"Communicable Diseases for School and Community Health Promotion”,by Dr. Martin A. Ayim

“Communicable Diseases for School and Community Health Promotion”, authored by Dr. Martin A. Ayim, focuses on both school and community settings, and is intended to provide health education students and professionals, especially health educators and epidemiologists, with information needed to empower them to educate people about the transmission, investigation, and control of various infectious diseases.

Book Review

 

“COMMUNICABLE DISEASES FOR SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY HEALTH PROMOTION”

AUTHOR:  MARTIN AYONG AYIM Ph.D. MPH, MCHES

Reviewed by

Professor Christopher Atang, Ph.D.

 

Introduction:

Infectious diseases have always played a major role in defining the daily lives of human beings for generations.  Human and animal populations have been devastated by outbreaks of various epidemics and infectious diseases.  During the Biblical era, Egypt experienced ten (10) plagues, in addition to being exposed to several communicable (infectious) diseases.  Empires have risen and fallen because of events related to contagious and/or communicable diseases.  Some cultures have even attributed the prevalence of communicable diseases to acts of witch-craft, while others simply regarded them as punitive acts from the ‘gods’.  During the past century, the scientific world has greatly contributed new insights about diseases from research findings that have resulted in an understanding of the various microbial agents that affect human/animal populations and their environments.  With this knowledge, the world has experienced periods of extreme optimism regarding the capabilities of controlling and even eliminating or conquering various pestilences affecting human and animal health. 

 

“Communicable Diseases for School and Community Health Promotion”, authored by Dr. Martin A. Ayim, focuses on both school and community settings, and is intended to provide health education students and professionals, especially health educators and epidemiologists, with information needed to empower them to educate people about the transmission, investigation, and control of various infectious diseases.  The author’s approach in describing the transmission of communicable diseases is intended to enhance the comprehension of new concepts by non-health professionals and also to serve as a quick reference (material) for students enrolled in a kinesiology (health education) courses.  The book is highly recommended for use by medical doctors who are engaged in diagnosing and treating patients with various forms of communicable diseases.

 

Contents of the Book:

The book is well organized with each chapter containing review questions and topics for discussion.  The author further provides a clear definition of health terminologies, including a great illustration depicting the triad of health promotion (Section 1).

 

Section 2 discusses vital statistics, rates, ratios, and throws more light onto the concepts of morbidity and mortality rates, including world-wide ratios for comparison purposes.  Included in this section are several formulae for calculating various data, designed to facilitate the comprehension of new concepts, even by lay persons.

 

Section 3 focuses on the principles and practices of immunization, and defines terminologies (with vivid explanations) regarding their relationships to infectious diseases.  The author underscores the importance of parental involvement and responsibilities towards immunization of their children, and asserts that parents be educated about childhood diseases and vaccines, because they have to live with, and are responsible for the consequences of any uninformed decision affecting their children’s health.

 

Chapter 15 discusses some bacterial diseases transmitted through infection between animals and humans, or through vectors, such as mosquitoes, fleas, etc.  Fascioliasis, discussed on page 357, is a liver disease caused by a parasite from sheep, cattle and related animals.  Other diseases such as Meningitis, Anthrax, etc. are discussed, including captivating visuals that clearly illustrate them in order to facilitate a thorough understanding of the concepts being expounded upon.

 

Malaria is a disease that is devastating many tropical countries and urgently needs the immediate attention of health (professional) researchers.  Malaria is a parasitic infection caused by four species of plasmodium, each with its own pathology and epidemiology. It is discouraging to note that, with all research already conducted on malaria, no permanent cure has yet been found.  This has resulted in millions of human beings languishing in abject misery in tropical countries.  Even if successes have been registered in Small and Chicken Pox, the elimination of malaria is yet to be accomplished.  The author provides information for health researchers and philanthropists to use in order enable them reinforce their efforts to work relentlessly to end malaria - the devastating tropical disease.

 

Towards the end of the book, the author provides very informative appendices, including a special appendix on the subject matter covered in the book.  This will facilitate the search of specific content and/or information contained in the book.

 

From a pedagogic point of view, the book contains valuable information needed by health educators and/or professionals.  As a textbook (if adopted), students will greatly benefit by using it for courses in infectious diseases, epidemiology and communicable diseases at undergraduate or graduate levels in colleges.   Schools of Public Health, Schools of Nursing, Departments of Health Education and Health Promotion, Schools of Community Health, Health Science Centers, and Schools of Tropical Medicine will benefit immensely from this book.  Readers would find the book very useful in making quick and easy references, revision of health terminologies, understanding concepts, and descriptions of various communicable diseases. The book provides ‘easy reading’ by non-health students and non-health professionals who may want to educate themselves about the over 132 communicable diseases discussed in the book. Therefore, it is highly acclaimed and recommended for Colleges and Universities by health education and/or health promotion professionals because of its metacognitive approach.

 

Dr. Christopher Atang

 

How to Order:

Soft Cover: ISBN 9781468500233 ($65.99); E-Book  ISBN 9781468500226 ($9.99). 486 pages.

Publisher: Authorhouse Publishing, 1663 Liberty Drive #200, Bloomington, IN 47403 Phone             1-888-280-7715       orbkorders@authorhouse.com or from Authorhouse Online Bookstore at

http://www.authorhouse.com, or Online from Amazon.com and Barnes and Nobles Stores.

 

 

 

 

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

 

“This book is rich in content and the author has done an outstanding job in organizing and explaining the concepts. This book is certainly needed and will make a significant contribution to health education profession. It also has strong potential for cross-cultural and international use and possible translation into other languages”.

Mohammad R. Torabi, Ph.D., MPH, CHES

Department of Applied Health Sciences

Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana

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“From a pedagogic point of view, the book contains valuable information needed by health educators and/or professionals.  As a textbook (if adopted), students will greatly benefit by using it for courses in infectious diseases, epidemiology and communicable diseases at undergraduate or graduate levels in colleges.   Schools of Public Health, Schools of Nursing, Departments of Health Education and Health Promotion, Schools of Community Health, Health Science Centers, and Schools of Tropical Medicine will benefit immensely from this book.  Readers would find the book very useful in making quick and easy references, revision of health terminologies, understanding concepts, and descriptions of various communicable diseases. The book provides ‘easy reading’ by non-health students and non-health professionals who may want to educate themselves about the over 132 communicable diseases discussed in the book. Therefore, it is highly acclaimed and recommended for Colleges and Universities by health education and/or health promotion professionals because of its metacognitive approach”.

Dr. Christopher Atang.

Professor of Education, Houston Community College, Texas

 

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“Students and faculty will benefit immediately from Dr. