Introduction to Community and Public Health
3rd Edition
Published on 27. April 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
480 pages
978-1-394-37558-5 (ISBN)
Description
The only textbook that provides comprehensive coverage of all five core areas of community and public health while aligning with the most current CEPH guidelines and competencies
The newly revised third edition of Introduction to Community and Public Health by Manoj Sharma and Paul W. Branscum delivers the definitive treatment of public health fundamentals. Dr. Sharma, a professor at Jackson State University's MPH and DrPH programs, and Dr. Branscum, an associate professor at Miami University, bring decades of combined expertise to address a critical challenge facing public health educators: the lack of a single comprehensive resource covering all essential areas.
This extensively updated edition solves that problem by providing complete coverage of biostatistics, epidemiology, social and behavioral sciences, environmental health, and health policy and management - all aligned with current Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) competencies.
This edition has been thoroughly reviewed to reflect the latest developments in public health practice and education. Each chapter now begins with explicit linkages to updated CEPH competencies, ensuring students develop skills that meet current professional standards. The text incorporates cutting-edge topics including artificial intelligence applications in public health, expanded coverage of social determinants of health and structural bias, COVID-19 and emerging threats, and enhanced disaster management approaches. Updated skill-building activities, case studies, and ancillary materials - including resources for flipped classroom environments - make this the most current and pedagogically advanced text available. The book is organized into six clear units that achieve or provide:
Complete CEPH alignment: Each chapter explicitly maps to current Council on Education for Public Health foundational competencies, making this the only textbook fully aligned with modern accreditation standards
Comprehensive exam preparation: Specifically designed to help students prepare for the Certified in Public Health (CPH), Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES), and Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) examinations
Contemporary relevance: Includes the latest topics such as AI applications in public health, structural bias and racism, COVID-19 response, and updated environmental health challenges
Enhanced learning tools: Features updated skill-building activities, new case studies, revised test banks, and materials specifically designed for flipped classroom instruction
Practical application focus: Two skill-building activities per chapter plus focus features that demonstrate real-world applications of key concepts
Introduction to Community and Public Health, 3rd Edition serves undergraduate and graduate public health students, health education majors, and professionals pursuing certification in public health fields. Medical students studying community medicine, nursing students, and allied health professionals will also find this text invaluable.
Whether you're beginning your public health education or preparing for professional certification, this comprehensive resource provides the grounding you need to succeed in today's evolving public health landscape.
The newly revised third edition of Introduction to Community and Public Health by Manoj Sharma and Paul W. Branscum delivers the definitive treatment of public health fundamentals. Dr. Sharma, a professor at Jackson State University's MPH and DrPH programs, and Dr. Branscum, an associate professor at Miami University, bring decades of combined expertise to address a critical challenge facing public health educators: the lack of a single comprehensive resource covering all essential areas.
This extensively updated edition solves that problem by providing complete coverage of biostatistics, epidemiology, social and behavioral sciences, environmental health, and health policy and management - all aligned with current Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) competencies.
This edition has been thoroughly reviewed to reflect the latest developments in public health practice and education. Each chapter now begins with explicit linkages to updated CEPH competencies, ensuring students develop skills that meet current professional standards. The text incorporates cutting-edge topics including artificial intelligence applications in public health, expanded coverage of social determinants of health and structural bias, COVID-19 and emerging threats, and enhanced disaster management approaches. Updated skill-building activities, case studies, and ancillary materials - including resources for flipped classroom environments - make this the most current and pedagogically advanced text available. The book is organized into six clear units that achieve or provide:
Complete CEPH alignment: Each chapter explicitly maps to current Council on Education for Public Health foundational competencies, making this the only textbook fully aligned with modern accreditation standards
Comprehensive exam preparation: Specifically designed to help students prepare for the Certified in Public Health (CPH), Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES), and Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) examinations
Contemporary relevance: Includes the latest topics such as AI applications in public health, structural bias and racism, COVID-19 response, and updated environmental health challenges
Enhanced learning tools: Features updated skill-building activities, new case studies, revised test banks, and materials specifically designed for flipped classroom instruction
Practical application focus: Two skill-building activities per chapter plus focus features that demonstrate real-world applications of key concepts
Introduction to Community and Public Health, 3rd Edition serves undergraduate and graduate public health students, health education majors, and professionals pursuing certification in public health fields. Medical students studying community medicine, nursing students, and allied health professionals will also find this text invaluable.
