Public health
![A community health worker in Korail Basti, a slum in [[Dhaka](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8c/A_community_health_worker_conducting_a_survey_in_the_Korail_slum%2C_Bangladesh_%288630810827%29.jpg)
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals". Analyzing the determinants of health of a population and the threats it faces is the basis for public health. The ''public'' can be as small as a handful of people or as large as a village or an entire city; in the case of a pandemic it may encompass several continents. The concept of ''health'' takes into account physical, psychological, and social well-being, among other factors.
Public health is an interdisciplinary field. For example, epidemiology, biostatistics, social sciences and management of health services are all relevant. Other important sub-fields include environmental health, community health, behavioral health, health economics, public policy, mental health, health education, health politics, occupational safety, disability, oral health, gender issues in health, and sexual and reproductive health. Public health, together with primary care, secondary care, and tertiary care, is part of a country's overall healthcare system. Public health is implemented through the surveillance of cases and health indicators, and through the promotion of healthy behaviors. Common public health initiatives include promotion of hand-washing and breastfeeding, delivery of vaccinations, promoting ventilation and improved air quality both indoors and outdoors, suicide prevention, smoking cessation, obesity education, increasing healthcare accessibility and distribution of condoms to control the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
There is a significant disparity in access to health care and public health initiatives between developed countries and developing countries, as well as within developing countries. In developing countries, public health infrastructures are still forming. There may not be enough trained healthcare workers, monetary resources, or, in some cases, sufficient knowledge to provide even a basic level of medical care and disease prevention. A major public health concern in developing countries is poor maternal and child health, exacerbated by malnutrition and poverty coupled with governments' reluctance in implementing public health policies. Developed nations are at greater risk of certain public health crises, including childhood obesity, although overweight populations in low- and middle-income countries are catching up.
From the beginnings of human civilization, communities promoted health and fought disease at the population level. In complex, pre-industrialized societies, interventions designed to reduce health risks could be the initiative of different stakeholders, such as army generals, the clergy or rulers. Great Britain became a leader in the development of public health initiatives, beginning in the 19th century, due to the fact that it was the first modern urban nation worldwide. The public health initiatives that began to emerge initially focused on sanitation (for example, the Liverpool and London sewerage systems), control of infectious diseases (including vaccination and quarantine) and an evolving infrastructure of various sciences, e.g. statistics, microbiology, epidemiology, sciences of engineering.
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21by Sverrisson, Friðgeir A., Bateman, Brian T., Aspelund, Thor, Skúlason, Sigurgrímur, Zoega, HelgaContributors: “...The Centre of Public Health Sciences (UI)...”
Published in PLOS ONE (2018)
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22by Hlodversdottir, Heidrun, Þorsteinsdóttir, Harpa, Þórðardóttir, Edda Björk, Njardvik, Urdur, Pétursdóttir, Guðrún, Hauksdóttir, ArnaContributors: “...The Centre of Public Health Sciences (UI)...”
Published in European Journal of Psychotraumatology (2018)
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23by Davis, Benjamin J K, Vidal, Jean-Sebastian, Garcia, Melissa, Aspelund, Thor, van Buchem, Mark A, Jonsdottir, Maria K, Sigurdsson, Sigurdur, Harris, Tamara B, Gudnason, Vilmundur, Launer, Lenore JContributors: “..., Iceland. Centre of Public Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik. 3Department of Radiology...”
Published in The Journals of Gerontology: Series A (2015)
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24by Saevarsdóttir, Karen Sól, Hilmarsdóttir, Hildur Ýr, Magnúsdóttir, Ingibjörg, Hauksdóttir, Arna, Thordardottir, Edda Bjork, Gudjónsdóttir, Ásdís Braga, Tomasson, Gunnar, Rúnarsdóttir, Harpa, Jónsdóttir, Harpa Lind, Gudmundsdóttir, Berglind, Pétursdóttir, Gudrún, Petersen, Pétur Henry, Kristinsson, Sigurdur Yngvi, Love, Thorvardur Jon, Hansdóttir, Sif, Hardardóttir, Hrönn, Gudmundsson, Gunnar, Eythorsson, Elias, Gudmundsdóttir, Dóra Gudrún, Sigbjörnsdóttir, Hildur, Haraldsdóttir, Sigrídur, Möller, Alma Dagbjört, Palsson, Runolfur, Jakobsdóttir, Jóhanna, Aspelund, Thor, Valdimarsdottir, UnnurContributors: “...1Centre of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, School of Health...”
Published in BMJ Open (2021)
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25by Love, Thorvardur Jon, Wessman, Inga, Gislason, Gauti Kjartan, Rognvaldsson, Saemundur, Thorsteinsdottir, Sigrun, Sigurdardottir, Gudrun Asta, Thordardottir, Asdis Rosa, Eythorsson, Elias, Asgeirsdottir, Tinna Laufey, Aspelund, Thor, Bjornsson, Andri Steinthor, Kristinsson, Sigurdur YngviContributors: “.... 4Faculty of Economics, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland. 5Centre for Public Health Sciences...”
Published in Journal of Internal Medicine (2022)
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26by Hlodversdottir, Heidrun, Petursdottir, Gudrun, Carlsen, Hanne Krage, Gislason, Thorarinn, Hauksdottir, ArnaContributors: “...1Centre of Public Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland. 2Faculty of Nursing...”
