Public Health and You

Health is more than simply not being sick. The World Health Organization defines health as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being."

Most Manitobans enjoy very good health, but unfortunately, this is not distributed evenly across our province. Public health looks at why some populations are healthier and have more opportunities to lead a healthy life - and what programs or policies can be put in place to address disparities in health outcomes.

Social Determinants of Health and Health Equity

The health disparities that exist between different groups of people in Manitoba aren't due to chance, genetics or life choices. In fact, up to 60 per cent of our health status is influenced by social determinants of health -- the structures and circumstances in which we are born, grow, live, work and age.

Some of the social and systemic factors that cause and maintain health inequities include:

• income and social status
• employment and working conditions
• education and literacy
• childhood experiences
• physical environments
• social supports and coping skills
• gender
• culture
• race and racism

How Public Health Affects your Health

The Office of the CPPHO is committed to engaging with health-care providers, Indigenous governments, organizations and communities, and stakeholders throughout the province and country to identify and measure health inequities in Manitoba. This work sets the foundation for creating goals and taking action to close the gaps in health outcomes experienced by different populations. The Office of the CPPHO supports initiatives to address these complex systemic factors and achieve health equity throughout the province, where all individuals have fair access to, and can act on, opportunities to reach their full health potential.

Public health in action: To support the health of populations, some public health work provides direct, targeted support to people in their communities, such as:

• breastfeeding and chestfeeding support for parents
• smoking and vaping education for youth
• fall prevention programs for seniors
• vaccination programs