Community may refer to a geographical area or to a community of people with common characteristics such as a shared interest or affinity (religion, sport, art, etc.) or a particular disease or diagnosis. The defined area can be as small as a neighbourhood, or it can be a city or a region, and with the increasing digitalisation of society, it can even refer to virtual communities linked by social networks.
Community action to improve health and well-being: In the context of this report, “community action” encompasses two concepts: i) Community participation, which is the involvement of a community in the analysis, design, implementation and evaluation of community processes that respond to their needs, establishing shared objectives and acting co‑operatively; and ii) Community empowerment, which is the process by which individuals gain greater control over decisions and actions that affect their health. The definition of community action concept is discussed in detail in Chapter 1, Section 1.1.
Community health: Collective expression of the health of individuals and groups in a defined community, determined by the interaction between the characteristics of individuals, families, the social, cultural and environmental environment, as well as health services and the influence of social, political and global factors.
Public health: Public health is the science of preventing disease, promoting the health of people and their communities and prolonging life. This is achieved by promoting healthy lifestyles, researching disease and injury prevention, and detecting, preventing and responding to infectious diseases. It is done through organisations, communities and individuals through informed choices of society and collective efforts.
Social determinants of health: The conditions in which people are born, grow up, live, work, age and socialise, in short, in which they spend their lives, and which have an impact on their health. Examples of social determinants of health are place of residence, level of education, social relations, type of work, level of income, access to services, economic and cultural and environmental policies.
