Full Description
Public Health Practice in Australia offers a thorough introduction to what public health practitioners do, and the 'effort' involved in improving the health of the public.This second edition has been fully revised and updated in line with current policies and practice. It highlights common threads that underlie seemingly disparate activities, ideas and entities that comprise the organised effort of public health practice. The emphasis is on securing and maintaining the conditions in society that enable people to live healthy and fulfilling lives.The authors examine the impact of historical, social, economic, environmental and political factors on the health of individuals, communities and populations. Taking an applied, multidisciplinary approach, they outline the strategies and tools that public health practitioners use to improve health outcomes: identifying infrastructure needs in the workforce, public and private sector organisations, and in regulation; gathering, analysing and using health data; applying interventions in health policy, provision of health services and health promotion.Public Health Practice in Australia draws on current international and Australian research and the interwoven case studies make the theories and concepts come alive.It is a valuable resource for students and professionals across the health sciences including public health, medicine, environmental health, health promotion, health information management and health administration.'The book is impressive in the completeness, clarity and consistency of the material covered, and for the way in which many of the theoretical issues are related to current practice. An extremely useful and valuable reference for both students and practitioners alike.' - Thomas Tenkate, Environmental Health
Contents
List of tables and figuresAbbreviations and acronymsAbout the authorsIntroductionPART I BACKGROUND: THE BASICS1 What is public health? Definitions and applications2 The historical development of public health: Landmarks in the field3 Health in Australia today: Health status, the ANALYTICAL TOOLKIT: KEY CONCEPTS AND FRAMEWORKS4 Distribution of health and its determinants: Changing concepts and models5 Explaining differences and determinants: Environment, society and behaviour6 Public health interventions: From quarantine to the rise of 'evidence-based practice'7 Health systems and policy: Making sense of the complex mosaicPART III PUBLIC delivers public health? Contemporary policies and players9 Legislative authority for public health action: How governments and societal expectations intersect10 Public health intelligence: Information and the research base for action11 Human and financial resources: Essential foundations for actionPART Surveillance and disease control: From data to intervention13 Health protection: From the physical environment to ecological health14 Preventive services: Linking public health and personal health care15 Health promotion: From lifestyles to societal determinants of health16 Health maintenance and improvement for vulnerable populations: From needs to rightsPART V PUBLIC HEALTH CHALLENGES: EMERGING ISSUES AND RESPONSES17 Public health governance: Politics of participation, decision-making and accountability18 Futures of public health: Where to now for the organised effort?19 A final note on ethical practiceAPPENDICESAppendix A: Australian core public health functionsAppendix B: Millennium Development GoalsAppendix C: Commonwealth Department of Health structure, 1921-2012Appendix D: Commonwealth population health divisions, 1961-2012Appendix E: Approaches and theories for health promotionAppendix F: Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, 1986 (extract)Appendix G: Evidence-based public health: Recommendations form Taskforce on Community Preventive ServicesAppendix H: Examples of public health laws in AustraliaAppendix I: Examples of new diseases identified in humans since 1975Appendix J: Core environmental health services provided by Health Departments and environment protection agenciesAppendix K: Vaccine start dates in AustraliaAppendix L: Common food- or water-borne pathogensUseful resourcesSources for definitionsBibliographyIndex
