scholarly journals What is public health? public goods, publicized goods, and the conversion problem

Public Choice ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Anomaly
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Goods ◽  
Public Good ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Public Health Programs ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Policy Goals ◽  
Health Goal ◽  
Public Health Goal ◽  
Health Related

AbstractPublic health programs began as an attempt to fight infectious diseases that are difficult to address without collective action. But the concept and practice of public health has ballooned to encompass an expanding list of controversial public policy goals ranging from reducing obesity to raising self-esteem. As the list of controversial goals expands, support for “public health” measures contracts. I’ll briefly defend the view that we should define public health as the provision of health-related public goods. I’ll then show that being a health-related public good is not a sufficient condition for counting as a public health goal, since virtually any private good can be converted into a public good by government fiat. This is the conversion problem, which challenges the way we ordinarily think about public goods and public health.

scholarly journals Overview on Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act and its implementation: current update

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 463
Author(s):  
Dhwanit Thakore ◽  
Mahesh Chavda ◽  
Girish Parmar ◽  
Tejal Sheth
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Tobacco Control ◽  
Tobacco Use ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Tobacco Products ◽  
Health Goal ◽  
The Status ◽  
Public Health Goal ◽  
Almost All

Tobacco use- a major public health issue in India has an enormous effect on the lower SES population. . There is an evident link between tobacco use or consumption and poverty. The widespread use of almost all forms of tobacco among the Indian population can be attributed to the social and cultural acceptance in the country. Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 (COTPA) is the legislation that regulates tobacco in India. The prime objective of this review is to compile the literature with information about the laws regulating tobacco use and the status of implementation of tobacco control provisions covered under COTPA. Since effective tobacco control measures involve multi-stakeholders i.e public health, law, trade and commerce, industry, consumer, human rights and child development, coordinated efforts are required to successful enforcement. The outcome of the current literature is bridging the gaps to make the tobacco control a very important public health goal and thereby protect the population from the consequent morbidity and mortality due to tobacco use.

scholarly journals Return to Treatment in the Formal Health Care Sector: Evidence from Tanzania

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 29-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Achyuta Adhvaryu ◽  
Anant Nyshadham
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Health Care Sector ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Formal Sector ◽  
Health Goal ◽  
Public Health Goal ◽  
Formal Health Care

Improving access to the formal health care sector is a primary public health goal in many low-income countries. But the returns to this access are unclear, given that the quality of care at public health facilities is often considered inadequate. We exploit temporal and geographic variation in the cost of traveling to formal sector health facilities to show that treatment at these facilities improves short-term health outcomes for acutely ill children in Tanzania. Our results suggest that these improvements are driven in part by more timely receipt of and better adherence to antimalarial treatment. (JEL I11, I12, I15, I18, J13, O15)

scholarly journals Worksite Tobacco Prevention: A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Adoption, Dissemination Strategies, and Aggregated Health-Related Outcomes across Companies

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Verena Friedrich ◽  
Adrian Brügger ◽  
Georg F. Bauer
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Longitudinal Design ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Mass Scale ◽  
Tobacco Prevention ◽  
Dissemination Strategy ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Randomized Control

Evidence based public health requires knowledge about successful dissemination of public health measures. This study analyses (a) the changes in worksite tobacco prevention (TP) in the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland, between 2007 and 2009; (b1) the results of a multistep versus a “brochure only” dissemination strategy; (b2) the results of a monothematic versus a comprehensive dissemination strategy that aim to get companies to adopt TP measures; and (c) whether worksite TP is associated with health-related outcomes. A longitudinal design with randomized control groups was applied. Data on worksite TP and health-related outcomes were gathered by a written questionnaire (baselinen=1627; follow-upn=1452) and analysed using descriptive statistics, nonparametric procedures, and ordinal regression models. TP measures at worksites improved slightly between 2007 and 2009. The multistep dissemination was superior to the “brochure only” condition. No significant differences between the monothematic and the comprehensive dissemination strategies were observed. However, improvements in TP measures at worksites were associated with improvements in health-related outcomes. Although dissemination was approached at a mass scale, little change in the advocated adoption of TP measures was observed, suggesting the need for even more aggressive outreach or an acceptance that these channels do not seem to be sufficiently effective.

scholarly journals Development of Vaccines against Visceral Leishmaniasis

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krystal J. Evans ◽  
Lukasz Kedzierski
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽  
Leishmania Donovani ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Past Infection ◽  
Health Goal ◽  
Disability Adjusted Life ◽  
Life Years ◽  
Public Health Goal

Leishmaniasis is a neglected disease resulting in a global morbidity of 2,090 thousand Disability-Adjusted Life Years and a mortality rate of approximately 60,000 per year. Among the three clinical forms of leishmaniasis (cutaneous, mucosal, and visceral), visceral leishmaniasis (VL) accounts for the majority of mortality, as if left untreated VL is almost always fatal. Caused by infection withLeishmania donovaniorL. infantum, VL represents a serious public health problem in endemic regions and is rapidly emerging as an opportunistic infection in HIV patients. To date, no vaccine exists for VL or any other form of leishmaniasis. In endemic areas, the majority of those infected do not develop clinical symptoms and past infection leads to robust immunity against reinfection. Thus the development of vaccine forLeishmaniais a realistic public health goal, and this paper summarizes advances in vaccination strategies against VL.

