Primordial Prevention

The first level of prevention is known as primordial prevention. This level of prevention deals preventing the causes rather than treating them. Primordial prevention is known as the prevention of risk factors themselves. These changes can impact social environment immensely and these risk factors are generally implicated for adolescents, high risk children, and young adults. Prevention at a young age can lead to a healthier population at a later stage of life. The concept of primordial prevention came about in 1978 by Strasser, Strasser suggested this to remove or limit the risk factors before they ever become a major risk [reference, Labarthe 2009]. For example Smoking, it may not have a major impact on an individual early on but in time,

it can lead to many cardiovascular diseases. Hence the bringing about of Smoking Ban Legislation, with this measure in place Ontario has lowered second hand smoking and according to the lung association Ontario Tobacco use and exposure to second-hand smoke can cause major damage in children/pregnant women. Some of the damages include asthma attack, miscarriage, still birth and etc. [Reference, on.lung.ca]. Moreover primordial prevention also include economic impact in terms of policymaking i.e. with the Smoking Ban Legislation in place 4.4 billion dollars in productivity lose, which accumulates to 500,000 hospital stays per year, is being made up for [Reference, on.lung.ca]. Another example of preventative risk factors which include food consumption patterns and promotion of physical activity are also steadily being taken care of. Toronto Public Health is taking initiative in this process by providing many free recreation programs that promote wellbeing to the youth for free. All in all Primordial prevention can be considered the most effective way to coop with prevention due to the focus on preventative measures instead of treatment measures.