1. Foundations in Medicine Lec - 1-
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Foundations in Medicine
Lec - 1-

2. Concepts of Health
All communities have their concepts of health as part of their culture.
Health is the absence of disease leads to the oldest definition.
Some cultures consider health harmony.
Harmony being at peace with self, community , god and cosmos.
Modern medicine often focused on the study of disease and neglect health.

3. Health even neglected at the individual level
Health even neglected at the individual level.Other needs considered more important until it is lost.
At the international level, health was forgotten too.
During the past decades , health becomes a fundamental human right and world wide social goal.
At 1977, the 30th World Health Assembly decided that the main social targets should be the attainment to Health For All (HFA).

4. Health Absence of disease
Changing Concepts
Health has evolved over the centuries as a concept from an individual concern to a world wide social goal and encompasses the whole quality of life.
1. Biomedical concepts
Health Absence of disease
The basis is the germ theory of disease .
Medical profession viewed human body as machine

5. Criticism against it:-
It has minimized the role of environmental , social , psychological and cultural health determinants.
2.Ecological Concepts
Hypothesis health viewed as a dynamic equilibrium between man and his environment.
“Health implies the relative absence of pain and discomfort and a continuous adaptation and adjustment to the environment to ensure optimal function”

6. This concept raises two issues:-
Imperfect man.
Imperfect environment.
3. Psychological Concept
Health is influenced by social , psychological , cultural, economic and political factors of the people concerned.
Health is both a biological and social phenomenon.

7. 4.Holistic Concept
This model is a synthesis of all mentioned concepts.
It recognizes the strength of social, economic , political, and environmental influences on health.
Health is a unified multi - dimensional process involving the well - being of the whole person in the context of his environment.
All sectors of society have an effect on health.
Emphasis on promotion and protection of health.

8. Definitions of Health
1.Conditions of being sound in body , mind or spirit, especially freedom from physical disease or pain ( Webster).
2.Soundness of body or mind; that condition in which its functions are duly and efficiently discharged. ( Dictionary definition).
3.A condition or quality of human expressing adequate functioning in given conditions , genetic and environmental.

9. 4.A modus enabling imperfect men to achieve a rewarding and not too painful existance while they cope with an imperfect world. 5.A state of relative equilbrium of body , form and function , which results from its successful dynamic adjustment to forces tending to disturb it . It is an active response of body forces working toward readjustment ( Perkins).

10. 6.WHO definition
At 1948 the WHO definition is :-
Health is a state of complete physical , mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
Recently :-
Health is the ability to lead a socially and economically productive life.

11. Criticisms against it:-
Being too broad.
Health can not be defined as a : state “ at all , but must be seen as a process of continuous adjustment to the changing demands of living and of the changing meanings we give to life. It is a dynamic concept.
Considered as an idealistic goal than a realistic proposition.
Irrelevant to every day demands , as no body qualifies as healthy ( we are all sick).

12. 7.Operational definition of health:-
The WHO definition is not operational as it cannot be measured directly.
WHO study group operational definition:-
A/ Broad sense: health is a condition or quality of the human organism expressing the adequate functioning of the organism in given conditions , genetic or environmental.

13. B/Narrow sense : health means :-
1.There is no obvious evidence of disease and that a person is functioning normally.
2.Several organs of the body are functioning adequately in themselves and in relation to one another implying a state of equilbrium.
New Philosophy of health
Health is a fundamental human right.
Health is the essence of productive life , and not the result of ever increasing expenditure on medical care.
Health is inter sectorial.

14. Health is an integral part of development.
Health is central to the concept of quality of life .
Health involves individuals , state and international responsibility.
Health and its maintenance is a major social investment.
Health is a world - wide social goal.
The End