What kind of work is involved in Public health?

Question

I know that Public health officers deal with battling AIDS etc, but what about other diseases like cancer and heart attack?.

How can a Person combine Public health and Social work?. Can a Public Health worker do other work un-related to Health by getting into the field of Social work?...like helping people without homes etc.

This is my problem - I like to help people and do community work etc, but my main interest is to do something related to health. I want to be involved in Health PLUS other issues and help people. Is this possible with a joint degree in Public health and Social work? and how?

Thanks

Answer 1

The joint MSW/MPH is becoming a very popular degree especially in the policy advocacy area of any major health and Mental Health area (this can include infections - HIV, TB, etc; preventable - Diabetes, Heart Disease, etc.; degenerative - dialysis; progressive - MS, traumatic - TBI, paralysis; mental health - Schizophrenia, Bipoloar)

Obviously -work can also include direct service on the various units in hospital and other settings.

You will want to look for schools that have both. You might look at the NASW site under the health initiative. DA

Answer 2

Public health is an aspect of health services concerned with threats to the overall health of a community based on population health analysis. It generally includes surveillance and control of infectious disease and promotion of healthy behaviors among members of the community. Prevention is another important principle: both vaccination programs and free distribution of condoms are public health measures. ...

A social worker is a professionally trained person employed in the administration of charity, social service, welfare, and poverty agencies, advocacy, or religious outreach programs. Social workers may also work with community health agencies. In developed countries a large number of social workers are employed by the government. ...

Both are service oriented programmes....go ahead with your thoughts,praise you for your thoughts on helping people.....all the best.