scholarly journals Protein Biotoxins of Military Significance

2006 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiří Patočka ◽  
Ladislav Středa
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
Terrorist Attack ◽  
Chemical Warfare Agents ◽  
Bioactive Molecules ◽  
Natural Substances ◽  
Health Goal ◽  
Public Health Goal ◽  
Warfare Agents ◽  
Public Health Officials

There is a spectrum of several threat agents, ranging from nerve agents and mustard agents to natural substances, such as biotoxins and new, synthetic, bioactive molecules produced by the chemical industry, to the classical biological warfare agents. The new, emerging threat agents are biotoxins produced by animals, plants, fungi, and bacteria. Many types of organisms produce substances that are toxic to humans. Examples of such biotoxins are botulinum toxin, tetanus toxin, and ricin. Several bioactive molecules produced by the pharmaceutical industry can be even more toxic than are the classical chemical warfare agents. Such new agents, like the biotoxins and bioregulators, often are called mid-spectrum agents. The threat to humans from agents developed by modern chemical synthesis and by genetic engineering also must be considered, since such agents may be more toxic or more effective in causing death or incapacitation than classical warfare agents. By developing effective medical protection and treatment against the most likely chemical and mid-spectrum threat agents, the effects of such agents in a war scenario or following a terrorist attack can be reduced. Toxin-mediated diseases have made humans ill for millennia. Unfortunately, the use of biological agents as weapons of terror has now been realized, and separating naturally occurring disease from bioterroristic events has become an important public health goal. The key to timely identification of such attacks relies on education of primary care physicians, first responders, and public health officials.

“Operation Helping Hands”: Massachusetts' Health and Medical Response to Hurricane Katrina

2010 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne Condon ◽  
Elena Savoia ◽  
Rebecca Orfaly Cadigan ◽  
Marya Getchell ◽  
Jonathan L. Burstein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Hurricane Katrina ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Medical Response ◽  
Health Goal ◽  
Public Health Goal ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Massachusetts History

AbstractIntroduction:As Hurricane Katrina bore down on New Orleans in August 2005, the city's mandatory evacuation prompted the exodus of an estimated 80% of its 485,000 residents. According to estimates from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least 18 states subsequently hosted >200,000 evacuees.Hypothesis/Problem:In this case study, “Operation Helping Hands” (OHH), the Massachusetts health and medical response in assisting Hurricane Katrina evacuees is described. Operation Helping Hands represents the largest medical response to evacuees in recent Massachusetts history.Methods:The data describing OHH were derived from a series of structured interviews conducted with two leading public health officials directing planning efforts, and a sample of first responders with oversight ofoperations at the evacuation site. Also, a literature review was conducted to identify similar experiences, common challenges, and lessons learned.Results:Activities and services were provided in the following areas: (1) administration and management;(2) medical and mental health; (3) public health; and (4) social support. This study adds to the knowledge base for future evacuation and shelter planning, and presents a conceptual framework that could be used by other researchers and practitioners to describe the process and out comes of similar operations.Conclusions:This study provides a description of the planning and implementation efforts of the largest medical evacuee experience in recent Massachusetts history, an effort that involved multiple agencies and partners. The conceptual framework can inform future evacuation and shelter initiatives at the state and national levels, and promotes the overarching public health goal of the highest attainable standard of health for all.

scholarly journals Developing Resources for Staff and Adapting Programing During COVID-19 at Fred Victor

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Carnegie
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Team Meetings ◽  
Health Goal ◽  
Group I ◽  
Health Promotions ◽  
Public Health Goal ◽  
Online Format

Fred Victor is an organization that supports those experiencing poverty and homelessness in Toronto. As a practicum student in the Health Promotions department at Fred Victor, I gained experience working on health promotion projects and was able to work directly with the community. Throughout the practicum, I worked on several projects to adapt Fred Victor’s services during COVID-19. First, I worked to develop a resilience toolkit for Fred Victor staff. COVID-19 has led to higher levels of stress. This prompted Fred Victor to develop tools to support their staff. I designed a toolkit that instructs managers on how to promote resilience in their supervision sessions and team meetings. This toolkit provided information on what resilience is, as well as practical actions that managers can take to promote resilience in staff. This project involved knowledge translation to convey the research on resilience to Fred Victor staff in an accessible way. Additionally, I worked to support the development of online peer support groups. Typically, Fred Victor runs weekly in-person peer support groups for community members. However, due to COVID-19, these groups had to move to an online format. I helped facilitate this transition by developing a guide for facilitating online group programming. This guide included information on the best platforms to run online programming, how to create a safety agreement, and best practices for facilitating the group. I then conducted outreach to community members to ask for their input on the format and content of the groups. These projects are important to public health as they work to meet the public health goal to improve quality of life by promoting and encouraging healthy behaviours. These projects played an important role in promoting the health of Fred Victor staff and clients during COVID-19 by providing them with support and tools to manage their mental health.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document