Whether you're beginning your public health education or preparing for professional certification, this comprehensive resource provides the grounding you need to succeed in today's evolving public health landscape.
More details
Edition
3rd edition
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 272 mm
Width: 218 mm
Thickness: 28 mm
Weight
885 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-394-37558-5 (9781394375585)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Manoj Sharma | Paul W. Branscum
Introduction to Community and Public Health
E-Book
03/2026
3rd Edition
Wiley
€84.99
Available for download
Manoj Sharma | Paul W. Branscum
Introduction to Community and Public Health
E-Book
03/2026
3rd Edition
Wiley
€84.99
Available for download
Previous edition
Manoj Sharma | Paul W. Branscum
Introduction to Community and Public Health
Book
07/2020
2nd Edition
Wiley
€92.79
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Persons
MANOJ SHARMA, MBBS, Ph.D., MCHES (R), is a Professor for the Department of Social & Behavioral Health in the School of Public Health at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and an Adjunct Professor for the Department of Internal Medicine in the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV.
PAUL BRANSCUM, PhD, RD, FAAHB, FSBM, is a Professor in the Department of Kinesiology, Nutrition and Health at Miami University in Oxford, OH.
PAUL BRANSCUM, PhD, RD, FAAHB, FSBM, is a Professor in the Department of Kinesiology, Nutrition and Health at Miami University in Oxford, OH.
Content
Figures and Tables xi
Preface xvii
About the Companion Website xxi
Chapter 1 Introduction to Community and Public Health 1
Defining Community and Public Health 1
Basic Terms in Community and Public Health 3
Issues in Community and Public Health 7
Factors Affecting Community and Public Health 9
Community and Public Health Organizations 12
Historical Timeline for Community and Public Health 17
Current Challenges in Community and Public Health 27
Summary 30
Key Terms 30
Review Questions 31
Skill- Building Activity #1 31
Skill- Building Activity #2 32
Websites to Explore 32
References 33
Chapter 2 Descriptive Epidemiology in Community and Public Health 37
Definition, Scope, and Evolution of Epidemiology 37
Descriptive Epidemiology and Analytical Epidemiology 39
Contributions of Epidemiology 39
Uses and Functions of Epidemiology 41
Agent, Host, and Environment 42
Rates, Ratios, Proportions, and Percentages 43
Summary 60
Key Terms 61
Review Questions 61
Skill- Building Activity #1 62
Skill- Building Activity #2 62
Websites to Explore 62
References 63
Chapter 3 Analytical Epidemiology in Community Public Health 67
Types of Analytical Epidemiological Studies 67
Association and Causation 77
Infectious Disease Epidemiology 79
Chronic Disease Epidemiology 82
Selected Lifestyle Risk Factors 85
Summary 91
Key Terms 92
Review Questions 92
Skill- Building Activity #1 93
Skill- Building Activity #2 93
Websites to Explore 93
References 94
Chapter 4 Descriptive Biostatistics in Community and Public Health 101
Basic Terms in Biostatistics 101
Frequency Distribution 104
Measures of Central Tendency 105
Measures of Dispersion 107
Graphing Methods in Biostatistics 107
Positively Skewed and Negatively Skewed Distributions 108
Summary 112
Key Terms 112
Review Questions 113
Skill- Building Activity #1 113
Skill- Building Activity #2 114
Websites to Explore 114
References 115
Chapter 5 Inferential Biostatistics in Community and Public Health 117
Estimation 117
Hypothesis Testing 118
Testing Differences Between Two Group Means 121
Nonparametric Tests for Testing Differences Between Two Groups 123
Testing Differences Between Three or More Groups 124
Nonparametric Counterparts of ANOVA 128
Testing Differences in Proportions 128
Testing Associations Between Two or More Variables 130
Summary 133
Key Terms 134
Review Questions 135
Skill- Building Activity #1 135
