Public Health in Southern Africa April 4, 2013 Deirdre M. Elfers Factors of Public Health & Public Health Education: A Comparison of Developing and Industrialized Nations Public Health in Southern Africa April 4, 2013 Deirdre M. Elfers

Presentation Objectives: What are public health and public health education? -What are the steps of educating the public about health? -Is there a difference between developing and industrialized nations? What are some of the factors that affect public health & education? -Resources, geography, and culture Who delivers public health & education? -Where does the money come from? -What types of organizations deliver it? What are some current solutions to limiting factors? -Modern creativity in public health & education

What is Public Health? Public health is the science of protecting and improving the health of families and communities through promotion of healthy lifestyles, research for disease and injury prevention, and detection and control of infectious diseases. (CDC Foundation) Public Health deals with keeping groups of people healthy, starting with the individual.

What is Public Health Education? The Association of Schools of Public Health say, “Public Health Education is the science and art of improving the health of communities through education…” Public health educators must be prepared to discuss all aspects of health, under all circumstances, at all stages of life. Research and data. It is the basis for techniques, funding, approval, and overall support. The end goal is not only prevention, but also increased awareness and openness concerning health issues.

The Steps of Public Health Education: Identify resources and community partners. - can be VERY different between communities Assess the needs of the community. - collect and analyze data - establish priorities Make a Plan - must have people in the community in agreement Implement the Plan Measure Progress - continual data and proper research techniques Continue Assessment and Adjustment - constant discussion between educator and community

It’s all a little different in developing areas… Industrialized Nations: Community immersion & input Culture, needs, and resources typically cultivate and promote health education Greater resources readily available Health needs & solutions are going to be different from developing Developing Nations: Community immersion & input Factors can inhibit the completion of any one of the steps Culture, needs, and resources are likely to be very different/unknown Assessment may need to be extended and community partners are even more important

Factors That Affect Public Health & Health Education: Resources - Financial, Physical, Technological, Human, Research, & Government Geography - and related issues Culture - social norms & stigma

Resources Financial Resources - very limited in developing nations Physical Location Technology - limited access to the internet, reliable phones, & electricity Human Resources - across Sub-Saharan Africa, approx. 13 doctors for every 100,000 patients (procor.org) Research/Data - may not be available or easily completed in some areas Government - can be a negative resource

Financial Resources Money origin breakdown Per Capita (US$) by African Nation

Geography Can patients make it to the clinic? How often? Accessibility and transit time can affect medications. - expiration - maintaining supply Compounding resource factors (electricity & technology) Accessibility to target audience/the means to educate

Culture Issues vs. Non-issues - people are forced to prioritize – you have to ask them! (shoes, prenatal care, etc.) Social Norms - educators especially must be very conscious of this Gender Inequality - males are the providers, they receive the healthcare Stigma - cultures view things differently (HIV/AIDS, bed nets, etc.)

What solutions are arising to address the inhibiting factors of public health and education? Modern creativity

Mobile Clinics Accessibility is probably the biggest issue in rural parts of developing nations. Mobile clinics are fully equipped miniature clinics. Doctors Without Borders, US Doctors for Africa, and many other organizations are transitioning

Jaqueline Novogratz: “Patient Capital” Using business to create financial stability and improvement in health Connected big businesses to a textile plant to create better bed nets and industry in Tanzania Uses local women to market the product – a means of addressing stigma Investors are following suit, putting money into local business and lending Look her up on Ted Talks!

Technology Innovation Many private investors are supporting low-cost, sustainable, and accessible health products. New products address a number of health issues: infant mortality, water-borne illness, as well as drug limitations. Educators are needed to ensure people know about these new products and how to use them properly.

Conclusion Industrialized nations are beginning to make the shift toward preventative care, where public health workers work the front lines. Innovations and changes are coming to developing worlds that are changing the landscape of public health. This change needs guidance, assessment, and man-power, the primary role of public health workers. Public Health and Public Health Education are professions growing exponentially in importance all across the world.

References ProCor www.procor.org World Health Organization apps.who.int World Economic Forum https://members.weforum.org/pdf/whitepaper.pdf Center for Disease Control http://www.cdc.gov/excite/skincancer/mod13.htm Doctors Without Borders http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news/article.cfm?id=5116 CDC Foundation http://www.cdcfoundation.org/content/what-public-health Embrace http://www.embraceglobal.org/main/product Association of Schools of Public Health http://www.asph.org