1. What is the difference between population health and public health? Provide an example of each. - Population health is the health outcomes of a group of individuals, including the distribution of such outcomes within the group. Public health is the science of protecting and improving the health of people and communities through promotion of healthy lifestyles, research for disease and injury prevention, and detection and control of infectious diseases. An example of population health is measuring the prevalence of diabetes among a specific ethnic group. An example of public health is implementing a vaccination program to prevent the spread of measles. 2. What are the social determinants of health? Name at least three and explain how they affect population health. - The social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age. These circumstances are shaped by the distribution of money, power and resources at global, national and local levels. Some examples of social determinants of health are income, education, employment, housing, access to health care, and environmental quality. They affect population health by influencing the opportunities and resources that individuals and groups have to achieve optimal health and well-being. 3. What is the epidemiological triangle? How can it be used to analyze population health problems? - The epidemiological triangle is a model that describes the relationship between a host, an agent, and an environment in causing disease. It can be used to analyze population health problems by identifying the factors that contribute to the occurrence, transmission, and prevention of disease in a population. For example, to analyze the problem of tuberculosis (TB), one can examine the characteristics of the host (such as age, gender, immune status), the agent (such as the type and strain of TB bacteria), and the environment (such as crowding, ventilation, sanitation) that influence the risk and severity of TB infection. 4. What are some strategies to improve population health? Give an example of each. - Some strategies to improve population health are: - Health promotion: activities that enable people to increase control over their own health and its determinants, and thereby improve their health. For example, educating people about the benefits of physical activity and healthy eating. - Disease prevention: interventions that reduce or eliminate exposure to risk factors or enhance resistance to disease. For example, screening for high blood pressure and cholesterol levels. - Health protection: policies and regulations that protect people from environmental hazards or ensure safe and healthy working conditions. For example, enforcing air quality standards and occupational safety rules. - Health care: services that provide diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, palliation, or prevention of disease