Issues in Public Health

by Pomerleau, Joceline; McKee, Martin

• ISBN13: 9780335218363
• ISBN10: 0335218369
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-08-01
• Publisher: Open University Press

Summary

This book is for those who want to answer the question 'What is public health?'. Much of modern public health is about tackling strong vested interests head on, empowering people so they can make healthy decisions, and recognising the political nature of the issues. If a society is to achieve these things, it needs public health practitioners with the necessary knowledge, skills and vision.This book looks at the foundation of public health, its historical evolution, the themes that underpin public health, the increasing importance of globalization and the most important causes of avoidable disease and injury. These include:TransportTobaccoNutritionInfectious diseaseWaste disposal

Author Biography

Joceline Pomerleau is Lecturer in Epidemiology and Martin McKee is Professor of European Public Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Table of Contents

Part 1: Foundation of modern public health
The emergence of public health and the centrality of values
Data on populations and mortality
The burden of disease and other summary measures of population health
Inequalities in health
Impact of healthcare on population health
Health Impact Assessment

Part 2: Major determinants of health
The changing nature of infectious disease
Smoking
Food trade and health
Drains, dustbins, and diseases
Glossary
Index