Assessing the Quality of World Health

Health, as defined by the World Health Organization, is a condition that “consists of the condition of being healthy and free from any form of illness which can cause death or impairment of body or mind.” Different definitions have been applied over the years for various purposes. In its broadest sense, health covers all of the normal functions of the body and the organs involved in the maintenance of those functions. Thus, health is comprised of the ability to survive, the ability to withstand, the capacity to feel, the capacity to think, and the ability to work. Health can be broken down further into physiological, psychological, and behavioral categories. All three aspects must be considered when evaluating health.

In assessing good health, the absence of medical or mental disorders is the first factor taken into account. absence of diseases means that one is disease free. Good health would then be reflected in the absence of incurable medical problems. This is the most important factor, given that a person’s belief in his capacity to cope with incurable diseases is important to his attitude towards life.

The second factor, psychological quality, is related to the strength of the coping mechanism or self-care mechanism employed. Healthy people are psychologically strong, thus more able to resist, recover, and adapt to stressors or their environments. The third aspect, behavioral quality, is influenced by social and environmental factors. A person who has access to good health promotion services has a stronger mental capacity. Those who suffer from poor nutrition, lack of exercise, and poor personal hygiene stand to benefit most from healthy promotion counseling. A public health perspective considers these three factors as integral elements of world health.