Community health is a medical specialty that focuses on the physical and mental health well-being of the people in a specific geographic region. This important subsection of public health includes initiatives to help community members maintain and improve their health, prevent the spread of infectious diseases and prepare for natural disasters.
Working at the community level promotes healthy living, prevents chronic diseases and brings the greatest health benefits to the greatest number of people in need.
The actions and conditions that protect and improve community health can be organized into three areas:
- health promotion
- health security
- health services.
This breakdown emphasizes the collaborative efforts of various public and private sectors in relation to community health.