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CONCEPT OF HEALTH��DR NITHYA �ASSISTANT PROFESSOR�

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The Overview

  • Concept of health
  • Health- positive health
  • Dimension of health
  • Spectrum of health
  • Determinants of health
  • Concept of well being

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Concept of health: Biological to holistic health

  • Biomedical concept
  • Ecological concept
  • Psychosocial concept
  • Holistic concept

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Biomedical concept

  • Health – “absence of disease”
  • Based on “germ theory of disease”
  • This concept views

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Humans body

as

Machine

Disease

as

Consequence of the breakdown of the machine

Doctors task

as

To repair the machine

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Ecological concept

  • Health is a dynamic equilibrium between man and his environment
  • Disease is maladjustment of the human organism with their environment
  • Two issues – 1.imperfect man

2.imperfect environment

  • longer life expectancies and better quality of life.
  • Supports – clean air , safe water , clean atmosphere etc..

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Psychosocial concept

  • Health is not only a biomedical phenomenon , but it is also influenced by social , psychological factors
  • Psychological factors- behaviour , mood ,stress , fear , anxiety
  • Social factors – society , culture , food habits , financial etc

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Holistic concept

  • “Health implies a sound mind , in a sound body , in a sound family , in a sound environment” .
  • Holistic concept = Biomedical + Ecological + Psychosocial concept.
  • Holistic approach –agriculture , food , education , animal husbandry , housing , communications ,etc .

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Definition of health

  • WHO Definition(1948)

“ Health is a state of complete physical , mental and social well-being and nor merely an absence of disease or infirmity , the ability to lead a socially and economically productive life”

  • Criticism
  • Too broad
  • Health is not a state
  • Health is a dynamic concept

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Positive health

  • “Positive health” – Hippocrates
  • Positive health describes the health as a state beyond the mere absence of disease and predicts:
  • Increased longevity
  • Decreased expenditure on health
  • Healthy ageing
  • Better prognosis while in illness

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Dimensions of health

  • Multidimensional
  • WHO considers 3 specific dimensions

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Physical

Mental

Social

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Spectrum of health

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Determinants of health

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Determinants of health(contd..)

  • Biological determinants
  • Nature of genes at conception
  • The genetic traits are unique
  • Chromosomal abnormalities ,sickle cell anaemia , phenylketonuria etc..
  • Age
  • Race –sickle cell anaemia(Africans)

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Determinants of health(contd..)

  • Behavioural and sociocultural determinants
  • Customs , values and lifestyle
  • The health of an individual depends upon the lifestyle of the person
  • Coronary heart disease , obesity , lung cancer and drug addiction – lifestyle changes
  • For optimum health - adequate nutrition , good sleep , yoga , exercises , meditation , physical activity etc..
  • Social interaction

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Determinants oh health(contd..)

  • Environmental determinants
  • Internal – part of the body system
  • External environment – physical , biological and social
  • Environmental health risk

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Determinants of health(contd..)

  • Socio economic determinants
  • Country’s with lower socioeconomic status – higher mortality rates
  • Socioeconomic factors influencing healthcare – education , occupation and income of the individual

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Determinants of health(contd..)

  • Health services
  • Medical care services direct towards the protection and promotion of the health of the community
  • Quality and availability of health services
  • Barriers :
  • Lack of availability
  • High cost
  • Lack of insurance covering
  • Limited language access

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Determinants of health(contd..)

  • Political determinants
  • Health depends on the country’s political system
  • Factors influencing –resource allocation , manpower policy , accessibility and availability of health care etc
  • GNP –the quantitative indicator of political commitment.
  • WHO – 5% Of GNP to be spent on healthcare
  • India spends 2% GNP on health and family welfare
  •  2.1 % of GDP in FY23 and 2.2% in FY22(economic survey 2022-23)

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Concept of well-being

  • Two components
  • Objective component : standard of living
  • Subjective component : quality of life

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Standard of living

Includes(WHO)

  • Income and occupation
  • Standard of housing , sanitation and nutrition
  • Level of provision of health , educational , recreational and other services

Standard of living depends on per capita income

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Quality of life

  • An individual's perception of their position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns.(WHO)
  • It is a composite measure of physical , mental and social well-being
  • Indices to measure quality of life
  • Physical quality of life index (PQLI)
  • Human development index (HDI)
  • Human poverty index (HPI)
  • Gender-related development index(GDI)
  • Gender empowerment measure(GEM)

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THANK YOU