HLTH 1520 - Prevention in Community Health

4.5 Credits

This course introduces and applies the principles of public health and study design needed to support population-based and community health assessment and evaluation. Emphasis is placed on prevention across the lifespan, health behavior, health communication, health promotion, and the role of public health systems in preventing illness and injury. Students examine communicable and non-communicable diseases, environmental and social determinants of health, health disparities, and strategies for improving population health outcomes through primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention.

Lecture Hours: 4.5
Lab Hours: 0.0
Internship Hours: 0.0
Clinical or Practicum Hours: 0.0

Course Objectives

Identify epidemiologic principles and population perspectives, including rates, risk factors, health status indicators, disease determinants, causation, types of epidemiologic research, public health surveillance, and vital statistics.

Explain the relationship between health, social, and behavioral sciences, including social determinants of health and methods for influencing behavior at individual and population levels.

Differentiate non-communicable diseases in terms of their effects on longevity and quality of life, and describe strategies for prevention, detection, treatment, and impact reduction, including epidemiologic and demographic transitions.

Analyze communicable diseases from a population perspective, including prevention, detection, and control strategies.

Distinguish environmental health and injury risks and evaluate their current and potential impacts on health status, including strategies for prevention and control.

Discuss health disparities and vulnerable populations, including maternal and child health, aging populations, individuals with disabilities, and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups.

Analyze the health care system through the lens of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention.

Explain the role of public health systems and agencies in the prevention of illness and injury and the promotion of population health.

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