Community and Mental Health Final Exam
Overview
Globalization – the process of increasing social and economic dependence and integration as capital, goods,
persons, concepts, images, ideas, and values cross state boundaries – is inextricably linked to the benefits and
challenges of our time
Global Inequity
Global inequity: unequal distribution of resources, opportunities, and power that shape the well-being of individuals
globally. Inequity also comes from what people are able to do with what they have (power, political, economic)
- Racial, ethnic, and access disparities exist within and between countries
- Greater inequity = worse health outcomes
- Disease patterns vary throughout the world – primary causes of death differ in developed and developing
countries
- COVID-19 pandemic highlighted global inequities
Population Characteristics
Population growth presents a threat to the health and economy of many nations
Large populations create pressure
- Feeding a population becomes problematic
- Pressures from population growth are also felt in industrialized nations
- Each of these challenges represents a major barrier to economic growth
Goal - address origins of poverty and increase productivity and improve quality of life (QOL)
- Health promotion
- Effective health care delivery systems
- Enhancement of the environmental infrastructure
World population distribution is uneven
Life expectancy varies significantly in different countries
As the world population grows, a global trend toward urbanization occurs
Environmental Factors
Relationship between humans and their environments is an important component of individual, family, and global
health
Environmental stressors
- Directly assault human health (lead poisoning, air pollution)
- Damage society’s goods and services (effects of air pollution on products and
structures)
- Affect quality of life – QOL (noise and litter)
- Global warming (interfere with the ecological balance)
- Natural disasters, terrorism, and war affect all aspects of life
Air pollution, water pollution, and land pollution are among the consequences of environmental stressors
Patterns of Health and Disease
,Lifestyles, health and cultural beliefs, infrastructure, economics, and politics affect existing illnesses and society’s
commitment to prevention
Disease patterns vary throughout the world – primary causes of death differ in developed and developing countries
Racial, ethnic, and access disparities exist within and between countries
Primary causes of death
- Developed countries – have experienced an epidemiological transition from having an infectious disease
profile to chronic disease
o Cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, cancer
- Developing countries – infectious diseases, malnutrition, and violence
o AIDS, TB, malaria, hepatitis B, rheumatic heart disease, parasitic infection, and dengue fever –
could be reduced by 50% through effective public health interventions
International Agencies and Organizations **
WHO (World Health Organization)
- international health agency of the United Nations
- Directs and coordinates international health efforts, disseminates global health standards and guidelines, and
help countries address public health concerns
PAHO (Pan American Health Organization)
- International public health agency to improve the health and living standards of the Americas
- Regional office of the WHO and recognized as part of the United Nations system
UN (United Nations)
- Comprises 193 nations committed to world peace and security through international cooperation
- Attempts to resolve global conflicts and formulates policies that affect all nations
- All member nations have an equal vote in the decision-making process
Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)
- Carter Center – founded in 1982
o Objectives: prevent and resolve conflicts, enhance freedom and democracy, to improve health and
quality of life
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation – founded in 2000
o Globally, the foundation focuses on reducing hunger and poverty and improving health
o Within Africa, the foundation has had a profound effect on prevention and treatment of HIV, TB,
and malaria
UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund)
- Founded to assist millions of sick and hungry children in war-ravaged Europe and China
- Now addresses the needs of children and women throughout the world
World Bank
-Major goal is to improve the health status of individuals living in areas that lack economic development
CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Principal agency in the U.S. government for protecting the health and safety of all Americans and for
providing essential human services
- Founded in 1946 to help control malaria
- At the forefront of public health efforts to prevent and control infectious and chronic diseases, injuries,
, workplace hazards, disabilities, and environmental health threats and to protect the health of international
travelers through advisories and immunization and vaccine recommendations
- Applies research and findings to improve people’s daily lives
- Responds to health emergencies
ICN (International Council of Nurses)
HHS (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
International Health Care Delivery Systems
Research and development must be relevant to infectious diseases that affect the poor
Need to systematically generate an information base that countries can use to shape the future
of their health care systems
Need to consider determinants of health
Use population-based approaches to address system access, quality, efficiency, effectiveness,
and value-based care
Collaborate to solve the problems of health care delivery systems
Two basic health care systems (market based and population based)
Effective health care delivery systems must:
- Increase access and efficiency
- Improve health status through health promotion and disease prevention
- Eliminate health disparities
- Protect individuals and families from financial loss caused by catastrophic illness
National Incident Management System (NIMS)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) established in March 2003 by President George W. Bush
National Incident Management System (NIMS) established the following year (provides a systematic, proactive way
for all levels of governmental and nongovernmental agencies to work to prevent, protect against, respond to, recover
from, and prevent the effects of disasters)
Local Citizens Corp Councils have been established to give volunteers an opportunity to support local fire, law
enforcement, emergency medical services, and community public health efforts
Efforts to prepare for disaster have been enhanced at the state level
Disaster Definitions
A disaster is any event that causes a level of destruction, death, or injury that affects the abilities of the community
to respond to the incident using available resources
- Emergencies differ from disasters, in that agencies, communities, families, or individuals can manage
emergencies using their own resources
- A disaster event may be beyond the ability of the community to respond and recover from the incident using
its own resources; may require assistance from outside the immediate community, both for management of
resulting issues and for recovery
A multiple casualty event is one more than 2 but fewer than 100 individuals are involved
A mass casualty event is one in which 100 or more individuals are involved
Casualties can be classified as:
- Direct victim, indirect victim, displaced person, refugee
Types of Disasters
Terrorism
- “Violent acts or acts dangerous to human life that appear to be intended to intimidate or coerce the civilian
population or to influence the policy or conduct of a government”