A Concise History of Public Health

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 375 pages
Publication date: 24 March 2022
Publisher: Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Inc

This comprehensive textbook offers a concise yet comprehensive history of public health, delving into pivotal moments, discoveries, events, and individuals that have shaped the field. Written in a narrative format, the book spans 15 chronologically-sequenced chapters, engaging students in understanding the significance of each important discovery or theme that has contributed to the modern definition of public health. By incorporating real sources from the day, such as newspapers, government documents, contemporary textbooks, papers, or journal articles about public health and medicine, the author crafts a captivating story that captivates readers and highlights the importance of the discussed topics.

Key Features:

Ample illustrations accompany the narratives, providing visual representations of significant events or eras.

The book foreshadows the importance of each aspect of public health history and establishes its relevance to public health today.

Each chapter of the book is contextualized within the broader context of surrounding events, such as wars, politics, geography, or personalities, emphasizing the interconnectedness of public health with social norms of the time.

Discussion questions at the end of each chapter encourage students to apply critical thinking skills and engage with the material.

The topics covered in the chapters include:

Early Theories of Health and Disease, encompassing a global perspective.

The "Great Sanitary Awakening," a pivotal period in public health history.

The Germ Theory of Disease, a groundbreaking discovery that revolutionized medicine.

War and Public Health, exploring the impact of armed conflicts on public health.

The Environment and Health: Worker health and safety, highlighting the importance of safe working conditions.

The Antibiotic Era, commemorating the discovery of penicillin and its transformative effects on medicine.

Counting and Cholera: The History of Epidemiology, emphasizing the importance of data collection and analysis in public health.

Puerperal Fever: The Health of Mothers and Babies, focusing on maternal and infant health.

Tropical Diseases and The Panama Canal, examining the impact of tropical diseases in a specific geographic context.

Immunizations: From Coxpox to Vaccines, tracing the development of vaccines and their role in preventing diseases.

Science, Scurvy, and Public Health Nutrition, exploring the relationship between nutrition, health, and scientific advancements.

Medicine and Public Health: Laws and the Organization of Public Health, examining the legal frameworks and governance structures that shape public health practices.

The Great Tobacco, a comprehensive examination of the tobacco industry's impact on public health and its contribution to the global health crisis.

By providing a comprehensive and engaging account of public health history, this textbook serves as an invaluable resource for students, educators, and professionals interested in understanding the past, present, and future of this critical field.

ISBN-13: 9781284111774