Why Study Public Health?
The public health field is an exciting and growing part of our society. There are opportunities for one to pursue an online Master’s in Public Health as well as wonderful universities that specialize in public health offerings. Complex health issues are being faced, daily and conquered. Good health practices are being taught to the people in an effort to prevent the spread of disease. Expanded health care is promoted by the public health worker as is substance abuse and sexual education. As a public health person, one might be engaged in any of a number of subfields, such as teachers, journalists, researchers, administrators, environmentalists, lab techs, and scientists. The main reason for a degree in public health is the fact that it is a field that is dedicated to the helping of others. These health care professionals serve the local, national, and international communities and are the first lines to form against any infectious disease.
Public Health in History
In reality, the field of public health is a rather new kid on the block, but it has its roots in antiquity. The earliest public health employees were the religious leaders of the day. The early leaders sought to influence behavior by instructing the people as to what foods were safe to eat and what water was safe to drink. The priests also tried to regulate sexual conduct by establishing rules that were to be followed by their people. All of the religious rules were instituted in an effort to keep the population healthy so that they could be strong militarily and economically. The early Romans quickly discovered that if they did not practice good sanitation, the people would all get sick. Some of the earliest of sewer systems were established by the clever Romans. During the Black Death Plague in Europe, it was discovered that by burning down areas with a high concentration of disease, the disease could be controlled as the rats which carried the infection were burned.
What is Public Health?
When one has a Master’s in Public Health one will practice the art of preventing disease and promoting the health of the society. The practitioner of public health always deals with sicknesses that impact just a few or many thousands of people. Public health workers will be found in surveillance of existing health cases, infectious diseases, and sexual health. The workers will participate in vaccination programs and teaching people how to wash their hands and practice good hygiene. Where you find the public health person he/she will be dealing with the prevention and treatment of disease.
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Having an interest in pursuing a Masters in Public Health, it is interesting to know that it has its roots in religion and ultimately, in history. Thank you for this overview, really. It makes it easier to gain a perspective on what public health is and how it helps society in general. It also helps to know what jobs you can take on after investing on a degree.
I do think that the main reason I want to get a public health degree is the fact that it gives me the knowledge and puts me in the position to help as many people as I can. And the help that I give touches on an area that is very important: health and safety. I do think that there are few professions that can be considered a higher calling than this.Po
As a Catholic, I am very familiar with the biblical prescriptions on what to eat, how to act, what to drink, and even when to do these things. I have always thought that it was just old customs and silly ways to impose discipline on the religious followers. But reading your post made me think twice. It does make sense that the early religious leaders were acting as public health officials at a time when disease is easily fatal and very rampant. That these dictums were a way to protect the people from getting sick and staying safe.
Thank you for this information. It just outlines the importance of public health, and also the study of public health. It also gives due recognition to the people who are in the public health profession. I do hope more and more people enrol in a Masters in public health program so that there would be more people involved in the efforts to prevent disease and promote society’s well-being.
I think that there are more examples of public health in history. For one, I think that it was during Hippocrates’ time that public health first became an issue of health. Remember that before that, people thought that disease were brought on by evil spirits. As you have indicated, the Romans burned areas where there were a high incidence of the Plague, but Hippocrates was the first one to relate disease with the environment. In fact, he and his followers came up with a book called On Airs, Waters, Places which is considered to be the first guide in public health.
It is true that the study of public health is more of a service to others. Being confronted with a mysterious disease or epidemic, you are one of the first to tackle it, making yourself vulnerable to it. What’s more, the fact that you undertake steps to inform and educate the general public about the hazards of these diseases is of paramount importance. But what I do find most interesting in the study of public health is the fact that you are on top of health trends, studying the cases and looking for ways to stop it.