Public Health in Southern Africa

April 4, 2013

Deirdre M. Elfers

Factors of Public Health& Public Health Education

in Sub-Saharan Africa

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.

• 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.

What is Public Health Education?

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…

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

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

Factors That Affect Public Health & Health Education:

Resources- Financial, Physical, Technological, Human, Research, & Government

Geography- and related issues

Culture- social norms & stigma

• 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

Resources

Financial Resources

Per Capita (US$) by African Nation

Money origin breakdown

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.)

Modern creativity

What solutions are arising to address the inhibiting factors of

public health and education?

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

• 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

Jaqueline Novogratz:“Patient Capital”

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

ProCorwww.procor.orgWorld Health Organization apps.who.intWorld Economic Forum https://members.weforum.org/pdf/whitepaper.pdfCenter for Disease Control http://www.cdc.gov/excite/skincancer/mod13.htmDoctors Without Borders http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news/article.cfm?id=5116CDC Foundation http://www.cdcfoundation.org/content/what-public-healthEmbrace http://www.embraceglobal.org/main/productAssociation of Schools of Public Healthhttp://www.asph.org