A 3000 Word Essay Identifying Two Public Health Issues Pertinent to Clinical Placement Area; Analyse These with Reference to Appropriate Literature and Research and Discuss the Public Health Role of the Midwife.
Module Code – MID 314
Assignment - A 3000 word essay identifying two public health issues pertinent to clinical placement area; analyse these with reference to appropriate literature and research and discuss the public health role of the midwife.
Word Count = 3210
Health is a broad concept, which can embody a huge range of meanings, from the narrowly technical to the all-embracing moral or philosophical. A definition of health is a state of well-being, interpreted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in it’s constitution as ‘a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’ (WHO, 1946). This definition was established at the International Health Conference, New York, 1946; and entered into force on 7 April 1948. This definition has not truly been modified since 1948. Only a handful of publications have focused specifically on the definition of health and its evolution in the first 6 decades. According to WHO, the main determinants of health include the social and economic environment, the physical environment and the person's individual characteristics and behaviours. The way in which an individual lives plays an important role on his / her life quality and health status. The social and economic environment is a key factor in determining the health status of individuals (WHO, 2010).
The role of the midwife according to O’Luanaigh et al (2005) in promoting better public health is an integral part of the midwives’ work. Midwives serve all communities and visit and deal with women from a variety of social backgrounds including those at the sharp end of social inequalities, thus increasing the already justified concerns about the ever increasing inequalities in health and the impact it has on communities and individuals. There is, however, considerable scope for developing the midwifery contribution to public health. This could be achieved by enhancing the extent of midwives’ involvement in
Assignment - A 3000 word essay identifying two public health issues pertinent to clinical placement area; analyse these with reference to appropriate literature and research and discuss the public health role of the midwife.
Word Count = 3210
Health is a broad concept, which can embody a huge range of meanings, from the narrowly technical to the all-embracing moral or philosophical. A definition of health is a state of well-being, interpreted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in it’s constitution as ‘a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’ (WHO, 1946). This definition was established at the International Health Conference, New York, 1946; and entered into force on 7 April 1948. This definition has not truly been modified since 1948. Only a handful of publications have focused specifically on the definition of health and its evolution in the first 6 decades. According to WHO, the main determinants of health include the social and economic environment, the physical environment and the person's individual characteristics and behaviours. The way in which an individual lives plays an important role on his / her life quality and health status. The social and economic environment is a key factor in determining the health status of individuals (WHO, 2010).
The role of the midwife according to O’Luanaigh et al (2005) in promoting better public health is an integral part of the midwives’ work. Midwives serve all communities and visit and deal with women from a variety of social backgrounds including those at the sharp end of social inequalities, thus increasing the already justified concerns about the ever increasing inequalities in health and the impact it has on communities and individuals. There is, however, considerable scope for developing the midwifery contribution to public health. This could be achieved by enhancing the extent of midwives’ involvement in
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