Chapter 1 introduced us to the definitions of community and of health and how they come together to form the basis of our class and our understanding of the field. Community being a group of people who have the same interests or common bonds and are working towards a goal. Health being a state of complete physical, mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity. There are physical, social and cultural factors that all work in a balance to form a healthy community.
Public health really became prevalent with the Roman Empire.They were the first civilization to use public baths, aqueducts to supply the city with drinking and bathing water, and regulations about buildings that were in disrepair. The spiritual era was the rise of the Catholic church and the belief that disease was punishment for our sins. Not until the Renaissance did people accept the fact that the environment may have something to do with transmission of diseases. The Industrial Revolution brought on horrible living conditions in the home and the workplace as children were forced to work long hours. Since then, we've developed vaccines, health departments and ways to teach people about healthy lifestyles.
We've noticed how far we've come with our healthcare, and how our focus is not on how to overcome communicable diseases anymore (as these issues have been resolved with immunizations, better hygiene and sanitation), but how to make better lifestyle choices.
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