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Introduction to Community Health

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Individual Behaviour and Community Health

Individual behaviour is the main factor that affects community health. People’s behaviors affect

their health through relations with others and the physical and social surroundings. Therefore,

healthcare professionals aim to promote health by making individual changes to suit a person’s

lifestyle in their particular setting (Laverack 2017). The notion is that before making the changes

an individual is expected to understand the basic facts of a specific health problem, comprehend

the mechanisms of the problem, and consult or have access to suitable services (Laverack 2017).

Logically, some behaviors are perceived to cause illness and encouraging behaviour change is

the most effective manner of reducing the illness to promote community health.

Community Health and Public Health

A community is a group of inhabitants co-existing in a particular location with similar

regulations and comprising typical principles, customs, and organizations. Community health

refers to the health condition of individuals in a specific locale and the public and private actions

established to promote, care for, and safeguard their health (Goodman, Bunnell, & Posner,

2014). Conversely, public health refers to a structured community effort to address public

interest in health by using technical and scientific methods to prevent illness and promote health

(Novick & Morrow, 2019). To that end, community health focuses on the general contribution to

the physical and mental health of people whereas public health focuses on the scientific process

of preventing illness.

Domains of Personal and Community Health

The ‘domain approach’ is used to address personal and community health because it

offers a link between empowerment and health outcomes. According to Laverack (2006)
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empowering individuals and the community enhances competence and self-esteem which

tremendously increases personal control that directly impacts the improvement of health

outcomes. For instance, a strong local leadership structure is a fundamental domain that

determines the achievement of positive health outcomes in the community (Laverack 2006).

Participating with others affected by similar health conditions in the community can build trust in

health centers. Community-based organizations including committees, youth groups, and sports

association is a domain that can be used to socialize and address broader health concerns. The

capability of individuals or the community to mobilize resources such as land, capital, skills, and

equipment for health purposes can lead to improved health outcomes (Laverack 2006). Assessing

health problems enables individuals within a community to recognize common health problem

and provide solutions. Linking with other people and organizations through coalitions and health

alliances helps to address community health needs. The domains can enable the society to

prevent the detrimental effects of lacking better healthcare.

Community Health Practices

The practices aim to promote the welfare of individuals in a defined setting. The innovations in

public health techniques and programs are directed at minimizing risk factor prevalence,

diminishing chronic and acute illness, occurrence of injuries, and promoting health (Goodman,

Bunnell, & Posner, 2014). The practices also create a safe and healthy surrounding and guarantee

access to equal health opportunities for all community members. Community intervention trials

and community-centered efforts are the cornerstone of promoting a healthy community. They

ensure that individuals apply appropriate methods aimed at diminishing diseases. The

community health programs and approaches such as immunizations, class teachings, and
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awareness campaigns are crucial to the well-being of individuals and groups (Novick & Morrow,

2019). The practices might minimize healthcare costs and improve health outcomes.

Causes of Health Disparity and Related Problems

Health disparities are avoidable differences in the burden of illness, violence, injuries or

opportunities to attain better health care that are experienced by socially and economically

underprivileged populations. To put it another way, they are inequalities that take place in the

provision and access to healthcare across diverse socioeconomic, ethnic, and racial groups

(Thomas, 2014). The pervasiveness of health disparities is on the rise with minority groups

getting affected through poorer health outcomes as compared to non-minorities. The social

determinants of health including lower education levels, general economic status, poor standards

of living, and staying close to environmental hazards that contribute to poor health are the

predominant causes of health disparities (Thomas, 2014). The health disparities are worsened by

an increase in the number of individuals living below the federal poverty line and low levels of

college graduates. They are also worsened by a tremendous shortage of healthcare experts

(especially minorities and socially disadvantaged groups) and the slow implementation of the

affordable care act.

The populations experiencing health disparities are subjected to food insecurity and

hunger resulting in poor nutrition. The victims lack proper physical activity necessary to boost

their health status (Thomas, 2014). Health disparity populations are affected by higher infant

mortality rates. They are more likely to suffer from high rates of cardiovascular diseases and an

earlier inception of diabetes. The health disparity results in lost income and labor productivity.

The socioeconomic, ethnic, and racial groups spend a large amount of their income on health
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care which affects their economic status (Suthers, 2008). Health disparities have a negative

impact on overall health, quality of life, and life expectancy.

Social Determinant of Health

Economic income is the most fundamental social determinant of health. It determines the quality

of health that an individual can access in the community. Health care settings necessitate policies

that promote equality to all socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic groups. Policy and action for health

require to be geared towards addressing income to get rid of illness before they become

detrimental (Wilkson & Marmot, 2008). The financial aspect in the health care industry ought to

get changed to guarantee equity in access to healthcare. The government and the private sector

are expected to establish policies that promote equality regarding to finances in healthcare.
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References

Goodman, R. A., Bunnell, R., & Posner, S. F. (2014). What is “community health”?

Examining the meaning of an evolving field in public health. Preventive Medicine,

67, S58-S61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2014.07.028

Laverack, G. (2006). Improving Health Outcomes through Community Empowerment: A

Review of the Literature. Department of Social and Community Health, School of

Population Health, University of Auckland.

Laverack, G. (2017). The challenge of behaviour change and health promotion. Challenges,

8(2), 25. https://doi.org/10.3390/challe8020025

Novick, L. F., & Morrow, C. B. (2019). Defining Public Health: Historical and

Contemporary Developments. Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

Suthers, K. (2008). Evaluating the Economic Causes and Consequences of Racial and Ethnic

Health Disparities. American Public Health Association.

Thomas, B. (2014). Health and health care disparities: The effect of social and environmental

factors on individual and population health. International Journal of Environmental

Research and Public Health, 11(7), 7492-7507.

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph110707492

Wilkson, R., & Marmot, M. (2008). "Closing the Gap in a Generation" Social Determinants

of Health.