Published in BMJ Open (2016)
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27by Einarsdóttir, Kristjana, Swift, Emma Marie, Zoega, HelgaContributors: “...1Center of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland...”
Published in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica (2021)
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28by Haraldsdottir, Alfheidur, Torfadottir, Johanna E, Valdimarsdottir, Unnur A, Aspelund, Thor, Harris, Tamara B, Launer, Lenore J, Gudnason, Vilmundur, Steingrimsdottir, LaufeyContributors: “...,Reykjavik,Iceland. 2 2Centre of Public Health Sciences,University of Iceland,Stapi v/Hringbraut,101...”
Published in Public Health Nutrition (2019)
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29by Einarsdóttir, Kristjana, Sigurðardóttir, Hekla, Ingibjörg Bjarnadóttir, Ragnheiður, Steingrímsdóttir, Þóra, Smárason, Alexander KContributors: “...1 Centre of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland...”
Published in Birth (2019)
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30by Swift, Emma M, Tomasson, Gunnar, Gottfreðsdóttir, Helga, Einarsdóttir, Kristjana, Zoega, HelgaContributors: “... Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland. 5 Faculty of Medicine, Centre for Big Data...”
Published in Birth (2019)
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31by Steingrímsson, Vilhjálmur, Gíslason, Gauti Kjartan, Þorsteinsdóttir, Sigrún, Rögnvaldsson, Saemundur, Gottfreðsson, Magnús, Aspelund, Thor, Turesson, Ingemar, Björkholm, Magnus, Landgren, Ola, Kristinsson, Sigurdur YContributors: “..., Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland. 3Centre for Public Health Sciences, University of Iceland...”
Published in European Journal of Haematology (2021)
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32by Gunnarsdóttir, Jóhanna, Swift, Emma M, Jakobsdóttir, Jóhanna, Smárason, Alexander, Thorkelsson, Thordur, Einarsdóttir, KristjanaContributors: “...1Centre of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland...”
Published in Birth (2021)
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33by Gudnadóttir, Thuridur A, Bateman, Brian T, Hernádez-Díaz, Sonia, Luque-Fernandez, Miguel Angel, Valdimarsdottir, Unnur, Zoega, HelgaContributors: “...1Faculty of Medicine, Centre of Public Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland...”
Published in PLOS ONE (2016)
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34by Hardardottir, Hronn, Aspelund, Thor, Zhu, Jianwei, Fall, Katja, Hauksdottir, Arna, Fang, Fang, Lu, Donghao, Janson, Christer, Jonsson, Steinn, Valdimarsdottir, Heiddis, Valdimarsdottir, Unnur AContributors: “...@landspitali.is. 2Centre of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland...”
Published in Supportive Care in Cancer (2021)
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35by Carlsen, Hanne Krage, Valdimarsdóttir, Unnur, Briem, Haraldur, Dominici, Francesca, Finnbjornsdottir, Ragnhildur Gudrun, Jóhannsson, Thorsteinn, Aspelund, Thor, Gislason, Thorarinn, Gudnason, ThorolfurContributors: “...1Centre of Public Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 8, Reykjavík, 102, Iceland...”
Published in Environmental Health (2021)
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36by Ásgeirsdóttir, Hildur G, Valdimarsdóttir, Unnur A, Þorsteinsdóttir, Þórdís K, Lund, Sigrún H, Tomasson, Gunnar, Nyberg, Ullakarin, Ásgeirsdóttir, Tinna L, Hauksdóttir, ArnaContributors: “...1 Centre of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland...”
Published in European Journal of Psychotraumatology (2019)
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37by Jónasdóttir, Drífa, Thorsteinsdottir, Thordis, Ásgeirsdóttir, Tinna Laufey, Lund, Sigrún H, Arnarsson, Eiríkur Örn, Ashikali, Eleni, Líndal, Þórhildur, Mogensen, BrynjólfurContributors: “... of Economics, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland. 5The Centre of Public Health Sciences, University...”
Published in Scandinavian Journal of Public Health (2020)
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38by Ásgeirsdóttir, Hildur G, Valdimarsdóttir, Unnur A, Nyberg, Ullakarin, Lund, Sigrún H, Tomasson, Gunnar, Þorsteinsdóttir, Þórdís K, Ásgeirsdóttir, Tinna L, Hauksdóttir, ArnaContributors: “...1Centre of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland...”
Published in European Journal of Public Health (2021)
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39by Magnusdottir, Helga, Vidarsdóttir, Anna Gudrun, Ludviksson, Bjorn Runar, Clausen, Michael, Lund, Sigrun Helga, Jensen, Anders B, Sigurdardottir, Sigurveig TContributors: “... Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland. 6 Thermo Fisher Scientific, Allerd, Denmark...”
Published in International Archives of Allergy and Immunology (2019)
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40by Swift, Emma Marie, Zoega, Helga, Stoll, Kathrin, Avery, Melissa, Gottfreðsdóttir, HelgaContributors: “... Reykjavík, Iceland. Electronic address: emmas@hi.is. 2Centre of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine...”
Published in Women and Birth (2021)
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