History of Public Health

Introduction

Methods of preventing disease go back many centuries. Concepts of disease were crude and often based on anacdote. Some recommendations and practices were ineffective, if not even harmful to health such as bloodletting.

In the mid-1800's there was a hygine movement, perticularly in the UK, with focus of improvements of cleanless and well-being of the poor. Additionally, at the end of the 19th century germ theory became accepted.

There are 4 outcomes to take from this course:

1. Explain the evolution of concepts about cause and prevention of disease
2. Understand the importance of studying the factors associated with outcomes in a systematic way in human populations.
3. Discuss some of the major historical figures and events that played a role in evolution of public health and epidemiology
4. Discribe the overall structure of the public health system in the US today