Skill- Building Activity #2 135
Websites to Explore 135
References 136
Chapter 6 Social and Behavioral Sciences in Community and Public Health 139
Reasons for Studying Social and Behavioral Sciences 139
Examples from Cardiovascular Disease, Obesity, and HIV/AIDS 148
Community Organization and Community Building 152
School Health Programs 157
Community Mental Health 158
Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs 159
Summary 161
Key Terms 162
Review Questions 163
Skill- Building Activity #1 163
Skill- Building Activity #2 163
Websites to Explore 164
References 165
Chapter 7 Models in Health Education and Health Promotion 169
Planning Health Education and Health Promotion Interventions 169
Precede- Proceed 170
Patch 178
Match 180
Intervention Mapping 184
Apexph 187
Pen- 3 188
Behavior Change Wheel (BCW) 190
Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP 2.0) 192
Summary 198
Key Terms 198
Review Questions 199
Skill- Building Activity #1 199
Skill- Building Activity #2 199
Websites to Explore 200
References 201
Chapter 8 Theories in Health Education and Health Promotion 203
Using Theories and Models 203
Health Belief Model 205
Transtheoretical Model 207
Theory of Reasoned Action, Theory of Planned Behavior, Integrative Model, and Reasoned Action Approach 211
The Theory of Reasoned Goal Pursuit 215
Social Cognitive Theory 217
Multi- Theory Model (MTM) for Health Behavior Change 220
COM- B Model 221
Social Marketing 222
Diffusion of Innovations Theory 223
Summary 227
Key Terms 228
Review Questions 229
Skill- Building Activity #1 229
Skill- Building Activity #2 230
Websites to Explore 230
References 230
Chapter 9 Methods in Health Education and Health Promotion 235
Methods of Teaching and Learning 235
Cognitive Methods in Health Education 238
Affective Methods in Health Education 240
Environmental Methods in Health Promotion 247
Summary 251
Key Terms 251
Review Questions 252
Skill- Building Activity #1 252
Skill- Building Activity #2 252
Websites to Explore 253
References 253
Chapter 10 Population Dynamics and Control 255
Demographic Cycle 255
World Population Trends 256
World Population Stabilization or Decline Post Peak 260
Designing Population- Based Public Health Programs for Different Subsections in the Community 268
Summary 271
Key Terms 272
Review Questions 273
Skill- Building Activity #1 273
Skill- Building Activity #2 273
Websites to Explore 274
References 275
Chapter 11 Air, Water, and Noise Pollution 279
Air Pollution 279
Water Pollution 284
Noise Pollution 289
Solid Waste Management 293
Climate Change and Global Warming 295
Summary 298
Key Terms 299
Review Questions 300
Skill- Building Activity #1 300
Skill- Building Activity #2 300
Websites to Explore 301
References 301
Chapter 12 Injury Control and other Environmental Issues 305
Unintentional Injuries 305
Intentional Injuries 309
Pests and Pesticides 312
Radiation 315
Disaster Management 318
Occupational Safety and Health 320
Summary 326
Key Terms 327
Review Questions 327
Skill- Building Activity #1 328
Skill- Building Activity #2 328
Websites to Explore 328
References 329
Chapter 13 Organization, Financing, and Delivery of Health Services and Public Health Systems in the United States 333
Understanding the Structure and Functioning of the US Health Care System 333
Organization of US Health Care 334
The Uninsured Population 337
Lack of Insurance and Access to Health Care Services 339
Financing Health Systems 340
US Health Care System in the International Context 342
Utilization Trends 343
Private Health Insurance and Managed Care 344
Cost Containment Initiatives 345
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act 347
Organization of Public Health in the United States 350
Summary 355
Key Terms 357
Review Questions 357
Skill- Building Activity #1 358
Skill- Building Activity #2 358
Websites to Explore 358
References 359
Chapter 14 Program Planning, Budgeting, Management, And Evaluation in Community Initiatives 363
