Health: redefined
- PMID: 30637076
- PMCID: PMC6320447
- DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2018.30.292.15436
Health: redefined
Abstract
For many years the definition of 'health' has remained unchanged as a narrow concept, encompassing physical wellbeing from a medical context. This somewhat focused definition has attracted criticism from individuals and professional bodies alike. Recent attempts have been made to redefine health, each offering an alternative viewpoint from sociological, environmental, societal and economic standpoints. We summarize and contextualize these definitions and provide an alternative, new, all-encompassing definition of health.
Keywords: Health promotion; health economics; social well-being.
References
-
- Gandhi MK. Keys to Health. Ahmedabad, India: Navjivan Publishing House; 1948.
-
- Oxford Living Dictionaries Definition of health. Accessed 19th November 2017.
-
- Merriam-Webster Definition of health. Accessed 19th November 2017.
-
- World Health Organisation Constitution of WHO: principles. Accessed 25th June 2018.
-
- Jadad AR, O'Grady L. How should health be defined? BMJ (Clinical research ed) 2008;337:a2900. - PubMed