Why Is Public Health Important
Health promotion, disease prevention, and life extension are public health goals. Public health aims to maintain and promote people’s health in their communities and protect their environment’s health (American Public Health Association, 2020). A primary objective of public health is to promote healthy lifestyles, prevent disease and injuries, and detect, prevent and respond to infectious diseases, according to the CDC Foundation (2021). Often, it requires coordination across sectors and is future-oriented. In public health, actions are taken to address health’s social and ecological determinants, frequently requiring public policy change and community involvement (Cabaj et al., 2019). This paper will explain why public health is essential and analyze how societal factors influence public health.
Monitoring Health Status
The purpose of public health is to assess the population’s health status. Population health monitoring regularly gathers information on pertinent aspects of population health and its determinants. Friis & Sellers (2020) emphasize the importance of detecting health issues early and responding appropriately to prevent disease development. A health component is deemed vital if it addresses significant public health relevance based on figures and trends, geographic reach, expenses, and impacts on health (Gamache et al., 2018). In essence, the elements are coherent with one another and consider the options for taking action to enhance population health. The strategy may be all-encompassing, seeking to give a broad view of public health, or topical, concentrating on a specific issue, such as children’s health. Monitoring population health can incorporate techniques such as modeling, forecasting, and evidence from epidemiology, psychosocial, and medical fields. Therefore to monitor health, it is essential to recognize and keep an eye on all facets of life that may impact health status.
Public health surveillance has no value if there is no reporting. Communication of a population’s wellbeing and assistance with the planning and assessment stages of health policy formulation and health care are the main objectives of public health reporting (Pollack Porter et al., 2018). Regular public health monitoring cannot successfully influence policy without disclosure. The reporting function for public health monitoring might appear in various ways, such as websites, billboards, and advertisements. Therefore, the information products include data, explanatory texts, and links to research findings, expert sources, and policy papers.
Providing Health Education
In health education, people are informed, educated, and empowered about health issues. Public health is critical because it raises public awareness of health risks through educational programs and campaigns and influences government policies. Substance abuse, chronic illness knowledge and prevention, maternal and newborn health, nutrition, exercise, obesity prevention, injury and violence prevention, and mental and behavioral health are all affected by the value of health education in a community. Education is an effective tool for achieving health equity (Greenberg et al., 2017). Learning about various health topics is made possible by health education. Campaigns promoting health literacy are often appropriate for their intended population (Levin-Zamir et al., 2017). As a result, health education provides the target audience with information on various health-related subjects, including the dangers and advantages of their health, and tools to boost competence and assist lifestyle decisions in an appropriate environment.
Public Health in Policy Making
One potentially efficient method for enhancing population health is policy. Public health professionals have a significant role in policy-making. They perform policy analysis, present findings, form alliances, and advocate for and implement evidence-based interventions. The professionals utilize data to guide policies that promote health equity. Policy translation techniques include designing policies with adoption in mind and conducting proactive research (Pollack Porter et al., 2018). Applying these guidelines to developing and implementing scientific proof public health policy involves several vital actors. Numerous state and local public health regulations are the responsibility of public health agencies. Engaging with partners from other sectors is necessary to put these principles into practice and encourage practical cross-sector cooperation. Decisions significantly influence health and wellbeing in fields other than public health and healthcare, such as education, transport, and criminal justice. Decision-makers and stakeholders from these different sectors must be included in efforts to enhance public health through policy change. Policy changes can consequently aid in a
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