Health and its dimensions determinants

1. CONCEP
T OF
Presentation by,
Adarsh R J
Roll no:1
5th
semester BSc. Nursing
Government College Of Nursing,Kollam

2. • Health is a common theme in most
cultures
• The oldest definition of health is
the "absence of disease"
• In some cultures,health and harmony
are considered equivalent
• The ancient Indians and Greeks
shared this concept and attributed
disease to disturbances in bodily
equilibrium of what they called "humors"

3. • During the past few decades,there
has been a reawakening that health is a
fundamental human right and
a worldwide social goal

4. Definition Of health
"Health is a state of complete physical,mental and social
well-being and not merely an absence of disease or
infirmity"
(World Health Organisation)
"A condition or quality of the human organism expressing the
adequate functioning of the organism in given
conditions,genetic or environmental."
(Operational Definition of Health)

5. Changing Concepts Of
Health
In a world of continuous changes,new concepts are
bound to emerge based on new patterns of
thought.Health has evolved over the centuries as a
concept from an individual concern to a worldwide
social goal

6. 1.Biomedical
Concept
• If one was free from disease,the the
person was considered healthy
• Pathologically,an individual's body is
described as a machine,disease referred to
a fault in the machine and doctor is the
corrector of the machine

7. Biomedical
Concept
Criticism:
This “biomedical concept” did not pay much attention on the
other determinants of health especially social,
environmental,
psychological and cultural. Hence, this was weak in
answering
the key health-related problems like accidents, malnutrition,
antisocial activities, etc.

8. •Human ecology is a part of the science of ecology. Human ecosystem includes
all dimensions of manmade environment—physical, chemical, biological and
psychological in addition to natural environment.
• According to the ecologists, health is viewed as a dynamic
equilibrium between man and environment, and disease
is viewed as an imbalance between the two. Human
ecological and cultural adaptations do determine not
only the occurrence of disease, but also food security and
population explosion.
• The ecological concept revolves around two issues:
(i) man and (ii) environment. Adaptation of man to natural
environment can result in prolonged life expectancies and
better quality of life even in the absence of modern health
amenities.
Ecological
Concept

9. Psychological
concept
• Developments in social sciences revealed the fact
that
health is not only absence of disease but also is a
social,
economic, psychological, cultural and political entity
.
• These factors should be considered while measuring
health.

10. Holistic
concept
• Holistic concept agrees the ancient population’s customary
definition of health (Sound mind in a sound body in a
sound family and in a sound environment).
• As the name implies this holistic concept puts together
all the other concepts on health. Focuses on the impact of
social, political and environmental challenges on health.
• This concept uses multidimensional approach in attaining
the well-being of a person in his/her environment.

11. Holistic
concept
• The holistic approach designates that all parts/segments/
sectors of the society tend to influence health.
• All the departments that focus on promotion and
protection of health play important roles. The various
departments may include agriculture, animal husbandry,
food, industry, education, housing, public works,
communication, etc.
• Disease prevention is safe, cheaper and sustainable
through ecological and environmental approach. Higher
importance paid to environmental and ecological factors
at the very beginning of the planning process itself.

12. New philosophy of
health
•Health is a fundamental human right
•Health is the essence of productive life, and not the
result of ever increasing expenditure on medical care
•Health is intersectoral
•Health is an integral part of development
•Health is central to the concept of quality of life
•Health involves individuals, state and international
responsibility
•Health and its maintenance is a major social investment
health is a worldwide social goal

13. • Health is depicted in a continuum since it comprises various levels of
health ranging from optimal health at one end and total disability or
death at the other end
• The degree of illness increases as one moves towards total disability or
death;the level of wellness increases as one moves towards optimal
health
Wellness,illness and health
continuum

14. THANK
YOU