folkehelse

Folkehelse is the Norwegian term for public health, referring to the organized efforts of society to protect and improve the health of populations. It encompasses health promotion, disease prevention, and health protection, with an emphasis on population-level outcomes rather than individual treatment. Core activities include monitoring health status and risk factors, implementing vaccination and screening programs, ensuring safe environments, and addressing mental health, nutrition, and physical activity.

The determinants of folkehelse are social, economic, environmental, and behavioral. Policies that improve living conditions, education, income equality, housing, air and water quality, and access to healthcare are central to improving population health. Folkehelse work combines data, research, and community engagement to design, implement, and evaluate interventions.

Organizations and methods: public health work is carried out by national authorities, such as the Folkehelseinstituttet (the Norwegian Institute of Public Health), in collaboration with regional and local authorities, healthcare services, schools, and civil society. Surveillance systems track life expectancy, disease incidence, risk-factor prevalence, and health inequities. International guidelines from the WHO inform standards, and evidence-based policies are developed and assessed for impact.

In Norway, folkehelse reflects the Nordic welfare model, aiming to ensure healthy life years for all and reduce health disparities. Key areas include infectious disease prevention, maternal and child health, nutrition and physical activity, tobacco and alcohol control, environmental health, and climate-related health adaptation. Ongoing challenges include aging populations, chronic disease burden, and safeguarding privacy in health data.