Berridge, Virginia. Public Health: A Very Short
Introduction. Oxford University Press, Oxford,
2016.
In the chapter Sanitation
to Education: 1800-1900s, Berridge discusses various social and economic
changes that occurred during the 19th century and how this
information altered what was considered to be public health efforts. Focusing
on the changes in Britain during this time is important because Berridge wants
to ensure readers obtain a clear understanding of the beginning of modern
public health. Berridge believes public health is one of the key aspects of
countries modernizing because individuals were beginning to consider the
impacts of urbanization on communities of all statuses. Explaining the
transition from the wealthy individual to the poor and their surroundings is
what allowed for the discovery of various diseases along with their sources and
cures.
It is
important to note Britain experienced demographic, health and epidemiologic
transitions as the health of individuals increased due to improved living
conditions and resources. During the 1800s there were multiple instances when
the government and local organizations experienced resistance from the wealthy
and these individuals needed to be educated on the benefits of interventions.
What seemed to scare the communities the most was the rapid change from not
understanding why certain diseases were prevalent to being able to identify the
source as well as cures for these diseases, making it difficult to be widely
accepted. Educating the public is still a public health tactic to get
communities to cooperate and even then there may continue to be resistance. The
British government finally took some of the responsibility off of local
organizations when cholera took over Europe which is great, but their intervention
was simply motivated by keeping those who can turn a profit alive.
Nearing the
end of the 19th century there were multiple improvements that have laid
the basis for what public health currently consists of. Research and
specifically the study of organisms grew tremendously, providing credible information
for intervention programs as well as educating the public. Genetics,
environments, method of transition and many other aspects of disease were being
researched and people were living longer and better. Understanding the vast
improvement of living conditions and concern for individuals establishes a
groundwork for current public health strategies.
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