Oxford Bibliographies in Public Health

Abstract

Public health is a broad field of endeavor dedicated to addressing the health of populations. As a field of study it draws on many academic disciplines such as political science, sociology, history, and economics, as well as the established public health areas such as epidemiology, biostatistics and the infectious and chronic diseases. Over the years the field has become very diverse and has ventured beyond a biomedical view of health and illness. Because of the broad, extensive nature of public health, a vast amount of scholarship and research already exists. Scholars and professionals must constantly consider new discoveries, new interpretations, and new theoretical ideas in the field. The overlapping fields of practice involved in the study of public health make it challenging to stay informed about every applicable area.

Oxford Bibliographies in Public Health is designed to provide authoritative guidance to scholars, students and practitioners who are faced with the challenge of navigating the vast relevant information across disciplines and at all levels of scholarly research. It covers the key areas of public health, including public policy, non-communicable diseases, infectious diseases, social determinants of disease, and key issues of poverty, equity, and social justice. Besides the multiple disciplines that public health must draw upon for theoretical understanding, measurement methods, and empirical evidence, it must encompass the many newly arising concerns in public health such as the social determinants of health, opportunistic infection threats, global issues on equity, health in all policies, and governance to name just a few. The challenges to public health are reflected in the threats to whole populations and communities stemming from demographic, cultural, social and political differences and responses based on policy, administrative, economic and logistical realities. Up to date information is vital for appropriate responses from the field of public health.