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The Seabert reading introduces the foundations of public health by tracing its historical evolution and highlighting how societies have responded to threats of disease. During the 1700s and 1800s, sanitation was one of the most pressing challenges, as overcrowding, poor water supplies, and inadequate sewage systems created conditions ripe for outbreaks. Despite high mortality rates, this period was also marked by revolutionary findings that shaped the field of public health. As Seabert, McKenzie, and Pinger (2022) define it, public health represents "the organized efforts of society to protect, promote, and restore the people's health."
Following this principle, practices such as quarantine and patient isolation became important strategies to control the spread of infectious diseases in the 1700s. These measures were among the earliest systematic public health interventions and demonstrated that prevention could be as important as treatment. By the 1800s, industrialization, migration, and urban growth brought new health challenges but also advances in science and data collection. John Snow's cholera investigations and Edwin Chadwick's sanitary reforms were groundbreaking. Snow's use of mapping to trace cholera outbreaks is often cited as one of the earliest examples of epidemiology, while Chadwick's reforms established sanitation as a cornerstone of public health infrastructure (Seabert et al., 2022). Together, these efforts reflected a shift toward using data and evidence to extend life expectancy and improve population health. This history shows that many of today's public health practices-surveillance, prevention, and environmental health-are rooted in centuries-old struggles. It also reminds us that progress often emerges during crises, as societies adapt their practices to protect communities
One of the most groundbreaking discoveries in the history of public health was the handwashing theory introduced by Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis in the 1840s. To address this, he required physicians to wash their hands with a chlorinated lime solution before attending to patients. Mortality rates dropped dramatically, providing strong evidence that hygiene practices could prevent disease transmission (Seabert, McKenzie, & Pinger, 2022). In the 1979 Surgeon General's Report, Healthy People, the report argued that "the nation's health strategy must place major emphasis on prevention of disease and promotion of health" (U.S. DHEW, 1979, p. 3). This supports the idea that our health is based on our lifestyle choices and environmental conditions. Leading to this, the government also called for action to improve the public health of the nation: "Government cannot do it alone; the active participation of all Americans is essential" (U.S. DHEW, 1979, p. ). This report set the foundation for ongoing Healthy People initiatives (1990-2030). This significant development throughout the years aids in filling in the gaps, and by working together and learning from mistakes, we can enhance public health worldwide. Need Assignment Help?
References:
Seabert, D. M., McKenzie, J. F., & Pinger, R. R. (2022). McKenzie's an introduction to community & public health (10th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. (1979). Healthy people: The Surgeon General's report on health promotion and disease prevention (DHEW Pub No. 79-55071). Washington, DC.
Walker, B., Jr. (1989). The future of public health: The Institute of Medicine's 1988 report. Journal of Public Health Policy, 10(1), 19-31. PMID: 2715336.