ABSTRACT
This chapter provides definitions of health and describes prevailing assumptions about health and illness. It examines patterns of health and illness in society and the role and skills of social work to contribute in this area of practice. The chapter also provides a description of the social determinants of health. In 1955 the World Health Organization (WHO) convened a study group to review experience and knowledge on indices and measures for assessment of health, discuss the concept of health and factors affecting health, and basic elements, possible indicators of health, and needs. A medicalised view of health leads to a narrower focus for understanding the complex dimensions that shape health and illness. An individual's health status is not just a result of physical health, or the presence or absence of disease; it is the consequence of the interaction between lifestyle, biological, environmental and socio-cultural factors.
