History of Health Education

Possessed a strong sense of personal cleanliness and were considered to be the healthiest people of their time.
They used numerous pharmaceutical preparations and constructed earth privies for sewage, as well as public drainage pipes.
Primitive medicine due to priest-physicians.

Code of Hammurabi was the earliest written record concerning public health. It contained laws pertaining to health practices and physicians, including the first known fee schedule.

Extended the Egyptian hygienic thought
Formulated probably the first hygienic code in the biblical book of Leviticus.

Perhaps the first people to put as much emphasis on disease prevention as they did on treatment of disease conditions.
Balance among physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of the person was emphasized.

Furthered the work of the Greeks in the study of anatomy and practice of surgery.
Built extensive and efficient aqueduct systems. Developed an extensive system of underground sewers and public/private baths. first to build hospitals. Developed a system of private medical practice.

Period of revolution, industrialization, and growth of cities

1701: Massachusetts Bay colony enacted regulations to prevent pollution of Boston Harbor
1789: Dr. Wigglesworth developed first life expectancy table
1799: First health board formed in Boston

1849: Dr. John Snow hypothesized that disease was caused by microorganisms and cholera was soon abated.
1862: Louis Pasteur discovered how microorganisms reproduce; proposes germ theory
1869: State Boards of Health established (U.S.)
1879: National Board of Health created by Congress (U.S.)
1875-1900: "Bacteriological period of public health"

1900-1920: "Reform phase of public health"
1902: National Association for the Study and Prevention of Tuberculosis was established
1913: American Cancer Society was founded
1922: American Public Health Association (APHA) was founded
1935: Social Security Act
1965: Medicare and Medicaid established
1980: "Promoting Health/Preventing Disease: Objective for the Nation" was released
2010: "Healthy People: 2020" was released