Fundamentals of Midwifery: A Textbook for Students (108 page)

Public Health encompasses different dimensions of health and is a major facet of maternal and
infant healthcare.

Midwifery is a key public health profession because it is concerned with the health of childbear-
ing women and infants, which may hold significant importance to the future health of the population.

Health promotion is an important aspect of the public health role of the midwife and can be
conducted individualistically, or strategically, top-down or bottom-up.

A number of current public health issues affecting mothers and infants are set in the context of

increasingly complex social factors: midwives must be aware of these and address them sensi-

tively and with appropriate referrals within the interprofessional team.

1 2

3 4

5

259

6

7

8

9

Following health, describes the wider soci- etal disadvantage that has a negative impact on the wellness of populations

Death

When linked to health, means providing the right information, at the right time, in the right place to inform decision-making and action-taking for people’s wellbeing

A legal beverage which is a teratogen; when consumed in moderate or heavy quantitiesit is linked to a recognised spectrum disorder in the infant

An opiate drug which may be snorted, smoked or injected and is illegal in the United Kingdom

A body mass index of 30 or more kilo- grammes per metre squared (kg/m
²
)
Down

The study of the spread and causes disease and ill health in populations of people

The state of being ill or having a disease

When a child born from the 24th completed week of gestation, shows no signs of life

Describes something considered extremely unpleasant or harmful
Find out more
Below is a list of things you can find out about to enhance your knowledge of the issues and topics covered in this chapter. Make notes using the chapter content, the references and further reading identified, local policies and guidelines and discussions with colleagues.
1.
What is the remit of public health?
2.
List ways in which the midwife contributes to the different styles of health promotion.
3.
Give examples of how midwives are involved in each of the three domains of public health.
4.
What is health inequality and how does it contribute to understanding public health?
5.
How might maternal obesity, be related to poverty?
260
Glossary of terms
Aetiological
Relating to the causes of diseases.
Audit/clinical audit
Process of evaluating quality and standards of care, using a systematic review. Aspects of structure, processes and outcomes are systematically evaluated against explicit criteria. The results of audit can be used to implement change at organisational, service, team or individual level.
Body Mass Index
The weight of a person (in kilograms) divided by the square of their height (in metres), the units are therefore kg/m
²
also written as kg.m
⁻²
.
Demography
Statistical science concerned with the study of populations, using various catego- ries such as area (local, region and national), age-group, gender and migration.
Endemic
The habitual presence or frequent occurrence of a disease within a particular location, or population.