructures are still forming. There may not be enough trained healthcare workers, monetary resources, or, in some cases, sufficient knowledge to provide even a basic level of medical care and disease prevention."
- "A major public health concern in developing countries is poor maternal and child health, exacerbated by malnutrition and poverty coupled with governments' reluctance in implementing public health policies."
- "Great Britain became a leader in the development of public health initiatives, beginning in the 19th century, due to the fact that it was the first modern urban nation worldwide."
- "The public health initiatives that began to emerge initially focused on sanitation (for example, the Liverpool and London sewerage systems), control of infectious diseases (including vaccination and quarantine) and an evolving infrastructure of various sciences, e.g. statistics, microbiology, epidemiology, sciences of engineering."