Planning Public Health Programs 363
Preparing Budgets for Public Health Programs 368
Administration and Management of Public Health Programs 373
Evaluation of Public Health Programs 377
Summary 383
Key Terms 384
Review Questions 385
Skill-Building Activity #1 385
Skill-Building Activity #2 385
Websites to Explore 386
References 387
Chapter 15 Systems Thinking and Leadership Incommunity And Public Health 389
Systems Thinking: The Approach 389
Basics of Leadership 393
Leadership Styles 395
Leadership in Health Care 396
NCHL Health Leadership Competency Model 397
Cultural Competence 398
Summary 407
Key Terms 408
Review Questions 408
Skill- building Activity #1 409
Skill- building Activity #2 409
Websites to Explore 409
References 410
Glossary 415
Index 447
Preface xvii
About the Companion Website xxi
Chapter 1 Introduction to Community and Public Health 1
Defining Community and Public Health 1
Basic Terms in Community and Public Health 3
Issues in Community and Public Health 7
Factors Affecting Community and Public Health 9
Community and Public Health Organizations 12
Historical Timeline for Community and Public Health 17
Current Challenges in Community and Public Health 27
Summary 30
Key Terms 30
Review Questions 31
Skill- Building Activity #1 31
Skill- Building Activity #2 32
Websites to Explore 32
References 33
Chapter 2 Descriptive Epidemiology in Community and Public Health 37
Definition, Scope, and Evolution of Epidemiology 37
Descriptive Epidemiology and Analytical Epidemiology 39
Contributions of Epidemiology 39
Uses and Functions of Epidemiology 41
Agent, Host, and Environment 42
Rates, Ratios, Proportions, and Percentages 43
Summary 60
Key Terms 61
Review Questions 61
Skill- Building Activity #1 62
Skill- Building Activity #2 62
Websites to Explore 62
References 63
Chapter 3 Analytical Epidemiology in Community Public Health 67
Types of Analytical Epidemiological Studies 67
Association and Causation 77
Infectious Disease Epidemiology 79
Chronic Disease Epidemiology 82
Selected Lifestyle Risk Factors 85
Summary 91
Key Terms 92
Review Questions 92
Skill- Building Activity #1 93
Skill- Building Activity #2 93
Websites to Explore 93
References 94
Chapter 4 Descriptive Biostatistics in Community and Public Health 101
Basic Terms in Biostatistics 101
Frequency Distribution 104
Measures of Central Tendency 105
Measures of Dispersion 107
Graphing Methods in Biostatistics 107
Positively Skewed and Negatively Skewed Distributions 108
Summary 112
Key Terms 112
Review Questions 113
Skill- Building Activity #1 113
Skill- Building Activity #2 114
Websites to Explore 114
References 115
Chapter 5 Inferential Biostatistics in Community and Public Health 117
Estimation 117
Hypothesis Testing 118
Testing Differences Between Two Group Means 121
Nonparametric Tests for Testing Differences Between Two Groups 123
Testing Differences Between Three or More Groups 124
Nonparametric Counterparts of ANOVA 128
Testing Differences in Proportions 128
Testing Associations Between Two or More Variables 130
Summary 133
Key Terms 134
Review Questions 135
Skill- Building Activity #1 135
Skill- Building Activity #2 135
Websites to Explore 135
References 136
Chapter 6 Social and Behavioral Sciences in Community and Public Health 139
Reasons for Studying Social and Behavioral Sciences 139
Examples from Cardiovascular Disease, Obesity, and HIV/AIDS 148
Community Organization and Community Building 152
School Health Programs 157
Community Mental Health 158
Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs 159
Summary 161
Key Terms 162
Review Questions 163
Skill- Building Activity #1 163
Skill- Building Activity #2 163
Websites to Explore 164
References 165
Chapter 7 Models in Health Education and Health Promotion 169
Planning Health Education and Health Promotion Interventions 169
Precede- Proceed 170
Patch 178
Match 180
Intervention Mapping 184
Apexph 187
Pen- 3 188
