9.1: Introduction
While the prevention of both infectious and chronic diseases is certainly a primary focus of public health, there are a myriad of community health concerns that affect population health across the lifespan. Individuals and communities have varying needs to support health through different stages of life. This chapter will cover major public health concerns for maternal, reproductive and infant health, and health through childhood. In another chapter we will continue with adolescence, across adulthood, and into the “golden” years of old age. Here we will also examine the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model; a holistic framework for public health interventions focused on childhood health. This multicomponent approach can have a profound impact on the schools themselves, along with the families and communities as a whole. Once again, our focus will remain on community health issues in the United States (U.S.), yet we may occasionally compare data with other nations around the world.