COMMUNITY HEALTH
Learning Objectives:
a. Define what is community health;
b. Discuss the factors affecting community health;
c. Identify the factors that improve community health and;
d. Understand the importance of community health.
READING
Community Health is a major field of study within the medical and clinical sciences which
focuses on the maintenance, protection, and improvement of the health status of population
groups and communities. It is a distinct field of study that may be taught within a separate
school of public health or environmental health. Community health focuses on an overall
geographic area rather than on shared characteristics such as age or diagnosis. The defined
area could be as small as a neighborhood, or it could encompass a city or entire region.
Factors Affecting Community Health
Factors affecting community health can be grouped into:
Physical Factors
Social/Cultural factors
Community Organization
Individual behavior
1. PHYSICAL FACTORS;
Industrial development- communities that are industrially developed are more
likely to be affected by numerous diseases due to the toxic waste products from
the industries that are released into water bodies and the atmosphere and due
to congestion of settlement leading to slum development hence contagious
diseases compared to areas that are not industrially developed.
Community Size- a densely populated or over populated community can easily
be attacked by communicable diseases.
Geographical Location- some communities are more prone to diseases due to
geographical location.
Environment- a clean environment is very vital to the proper health of a
community which minimizes the occurrence and transmission of diseases, unlike
a dirty environment which easily leads to outbreak of diseases.
2. SOCIAL/CULTURAL FACTORS;
Traditional Beliefs- beliefs or traditions possessed by communities greatly affect
the health of its people for example Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Economy- a community that is economically well off has low chances of suffering
from disease breakouts because they have proper health care and water
drainage system unlike a poor community.
Government- since the government involves planning, implementing and
provision of community services such as water supply, medical supplies and
other needs which can directly affect the community health.
Community Organization- ways in which communities organize their resources
such as taxes which can be very helpful in control of diseases and supply of
sufficient and efficient medical care.
3. EDUCATIONAL FACTORS;
Poor education or illiteracy affects the health of a community when people
doesn’t have education on how they can prevent themselves from diseases.
4. INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOR;
Community health is greatly influenced by individuals, their personal health,
habit, etc. and in order to achieve a healthy community, it takes a team work.
For instance, proper disposal of waste products from and individuals’ compound,
clearing all stagnant water in the compound to prevent harboring of mosquitoes,
active smokers to quit smoking to avoid passive smokers thus preventing lung
cancer, abstinence from sexual activities and for sexually active individuals use
protection to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDs and STDs etc. Thus, proper
individuals healthy living can greatly promote a healthy community.
Improving community health is a huge undertaking that involves cooperation between public
health workers, local government, volunteers and average citizens alike-and the end products
of their work can take a lot of forms. “Communities benefits from walking trails and bike paths,
from access to healthy food and playgrounds, from accessible healthcare services, schools and
places of employment, as well as affordable housing”, Bognanno says.
Education also plays a large role in maintaining community health. Health fairs and advertising
campaigns that expose the dangers of risk factors like tobacco exposure, poor nutrition and
physical inactivity can raise awareness about importance of choosing a healthy lifestyle.
Community health education is an important part of our world today. In fact, if the year 2020
has taught us anything, it is that community health education is a vital part of our society. The
outbreak of COVID-19 a pandemic that has infected millions of people around the world-
crippled the global economy and changed the way we live. One of the most important roles in
public health today is in community health education. Within this field, there is a variety of
public health issues to address, such as disease prevention, environmental health, nutrition,
safety and disaster preparedness, and more.
Activity 1
Name: _______________________________________ Date: _____________________
Year & Section: ________________________________ Score: ____________________
Direction: TRUE OR FALSE. Write TRUE if the statement is correct and write FALSE if the
statement is false. Put your answer in blank before the number.
________1. A community is a group of people who have at least one characteristic in common
such as age or disease risk factor, but do not interact with each other.
________2. Eliminating health disparities, demonstrating cultural competence, and contributing
to a safe and health environmental are all challenges foe the 21st century public health nurse.
________3. Once the inmate is seen by the NP, Jason’s responsibility as the public health nurse
is over.
________4. A genogram helps illustrate the connections between a family and other systems in
the environment.
________5. When assessing for available health care services in her community, Samantha
should not worry about whether the services are accessible, affordable or appropriate to meet
her community’s needs.
________6. Epidemiological studies are generally experimental.
________7. Informatics involves the use of information and technology in the delivery and
coordination of health care.
________8. Social justice is a core nursing value.
________9. Community health is a distinct field of study that may be taught within a separate
school of public health or environmental health.
_______10. Environmental health a densely populated or over populated community can easily
be attacked by communicable diseases.
Activity 2
Name: ____________________________________ Date: _________________________
Year & Section: _____________________________ Score: ________________________
Direction: Make a poster and slogan about community health problems.
RUBRICS FOR POSTER MAKING
CATEGORY 5 3 2 1
All graphics are All graphics are All graphics are Graphics are not
related to the related to the related to the related to the
topic and make topic and most topic. Most topic or several
GRAPHIC- it easier to make it easier to borrowed borrowed
REVELANCE understand. All understand. All graphics have a graphics do not
borrowed borrowed source citation. have a source
graphics have a graphics have a citation.
source citation. source citation.
The poster All required All but 1 of the Several required
includes all elements are required elements were
elements as well included on the elements are missing.
REQUIRED as additional poster. included on the
ELEMENTS information. poster.
The poster is The poster is The poster is The poster is
exceptionally attractive in acceptably distractingly
attractive in terms of design, attractive messy or very
terms of design, layout, and though it may poorly designed.
ATTRACTIVENESS layout, and neatness. be a bit messy. It is not
neatness. attractive.
POSTER
SLOGAN
