I now have all the content needed from Park's Textbook for a thorough 10-mark answer. Let me compose the full answer.
WHO (World Health Organization) - Definition of Health
According to Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine
1. Introduction
The concept of health has evolved over centuries. Early medical thought viewed health simply as the absence of disease - this was the biomedical concept of health. However, as medical and social sciences advanced, it became clear that this narrow view was inadequate. Other models then emerged:
- Ecological concept: Health as dynamic equilibrium between man and his environment (Dubos, 1965 - "relative absence of pain and discomfort and continuous adaptation to ensure optimal function")
- Psychosocial concept: Health influenced by social, psychological, cultural, economic and political factors
- Holistic concept: Synthesis of all above - health as well-being of the whole person in the context of their environment
2. WHO Definition of Health (1948)
The most widely accepted definition of health was given by the World Health Organization in 1948, in the preamble to its constitution:
"Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely an absence of disease or infirmity."
In more recent years, this has been further expanded to include the ability to lead a "socially and economically productive life."
3. Significance of the WHO Definition
This definition was path-breaking because:
- It introduced positive health - not just the absence of disease, but a state of complete well-being
- It recognized that health has multiple dimensions beyond the biological
- It set an aspirational standard (a goal) that nations should strive for
- It placed health as a human right
4. Criticisms of the WHO Definition
Despite its positive impact, the definition has attracted significant criticism:
- It is criticized as being too broad and idealistic
- Some argue health cannot be defined as a static "state" at all - it must be seen as a process of continuous adjustment to the changing demands of life
- It is not an "operational" definition - it does not lend itself to direct measurement in epidemiological studies
5. Operational Definition of Health (WHO Study Group)
Since the 1948 definition cannot be directly measured, a WHO study group devised an operational definition with two orders:
Broad sense: Health is "a condition or quality of the human organism expressing the adequate functioning of the organism in given conditions, genetic or environmental."
Narrow sense (for measurement purposes):
- (a) No obvious evidence of disease and the person is functioning normally, within normal limits of variation for age, sex, community, and geographic region
- (b) The organs are functioning adequately and in relation to one another - a state of equilibrium or homeostasis
6. Dimensions of Health (as per WHO Definition)
The WHO definition specifies three specific dimensions, though Park's text identifies many more:
| Dimension | Description |
|---|
| 1. Physical | Every cell and organ functioning at optimum capacity; signs include good complexion, bright eyes, sound sleep, normal pulse/BP, normal bowels |
| 2. Mental | Ability to respond to life experiences with flexibility; a state of balance between individual and surroundings; free from internal conflict, well-adjusted, strong self-esteem |
| 3. Social | Harmony within the individual and between individuals and society; quantity and quality of interpersonal ties and community involvement |
| 4. Spiritual | Striving for meaning and purpose; integrity, ethics, commitment to higher being |
| 5. Emotional | Relates to "feeling" (distinct from mental health which is "knowing/cognition") |
| 6. Vocational | Work adapted to human goals; source of satisfaction, self-realization, enhanced self-esteem |
| 7. Others | Philosophical, cultural, socio-economic, environmental, nutritional, educational dimensions |
7. Positive Health
The WHO definition embodies the concept of positive health:
- Biologically: Every cell and organ functioning at optimum capacity
- Psychologically: Individual feels a sense of perfect well-being and mastery over environment
- Socially: Individual's capacities for participation in the social system are optimal
8. New Philosophy of Health (Park)
Park summarizes the modern, post-Alma Ata philosophy of health:
- Health is a fundamental human right
- Health is the essence of productive life, not just the result of medical expenditure
- Health is intersectoral and integral to development
- Health is central to quality of life
- Health involves individual, state and international responsibility
- Health maintenance is a major social investment and a worldwide social goal
Conclusion
According to Park, the WHO definition of 1948 - "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely an absence of disease or infirmity" - remains the cornerstone of public health thinking. Though criticized for being too broad and idealistic, it set a positive and aspirational standard for health across nations. It shifted the paradigm from disease-oriented to well-being-oriented thinking, paving the way for the social model of health and the Declaration of Alma Ata (1978).
Source: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, Chapter 1 - Concept of Health and Disease