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Two definitions of health
Health care system in ghana
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2.1. HEALTH AND SUSTAINABILITY The Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary (2012) defines health as a state in which an individual can perform well physically, socially, mentally and spiritually in order to bring out latent qualities in the surroundings in which one finds himself. Health is a state where an individual experiences a good or satisfactory condition. Lately, health has been addressed as the absence of any ailment. The WHO (2003) affirmed that health is not based on just the absence of evidence of disease or infirmity but goes beyond that. The physical, mental and social state of an individual is critical. From the above definitions, the three aspects, the physical, mental and social well-being of an individual is taken into consideration when issues pertaining to health is being addressed. 2.1.1. …show more content…
The primary point of contact in terms of healthcare delivery is the community health facilities. They are for the detection of the early stages of an ailment, infections and minor cases within a community. Cases that cannot be handled by them are referred to clinics which are the secondary point of call. Their aim is to treat cases that could not be handled at the primary level. Complex cases are then referred to general hospitals, specialist hospitals or larger healthcare facilities. The Ghana Health Service is responsible for healthcare delivery services and they fall under the Ministry of Health in Ghana (Fund, 2009). There are said to be certain hitches in the healthcare delivery services in Ghana. Poor management, inefficiency and attitudes of stakeholders in the health sector are a few of the factors attributed to this (Boateng, 2014). Taylor (2014) asserted that, though there are facilities in place for the delivery of healthcare in Ghana, there are problems in terms of inadequacy considering the level of technological advancement in the health sector and the lack of essential
The notion of health is contextual and an interactive, dynamic process between person and environment (Schim et al, 2007). Both wellness and illness are conceptualized by the ‘person’, existing on a continuum across the lifespan (Arnold & Boggs, 2001).
Health is described as “the general condition of the body or mind, especially in terms of the presence or absence of illness or impairments.” Health can also be defined as “the overall condition of something in terms of soundness, vitality and proper functioning” (Oxford, 263). From the definitions of health given, one can either be in good health or in unhealthy.
In this essay I am going to investigate whether health is easily defined as the absence of disease or physical injury. According to Health psychology (2009) ‘World Health Organisation defined health as a complete state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’. In order to achieve good physical a nutrition diet is needed, healthy BMI, rest and adequate physical exercise is needed.
‘Health is a state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’ (World Health Organisation, 2011) This definition was first cited by the International health conference in July 1946, and the definition has remained the same. Health is a way of life which is reflected upon every individual, factors such as the condition of your body, has an impact on your health overall. Additionally, if an individual being is fit and in good shape, they are more likely to make healthy choices. Presently, in society around 10 million adults in Britain smoke, (BBC News 2007).Take the example of cigarettes, much of the known effects of smoking include heart disease, lung cancer, heart attacks and much more. Yet adults around the world are constantly engaging in this habit which ultimately deteriorates the health of a being.
The definition of health generally varies from person to person; for me health is the state of well-being; whether it is physical, mental or social well-being. When making health decisions many people, myself included, consider finances before making decisions. For an example before joining a gym I consider the cost and quality of the gym before considering how vital exercise is to my health. The same goes for diet I often hear people say eating health is much more expensive than eating unhealthy. Being healthy comes from putting in effort; physically, mentally, and economically.
Imagine you are sitting on a park bench and two different people pass you- one is an overweight young man who is smoking a cigarette and the other is a slim woman of about the same age who is jogging. Who is healthier, the man or the woman? Now imagine you actually know the woman and know that she has cystic fibrosis. Who is healthier, the man or the woman? Now imagine you know the man as well, and know that he has severe depression. Who is healthier, the man or the woman? ‘Health’ can be seen as a very vague term. Many people have different understandings of it and what it means to be ‘healthy’. This paper will examine the different ways that health can be defined and it will justify the approach which
This also requires the person to be socially and economically productive in order to be seen as healthy. According to Mildred Blaxter (1990), there are different ways of defining health. Furthermore, disease can be seen as the presence of an abnormality in part of the body or where there is a harmful physical change in the body such as broken bones. So, illness is the physical state of disease, that is to say, the symptoms that a person feels because of the disease. However, there is some limitation of these definitions which is not merely an absence of disease but a state of physical, mental, spiritual and social wellbeing.
In many parts of the world that are considered lower or middle-class countries, health disparities are cause of major concern that leads to unnecessary disease and possible death. Many variables affect how and why many citizens of lower and middle-class countries struggle to obtain adequate healthcare. One region of the world classified as a lower socio economic territory is Ethiopia. Many factors contribute to the lack of health care in Ethiopia such as access to care, high cost of care, and being uneducated, to name a few. One idea that hinders many citizens in Ethiopia to attain healthcare is the access to the healthcare system. This research project will entail the issue of access to the health care system; ways it is affecting the lives of those living in Ethiopia, and measures that can be taken to possibly increase the availability and attainment of healthcare.
It is fairly difficult to define health as there are no agreements between scholars. This is why many sociologists focus their research on the different issues and problems of ill health.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) came up with the most commonly used definition for health, which has not changed for over 60 years. They say that it is ‘’a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’’ (WHO, 1948), therefore meaning there are many more things to consider with health other than just death rates.
In society today, there is an extensive range of definitions of health and wellbeing which can be seen as both positive and negative. A Holistic view can also be identified and defined. These definitions of health have changed over time and will carry on changing within the future. According to where a family lives or their social class everyone will have different meanings and views of health and wellbeing. This may be due to what one person perceives as being healthy as another person may not. Channel 4 learning (no date) describes that a positive view of health can be seen as when a person is more likely to achieve and sustain physical fitness from exercising and are mentally stable. Therefor a negative view can be described when a person is free from illness, disease, mental distress or anything which may be a symptom of not having good health. The holistic view of health sees the person as a whole instead of just directing at one area and therefore combines physical, social, intellectual and emotional factors together. Consequently, if a person has emotional difficulties such as how they interact with other people or how they may feel but are physically fit and free from illness does not mean that they are healthy overall as one factor has difficulties. It is also vital to consider the two main theoretical concepts known as the medical and social model of health. Polity books (no date) describes that the medical model views health in terms of disease, diagnosis and then treatment and very much views a body to be separate from psychological processes. Causes of ill-health within the body are seen to require expert interference from a doctor to provide treatment to prevent or kill of an illness within the body. The Social model...
In 1948 the World Health Organisation (WHO) defined health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. (World Health Organization. 1946). Illness is what
The World Health Organization (WHO) defined health in its broader sense in its 1948 constitution as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity" (Who,1946).
What does it mean to be healthy? Health is a state of complete physical , mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease, illness or infirmity. It is important to distinguish between disease and health. Disease is the prognosis of a particular disorder with a specific cause and characteristic symptoms. On the other hand, illness is the existence of disease
Health is described as physical and mental well-being and freedom from disease, pain or defect. However, such descriptions only superficially define the actual meaning of health. There may be many occasions when individuals are not necessarily ill or in pain but may be overweight, stressed or emotionally unstable. Health is a quality of life involving dynamic interaction and interdependence among the individual’s physical state, their mental and emotional reactions, and the social context in which the individual exists. There are many factors that influence your health, but three major components contribute to general well-being: Self-awareness, a balanced diet and, regular physical activity.