Lessons Learned in Public Health

My interest in public health began with a vague supposition: that, through public health, I could begin to understand the underlying problems facing the well being of populations.  Throughout the first half of this course, I have come to discover just this. Learning about epidemiology, chronic versus infectious diseases, nutrition, population growth, and other health determinants has expanded my interest and knowledge of public health.  I have come to learn that all health determinants inter-connectedly determine the health of populations. We have learned through many sources including lectures, readings, and our personal blogs.  Blogging has perhaps been the most beneficial learning tool, forcing me to think critically and to draw my own connections and conclusions about public health. 

Throughout this course, one question has become crucial to me: how exactly do I define quality health--by advancement of medical technology or by accessibility and affordability? Defining quality health is a difficult task, and to do so, it is important to consider care within a global context.  I have come to realize that, only through a comparison of public health in both developed and underdeveloped nations, can the U.S. system be analyzed accurately.  Through this comparison, one can begin to understand factors that comprise a good public health system which ultimately leads to the best outcome possible.

I have also come to realize the importance of population growth and, of all the lectures, I found this topic to be the most intriguing.  The lecture complimented another class of mine: Population Health and Development.  Both the lecture and this course emphasize how population growth is a determinant of public health.  Population growth effects all aspects of public health and the overall global health development.  Currently, health resources and infrastructure cannot compete with the population growth rate.  Thus, health is constantly lagging.  Global public health cannot improve until effective family planning programs are implemented, which will empower women, ensure the health of all citizens, and improve the success of development. 

Throughout this course, I have also come to appreciate the imperative importance of legislation for public health.  Legislation has the power to bring structural changes to shift our societal norms. Laws have brought about some of the greatest public health victories, as in the case of the ban on tobacco advertisements as a result of the fairness doctrine.  Hopefully, health can be further improved through future legislative changes.  For example, initiatives need to be taken in the public sector to combat obesity.  California is leading the way in such changes; under a new California law, McDonalds must meet certain nutritional standards before they can include a toy in their Happy Meals (http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20021901-10391704.html).  This law combats the advertising of unhealthy food to children, the most impressionable consumers.  The law also demonstrates how the public opinion has shifted enough to allow for such legislation to be passed. 

Ultimately, that is the goal of public health: shifting popular opinion to favor a sustainable lifestyle and making the path of least resistance a healthy one.  Public health aims to create a healthy environment for people to thrive; one free of infectious diseases, with minimal chronic disease, and access to care for all.