Public health activities include epidemiology, health education, immunisation and vaccination programmes, health promoting service provision (such as clean water supplies), and social policy measures to address the wider determinants of health. In recent years, with the growing understanding of the impact of social inequality on the nation’s health, public health has increasingly involved community development and targeted initiatives, in order to reduce inequalities and address the health needs of disadvantaged groups. Public health practice can take place with individuals, families, communities, or at regional or national level. Most maternity care is focused on individual women and families, but there is considerable scope for developing a population perspective within midwifery.
Publication history information: Published June 2001. Reviewed 2005. Guideline published more than 5 years ago, but publisher has confirmed the guideline's continued validity (March 2009).
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