Learning Objectives for the Lecture:
At the end of the lecture the student is going to be able to:
1. Describe the natural history of heath conditions.
2. Describe the stages of the natural history of heath conditions.
3. Describe the process of prevention.
4. Describe the levels of prevention.
Natural History of Health-related Conditions:
The natural history of health condition is a description of the events that precedes the development of the health condition, and during its occurrence through the course of development, as well as its outcome.
OR
It refers to a description of the uninterrupted progression of a health problem in an individual from the moment of exposure to causal agents until recovery or death.
The natural history of a disease is sometimes said to start at the moment of exposure to causal agents. Knowledge of the natural history of disease ranks alongside causal understanding in importance for disease prevention and control. Natural history of disease is one of the major elements of descriptive epidemiology.
