OVERVIEW OF PUBLIC HEALTH

Scope of Public health Nursing

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Learning Objectives

• By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
• Explain the concept of public health
• Discuss the dimensions of public health
• Explain the meaning of public health
• Identify the features of modern public
• Explain public health nursing
• Explain the objectives of public health nursing

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Objectives cont’d

• Identify the role of public health
• Discuss the qualities of a public health nurse
• Discuss the scope of public health nursing

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Introduction

• Public health is the art and science of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting health through the organized efforts of society.
• The goal of public health is the biologic, physical, and mental well-being of all members of society.

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Introduction cont’d

• Unlike medicine, which focuses on the health of the individual patient, public health focuses on the health of the public in the aggregate.
• To achieve this broad, challenging goal, public health professionals engage in a wide range of functions.
• This function includes;
• biological sciences
• technology
• social sciences and;
• politics.

Introduction cont’d

• Public health professionals utilize these functions to
• anticipate and prevent future problems
• identify current problems
• identify appropriate strategies to resolve these problems
• implement these strategies and;
• to evaluate their effectiveness.

Introduction cont’d

• Public health is a global issue
• It will become even more due to:
• The increasing in interconnectedness of nations through modern communication
• This has resulted in the need to deal with epidemics of communicable and non-communicable diseases and environmental issues that require transnational solutions.

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Definition of public health

• There have been many definitions and explanations of public health.
• The definition offered by the Acheson Report has been widely accepted:
• Public health is the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting health through the organized efforts of society

Definition cont’d

• It can also be defined as the science and art of preventing disease promoting health and prolonging life using available resources in the community and involving the community members in efficiency.

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Public Health Defined

• This definition underscores the broad scope of public health and the fact that public health is the result of society’s efforts as a whole, rather than that of single individuals.
• The goal of public health as:
• The biologic
• physical and mental well-being of all members of society
• This is regardless of gender, wealth, ethnicity, sexual orientation, country, or political views.

Definition cont’d

• This definition or goal emphasizes equity and the range of public health interests as encompassing not just the physical and biologic, but also the mental well-being of society.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) definitions depict public health as being concerned with more than the mere elimination of disease.

Definition cont’d

• To achieve the WHO goal of ‘health for all’, it is essential to bring to bear many diverse disciplines to the attainment of optimal health, including the physical, biologic, and social sciences.
• The field of public health has adapted and applied these disciplines for the elimination and control of disease, and the promotion of health.

Definition Cont’d

• To achieve the WHO goal of ‘health for all’, it is essential to bring to bear many diverse disciplines to the attainment of optimal health, including the physical, biologic, and social sciences.
• The field of public health has adapted and applied these disciplines for the elimination and control of disease, and the promotion of health.

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Functions of public health

• Public health is concerned with the process of mobilizing local, national and international resources to assure the conditions in which all people can be healthy
• To successfully implement this process and to make health for all achievable public health must perform the following functions

Functions of Public Health

• Prevent disease and its progression, and injuries.
• Promote healthy lifestyles and good health habits.
• Identify, measure, monitor, and anticipate community health needs.
• Formulate, promote, and enforce essential health policies.
• Organize and ensure high-quality, cost-effective public health and health-care services.
• Reduce health disparities and ensure access to health care for all.
• Promote and protect a healthy environment.

Functions cont’d

• Disseminate health information and mobilize communities to take appropriate action.
• Plan and prepare for natural and man-made disasters.
• Reduce interpersonal violence and aggressive war.
• Conduct research and evaluate health-promoting/disease-preventing strategies.
• Develop new methodologies for research and evaluation.
• Train and ensure a competent public health workforce.

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THE DIMENSIONS OF PUBLIC

• It would be useful to explore the concepts contained in the four terms that are commonly used to describe different aspects of public health.

■ preventive medicine

■ social medicine

■ community health

■ community medicine.

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Dimensions

Fundamental Assumptions of Social Medicine

■ Health as a birthright.

■ The responsibility of the state.

■ Development and health are inter-related.

■ Education promotes health.

■ Social factors have a profound influence on health.

• Culture
• Behaviour
• Social organization
• Behaviour etc.

■ Health begins at home.

■ Poverty is a major cause of ill health

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Features of modern public health

• Multidisciplinary
• Multi-sectorial
• Evidence-based
• Equity-oriented

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Public Health Nursing

• Is the branch of professional nursing that utilizes human and material resources in the community for the promotion and maintenance of health, prevention and control of communicable diseases and not merely the care and rehabilitation of the sick.

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Public Health Nursing cont’d

• It can also be seen as a branch of professional nursing aiming at assisting the community in the prevention of disease, promoting and prolonging life by using available resources in the community through their own participation.

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Public Health Nurse

• PH nurse is someone who have had training in general nursing with or without midwifery and have had working experience in helping to maintain, promote and prolong life using available resources from the community through their own participation.

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Objectives of PH NURSING

• To prevent and control communicable diseases through surveillance and contact tracing.
• To treat and demonstrate healthy way of living according to local needs
• To promote, maintain and prolong life through total family and individual care
• To plan and organize clinics

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OBJECTIVES CONT’D

• To promote the health of school children and workers
• To promote and maintain the health of the elderly
• To work in closer collaboration with NGO’s to promote the health and welfare of the individuals, families and communities.

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Principles of PHN

• Creating good rapport
• Confidentiality
• Honesty
• Absence of discrimination
• Respect for the other beliefs and religion
• Humility and good behaviour
• Be a role model
• Understanding
• Respect for culture

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PRINCIPLES CONT’D

• Never make unfulfilled promises
• Consider the background of the people you are working with or interacting with.

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Qualities of the PH NURSE

• Time conscious
• Polite
• Creative
• Observant
• Good leader
• Fair and firm in decision making
• Knowledgeable
• Approachable

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QUALITIES cont’d

• Friendly
• Role model
• Good and acceptable character
• Sociable and tolerance
• Curious
• Good communicator
• Resourceful
• Duty conscious
• Tactful
• Cheerful trustworthy

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Scope of PHN

• Reproductive and child health
• Family planning
• Home visiting
• Prevention and control of communicable disease
• Epidemiology of communicable diseases
• School health services
• Health education activities
• Health promotion
• Occupational hazards in Ghana
• Primary Health care
• IDSR (Integrated Disease Surveillance & Response)

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End of Presentation

• Thanks For Your Attention
• Questions
• Suggestions