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Public Health (GE-104): Course Outline (GE-104)

Public health is the science of protecting and improving the health of people and their communities. This work is achieved by promoting healthy lifestyles, researching disease and injury prevention, and detecting, preventing and responding to infectious d

Course description

The course, Public Health, introduces the major concepts of public health and the determinants of health status in communities. The course emphasizes the ecological model that focuses on the linkages and relationships among multiple natural and social determinants affecting health. In addition to providing basic essential knowledge of disease prevention and health promotion aspects of public health, it provides a valuable foundation for subsequent health sciences and public health studies. Public health aims to understand why and how different populations carry different kinds and amounts of disease burden and to use that knowledge to improve health by preventing disease. The course will build a sense of community and instill a public health mindset among students. It will lay the foundation for students to work effectively as public health professionals on inter-professional teams.

Course objectives

 

  • To discuss the evaluation of global trends affecting health, including communicable and non-communicable disease as well as the health impact of different environmental and lifestyle factors.
  • To apply basic public health concepts to the theoretical management of public health problems, including disease prevention, health promotion, health economics, and policy, as well as critically compare opposing viewpoints in these fields.
  • To impart vivid knowledge of basic health concepts related to the public.
  • To make aware to the students about various diseases and their precautions.
  • To spread general awareness amongst the students to promote hygienic ways of living within the communities and across the communities as well.

Teaching-learning Strategies

Teaching will be done through the lecture method with a combination of tasks/projects and presentations

Suggested Readings

Course contents

Unit-I: Course Introduction

What is public health?

  • The role of data in public health
  • Concept of health
  • Dimensions of health
  • Definition of health
  • Health spectrum
  • Determinants of health
  • Responsibility of health
  • Indicators of health
  • The biomedical basis of public health
  • Do people choose their health?
  • The future of public health

Unit-II: Diseases, its Nature and Preventions

  • Concept of disease
  • Iceberg of disease phenomenon
  • Concept of causation
  • Levels of prevention

Unit-III: Introduction to Personal Hygiene

  • Handwash
  • Eye hygiene
  • Hair hygiene
  • Body hygiene
  • Oral hygiene
  • Nails and cuticles
  • Feet and shoes
  • Protection from noise and UV Light
  • Control of foul odor

Unit-IV: Role of personal hygiene in communicable and Non-communicable diseases

  • Types of cleanliness (intrinsic & extrinsic)

  • Cleanliness and religion

  • Prevention of cough cold and other contagious diseases

  • Smoking and protecting the rights of others

  • Personal hygiene at home

    • Clothes

    • Kitchen

    • Washroom

Unit-V: Health Policy

  • Pakistan Health Policy 2009
  • Health Financing
  • Stewardship
  • History of Health Policy in Pakistan
  • Determinants of health policy

Assessment and Examinations

Assessment will be done as per university/department policy.

Textbooks

Related Books