Behavior Change Wheel (BCW) 190
Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP 2.0) 192
Summary 198
Key Terms 198
Review Questions 199
Skill- Building Activity #1 199
Skill- Building Activity #2 199
Websites to Explore 200
References 201
Chapter 8 Theories in Health Education and Health Promotion 203
Using Theories and Models 203
Health Belief Model 205
Transtheoretical Model 207
Theory of Reasoned Action, Theory of Planned Behavior, Integrative Model, and Reasoned Action Approach 211
The Theory of Reasoned Goal Pursuit 215
Social Cognitive Theory 217
Multi- Theory Model (MTM) for Health Behavior Change 220
COM- B Model 221
Social Marketing 222
Diffusion of Innovations Theory 223
Summary 227
Key Terms 228
Review Questions 229
Skill- Building Activity #1 229
Skill- Building Activity #2 230
Websites to Explore 230
References 230
Chapter 9 Methods in Health Education and Health Promotion 235
Methods of Teaching and Learning 235
Cognitive Methods in Health Education 238
Affective Methods in Health Education 240
Environmental Methods in Health Promotion 247
Summary 251
Key Terms 251
Review Questions 252
Skill- Building Activity #1 252
Skill- Building Activity #2 252
Websites to Explore 253
References 253
Chapter 10 Population Dynamics and Control 255
Demographic Cycle 255
World Population Trends 256
World Population Stabilization or Decline Post Peak 260
Designing Population- Based Public Health Programs for Different Subsections in the Community 268
Summary 271
Key Terms 272
Review Questions 273
Skill- Building Activity #1 273
Skill- Building Activity #2 273
Websites to Explore 274
References 275
Chapter 11 Air, Water, and Noise Pollution 279
Air Pollution 279
Water Pollution 284
Noise Pollution 289
Solid Waste Management 293
Climate Change and Global Warming 295
Summary 298
Key Terms 299
Review Questions 300
Skill- Building Activity #1 300
Skill- Building Activity #2 300
Websites to Explore 301
References 301
Chapter 12 Injury Control and other Environmental Issues 305
Unintentional Injuries 305
Intentional Injuries 309
Pests and Pesticides 312
Radiation 315
Disaster Management 318
Occupational Safety and Health 320
Summary 326
Key Terms 327
Review Questions 327
Skill- Building Activity #1 328
Skill- Building Activity #2 328
Websites to Explore 328
References 329
Chapter 13 Organization, Financing, and Delivery of Health Services and Public Health Systems in the United States 333
Understanding the Structure and Functioning of the US Health Care System 333
Organization of US Health Care 334
The Uninsured Population 337
Lack of Insurance and Access to Health Care Services 339
Financing Health Systems 340
US Health Care System in the International Context 342
Utilization Trends 343
Private Health Insurance and Managed Care 344
Cost Containment Initiatives 345
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act 347
Organization of Public Health in the United States 350
Summary 355
Key Terms 357
Review Questions 357
Skill- Building Activity #1 358
Skill- Building Activity #2 358
Websites to Explore 358
References 359
Chapter 14 Program Planning, Budgeting, Management, And Evaluation in Community Initiatives 363
Planning Public Health Programs 363
Preparing Budgets for Public Health Programs 368
Administration and Management of Public Health Programs 373
Evaluation of Public Health Programs 377
Summary 383
Key Terms 384
Review Questions 385
Skill-Building Activity #1 385
Skill-Building Activity #2 385
Websites to Explore 386
References 387
Chapter 15 Systems Thinking and Leadership Incommunity And Public Health 389
Systems Thinking: The Approach 389
Basics of Leadership 393
Leadership Styles 395
Leadership in Health Care 396
NCHL Health Leadership Competency Model 397
Cultural Competence 398
Summary 407
Key Terms 408
Review Questions 408
Skill- building Activity #1 409
Skill- building Activity #2 409
Websites to Explore 409
References 410
Glossary 415
Index 447