Public Health

Answer 1

Public health is a field that is engaged in basic and complex activities that promote the health and well-being of communities and individuals. Everyone, everywhere benefits from public health initiatives. Many public health actions are overlooked because they seem so routine and a natural part of life. When one goes to the sink to obtain potable water for cooking, public health does not usually come to mind. Yet, public health regulations make the difference between water that is clean and safe and water that could contain disease causing bacteria. The food consumed in restaurants is regulated through public health agencies. Food service businesses must abide by public health rules that cover everything from proper handwashing techniques to safe cooking temperatures. Immunizations that prevent the spread of diseases are made possible through public health. In most states, parents are able to take their children to a local health department to obtain immunizations at no charge.

The field of public health focuses on prevention, intervention, and promoting healthy lifestyles and behaviors. For example, proper handwashing prior to foodhandling reduces the risk of contaminating food with pathogens that can cause foodborne illness. Nutrition education teaches people how to prevent health problems associated with poor eating habits. An example of a public health intervention would be an investigation of a disease outbreak. Public health epidemiologists would investigate the outbreak to determine where it began and how the infection spread. In the case of a waterborne disease outbreak, public health recommendations might involve limiting the use of the affected water supply until the issue is corrected.

Public health personnel usually have education or training in biological sciences, medicine, Social Sciences, and statistics. Public health workers include epidemiologists who study the causes and distribution of diseases, health educators, medical technologists, lab technologists, nurses and physicians. These individuals often have degrees in areas related to their duties or professional degrees such as a master or doctorate in public health.

Almost every country has some type of public health infrastructure. Public health activities in the United States are carried out at the state and county level under the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and similar agencies at the federal level.