Personal, School, and Community Health – JSS1 Physical & Health Education Lesson Note (First Term)

Health determinants are the factors that influence a person’s health. There are four general determinants: health care service, lifestyle, heredity and environment. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as complete physical, mental and social well-being, so these factors affect the body, the mind and a person’s social life.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• state the WHO definition of health;
• list the four general determinants of health;
• explain each determinant of health;
• list the characteristics of a physically fit person.

What is health?

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

The definition shows that someone may be physically well but emotionally or socially unwell.

What are the determinants of health?

There are four general determinants of health:

1. Health care service
2. Lifestyle
3. Heredity (human biology)
4. Environment

Health care service

This is the prevention, treatment and management of mental, physical and social well-being through the services offered by the medical community and health professionals.

Health care services are designed for promotive, curative and palliative interventions, whether direct to individuals or to the general population.

Lifestyle

Lifestyle is the way a person lives his or her life. It is the pattern of behaviour that a person shows to himself or herself or to others at a given time. It includes social interactions with people, the style of dressing, entertainment and the choice of environment in which he or she lives.

Heredity

Heredity is the process by which physical, physiological and mental characteristics, or in-born factors, are passed from parents to children. Heredity determines the growth, development, intelligence, some types of sickness and other natural characteristics of a child.

Environment

The environment is all the external factors that affect human well-being. Human beings and their environment constantly interact, and both are changed by the interaction. The environment determines the following in an individual: social life, dressing, shelter, behaviour and so on.

What are the characteristics of a physically fit person?

1. Freedom from diseases
2. Normal body systems and functions
3. Health of mind and emotion
4. Freedom from correctable physical defects

Evaluation

1. State the WHO definition of health.
2. List the four general determinants of health.
3. What is heredity? Give two things it determines in a child.
4. Mention three things that lifestyle includes.
5. List the characteristics of a physically fit person.

Assignment

1. Explain health care service as a determinant of health.
2. Explain how the environment affects an individual.