Discussion: Personal Perspective on Global Health Issues

Since 1900, the average life expectancy of persons in the United States has increased by more than 30 years thanks largely to efforts of public health professionals who strive to keep people healthy and free of injury. As no one really expects to be sick or injured, people often take for granted the health and safety measures, highlighted in your interactive courseware this week, that help reduce health risks.

To prepare:

Consider that a community’s burden of disease illustrates the gap between the current health status of its residents and an ideal health situation in which the entire population lives to an advanced age, free of disease and disability. Consider the ways in which public health closes that gap and how the work of public health professionals and organizations can impact the Health-Adjusted Life Expectancy (HALE) and Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALY).

By Day 4

Submit a Discussion post in which you respond to the following five questions. Be sure to support your responses with information you learned from the week’s Learning Resources.

1. Start your post with a brief description of a current or historical public health effort from your interactive courseware (e.g., water fluoridation) that is new or surprising.
2. Considering your daily activities, describe two specific instances where public health efforts such as those identified in your learning resources (e.g., immunization) may have an impact on individuals you know.
3. Explain how your examples might impact the burden of disease addressed in your Learning Resources this week.
4. How would (or do) your examples of public health affect people in other less developed countries? Provide an example to illustrate your point.