{"id":169,"date":"2021-02-09T16:49:53","date_gmt":"2021-02-09T16:49:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-hvcc-healthpsychology\/?post_type=chapter&p=169"},"modified":"2021-02-09T17:27:55","modified_gmt":"2021-02-09T17:27:55","slug":"public-health-intervention","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-hvcc-healthpsychology\/chapter\/public-health-intervention\/","title":{"raw":"Public health intervention : Screening and Vaccination","rendered":"Public health intervention : Screening and Vaccination"},"content":{"raw":"A\u00a0public health intervention<\/b>\u00a0is any effort or policy that attempts to improve\u00a0mental<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0physical health<\/a>\u00a0on a population level. Public health interventions may be run by a variety of organizations, including\u00a0governmental health departments<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0non-governmental organizations<\/a>\u00a0(NGOs). Common types of interventions include\u00a0screening programs<\/a>,[1]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0vaccination<\/a>,[2]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0food and water supplementation<\/a>, and\u00a0health promotion<\/a>. Common issues that are the subject of public health interventions include\u00a0obesity<\/a>,[3]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0drug<\/a>,\u00a0tobacco<\/a>, and\u00a0alcohol<\/a>\u00a0use,[4]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0and the spread of\u00a0infectious disease<\/a>, e.g.\u00a0HIV<\/a>.[5]<\/a><\/sup>\r\n\r\nA policy may meet the criteria of a public health intervention if it prevents disease on both the individual and community level and has a positive impact on\u00a0public health<\/a>.[6]<\/a><\/sup>\r\n

Types<\/span><\/h2>\r\nHealth interventions may be run by a variety of organizations, including\u00a0health departments<\/a>\u00a0and private organizations. Such interventions can operate at various scales, such as on a global, country, or community level. The whole population can be reached via websites, audio\/video messages and other mass media, or specific groups can be affected by administrative action, such as increasing the provision of healthy food at schools.\r\n

Screening<\/span><\/h3>\r\n
<\/div>\r\nScreening refers to the practice of testing a set of individuals who meet a certain criteria (such as age, sex, or sexual activity) for a disease or disorder. Many forms of screening are public health interventions. For example, mothers are routinely screened for HIV and Hepatitis B during pregnancy. Detection during pregnancy can prevent\u00a0maternal transmission<\/a>\u00a0of the disease during childbirth.[7]<\/a><\/sup>\r\n

Vaccination<\/span><\/h3>\r\n
<\/div>\r\nVaccination programs are one of the most effective and common types of public health interventions. Typically programs may be in the form of recommendations or run by\u00a0governmental health departments<\/a>\u00a0or nationalised health care systems. For instance, in the U.S., the\u00a0Center for Disease Contro<\/a>l decides on a vaccination schedule, and most private health insurers cover these vaccinations. In the UK, the\u00a0NHS<\/a>\u00a0both decides and implements vaccination protocols.\u00a0NGOs<\/a>\u00a0also may be involved in funding or implementing vaccination programs; for instance\u00a0Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation<\/a>\u00a0assists governments in Pakistan, Nigeria and Afghanistan with the administration of\u00a0polio vaccination<\/a>.[8]<\/a><\/sup>\r\n

Supplementation<\/span><\/h3>\r\nSupplementation of\u00a0food<\/a>\u00a0or water of nutrients can reduce\u00a0vitamin deficiency<\/a>\u00a0and other diseases. Supplementation may be required by law or voluntary. Some examples of interventions include:\r\n