[EQ] The concept of prevention: a good idea gone astray?

The concept of prevention: a good idea gone astray?

B Starfield¹, J Hyde^2,3, J Gérvas^4,5, I Heath⁶

¹ Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
² Victoria Department of Human Services, Melbourne, Australia
³ Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
⁴ Equipo CESCA, Madrid, Spain
⁵ Canencia de la Sierra (Madrid), Spain
⁶ Caversham Group Practice, London, UK

Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health - July 2008;62:580-583; doi:10.1136/jech.2007.071027

Website: http://jech.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/62/7/580

 

" .....Over time, the definition of prevention has expanded so that its meaning in the context of health services is now unclear. As risk factors are increasingly considered to be the equivalent of "diseases" for purposes of intervention, the concept of prevention has lost all practical meaning.

 

This paper reviews the inconsistencies in its utility, and suggests principles that it should follow in the future: a population orientation with explicit consideration of attributable risk, the setting of priorities based on reduction in illness and avoidance of adverse effects, and the imperative to reduce inequities in health. ^...."

 

*      *      *     *

This message from the Pan American Health Organization, PAHO/WHO, is part of an effort to disseminate
information Related to: Equity; Health inequality; Socioecon omic inequality in health; Socioeconomic
health differentials; Gender; Violence; Poverty; Health Economics; Health Legislation; Ethnicity; Ethics;
Information Technology - Virtual libraries; Research & Science issues.  [DD/ KMS Area]

“Materials provided in this electronic list are provided "as is". Unless expressly stated otherwise, the findings
and interpretations included in the Materials are those of the authors and not necessarily of The Pan American
Health Organization PAHO/WHO or its country members”.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PAHO/WHO Website: http://www.paho.org/

EQUITY List - Archives - Join/remove: http://listserv.paho.org/Archives/equidad.html

 

 

    IMPORTANT: This transmission is for use by the intended recipient and it may contain privileged, proprietary or confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient or a person responsible for delivering this transmission to the intended recipient, you may not disclose, copy or distribute this transmission or take any action in reliance on it. If you received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by email to infosec@paho.org, and please dispose of and delete this transmission. Thank you.