Public health

Public health refers to the general state of health of the population. The Riksdag has decided on national public health objectives that will guide public health work in Sweden.

In order to be able to put the national public health objectives into practice, broad public health expertise will be needed in different sectors and professional groups.

Public health science is an interdisciplinary field that studies the importance of social structure, working life, the environment and the health care system for the health of the population, what are known as health determinants. By seeing patterns in ill health and morbidity between different population groups, such as social groups, age groups and genders, the understanding of the causes increases and thus the opportunities for promoting health and preventing ill health. Measures can be aimed at creating favourable conditions in the social and physical environment, as well as targeting individuals and groups to raise awareness of the links between lifestyle and health. Public health science also studies the effectiveness of health care, the effects of various health policy measures, and the impact of public health work on society and different population groups.