Public Health: The Basics

Public Health: The Basics is the essential introduction to this evolving and vital subject. Accessible and engaging, the book takes readers through the key principles and themes that inform contemporary public health, encompassing both physical health and mental well-being. It spotlights the most pressing issues we're facing today, from demographic changes and widening inequalities, to addictive behaviour and, of course, climate change. But by outlining how the idea of public health has changed historically, highlighting how governments have approached the health of their populations differently over time, the book also provides a holistic understanding of the social context in which public health should be understood. Including a glossary of terms and end of chapter further reading, this is the definitive primer for anyone approaching this area for the first time, including students considering embarking on a degree, apprenticeship or other course in Public Health, careers teachers at schools, colleges and universities, or interested general readers.

0 Introducing Public Health PART 1: Development and Evolution of Public Health from the Mid Nineteenth Century 1 The Emergence of the Modern Public Health Era in the Western World 2 Public Health in Low-and-Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) 3 International and Global Approaches to Public Health PART 2: Demystifying Public Health 4 Explaining Public Health Terms 5 The Tools and Knowledge available to be Used for Public Health Action 6 The Public Health Workforce and the Underpinning Infrastructure to Support It PART 3: Challenges to Health 7 The COVID-19 Pandemic 8 Bodyweight 9 Tobacco Control - Halting the Pandemic 10 The Future - Challenges and Opportunities 11 In Conclusion