Population health

Population health is an approach to health that aims to improve the health of an entire human population. This concept is recognized in many countries as a major focus of healthcare and public health practice. It is distinct from the field of medicine, which traditionally focuses on individual health, and from public health, which focuses on the health of communities and populations.

Definition

Population health is defined as the health outcomes of a group of individuals, including the distribution of such outcomes within the group. It is an approach to health that aims to improve the health of an entire population. One major step in achieving this aim is to reduce health inequities among population groups. In order to do this, it is necessary to understand the determinants of health and the policies and interventions that influence them.

Determinants of health

The determinants of health include the social and economic environment, the physical environment, and the person's individual characteristics and behaviors. These can be categorized as either social determinants of health or biological determinants of health. Social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life. Biological determinants of health include a person's genetic makeup, age, sex, and a range of biological factors.

Policies and interventions

Policies and interventions that are likely to improve population health include those that:

• Address the social determinants of health
• Improve access to health care
• Improve quality of care
• Increase health literacy

See also

• Healthcare
• Public health
• Social determinants of health
• Biological determinants of health

Population health Resources
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