why i chose public health essay

why i chose public health essay

The Importance of Public Health

1. Introduction

From Nettleton, Winslow’s definition clearly shows how public health was an agent for social and individual change and went beyond just medical intervention. He also goes on to describe the aim of public health and the method in which to achieve this aim. This is a similar approach to the one used today with the importance of evidence-based practice, gaining useful research to aid in prevention, and the use of health education to inform individuals on preventive measures. This suggests that the ultimate goal of public health was to promote physical health, prolong life, and prevent disease. This is still considered to be the goal of public health today.

It is considered that “Public health is the science and the art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting physical health and efficiency through organized community efforts for the sanitation of the environment, the control of communicable infections, the education of the individual in personal hygiene and the organization of medical and nursing services for the early diagnosis and the preventive treatment of disease” (Winslow 1920). This is still considered to be the most widely cited definition. Winslow wrote this definition when the need for public health directed at preventing the spread of infectious diseases was of utmost importance. Measures such as sanitation, food and water safety, and vaccination, were all aimed at preventing illness in the individual and society as a whole (Nettleton 1995). Measures such as these are still considered to be of huge importance today. Sanitation was discovered to have been a major cause of infectious diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and dysentery.

The word “public health” describes a family of approaches that aim to improve the health of a community. At its core, public health is about prevention; it involves keeping people healthy and improving the health of those who are already sick, rather than providing primary care treatment. This essay aims to look at the different ways in which public health has been defined and to outline the possible significance of these definitions. This essay will look at public health through the ages; it will define what public health is and discuss the changes in the methods of enforcing public health. This essay will also briefly look at two public health issues in the United Kingdom, outlining how the concept of public health described is still relevant today.

2. Personal Motivation

As is often true with many public health professionals, a personal experience with a significant health issue can provide the impetus to make a commitment to the field. This was certainly the case for me. My initial interest in public health developed early in my career when I was working as a clinician in a hospital in my home country of the Islamic Republic of Iran. At that time, Iran was inundated with Persian Gulf War victims and the various ways in which exposure to chemical agents was manifesting in ill health. Many questions arose about how to categorize and treat these illnesses and there was a pervasive sense of frustration and futility regarding the lack of successful treatment of the illnesses and the wide discrepancy between the treatment protocols from different clinicians. Coming from a background with a strong theoretical basis in the natural sciences and a general lack of trust in symptomatic treatments, I found this situation awkward and unsatisfying and recognized that there was a need to understand and address the root causes of illness in a systematic and comprehensive way. It was at this time that I also recognized the shortcomings of biological science in providing satisfactory answers for many of the complex and multifactorial questions in medicine and health and I began to seek other disciplines, eventually entering a graduate program in epidemiology.

3. Advantages of Public Health

The first two advantages are fairly straightforward. It is logical to assume that keeping a single person healthy and injury-free is beneficial to both the individual and society because that person can continue to function in a productive role. Similarly, there is an opportunity cost in using resources to conduct research to prolong life and improve the quality of life compared to the scenario if public health were not a consideration.

At present, I wish to communicate in specific detail why public health is of great importance to the human race. An affirmative health system is a centerpiece in the ease at which a country can develop both economically and socially. The vast advantages of public health arising from a productive health system are enormous on the human race, so much so that Sewell (2002) lists twelve potential advantages. I will use this as a guide to structure the essay. These advantages are the prevention of diseases and injuries, conducting research to enhance the human lifespan, and promoting a high quality of life.

4. Impact on Society

The health of the public has a direct impact on society as a whole. An unhealthy society has a reduced life expectancy, generates high healthcare costs, and a decline in overall productivity. Diseases constantly threaten our society, and the disease prevention of public health programs are far more cost-effective than the cures of modern medicine. The United States is already saving money with important programs like Medicare, a program which pays for the healthcare of those over 65 years of age or who are disabled. By preventing the incidence of diabetes with programs aimed at increasing the health literacy of the community, Medicare will not have to pay high treatment costs for those suffering from diabetes. High healthcare costs often result in a lack of health insurance by the working poor. This can result in an unhealthy working class, an increase in sick days taken, decrease in productivity, and an increase in on-the-job accidents. Public health initiatives would raise the collective health of the working poor, increasing the average productivity and reducing various costs incurred by employers. Another effect of an unhealthy society is an increase in the susceptibility to terrorism. The events of September 11th, and the subsequent anthrax scares have made it clear that the health of the American people is a major national security issue. In the coming future, it is likely that the primary targets of terrorists will not be the military or the government, but the public. An unhealthy society is a soft target, and it is much easier to kill a few with biological or chemical weapons than to wage war on a superpower. This sobering reality creates a lot of difficult questions. Will we bar people from international travel for fear of them bringing a disease back home? What types of vaccines and medications should governments stockpile? How can we best protect the public without creating a culture of fear and isolation? These questions demonstrate the need for public health, both in the present and future.

5. Conclusion

Tremendous strides were made in public health in the 20th century. Life expectancy increased from 47 years in 1900 to 68 years in 1950. However, this accomplishment pales in comparison with the increase to 76 years by 1995. In this century, public health is responsible for a dramatic decrease in the death rate from infectious diseases, an increase in life expectancy of U.S. citizens, a decrease in infant mortality, and a greater than 90 percent decline in the death rate attributed to environmental pollution. In that same period, to the present time, the rate of improvement has slowed, and some indicators of public health are in need of attention. The relatively low U.S. life expectancy ranking in the developed world and the large number of people who die in their fifties and sixties from chronic diseases are disturbing. A report issued on April 10, 2000, by the Institute of Medicine focuses on the need for revitalizing the nation’s public health system. This report recognizes the importance of private medical care but says that improvements in public health are “likely to have a greater impact in a cost effective manner”. Finally, the IOM report states that “the nation has lost sight of its public health goals and has allowed the system of public health to deteriorate. This report is a clear statement that more attention and resources need to be allocated to public health, it is the cornerstone in building a healthy society”.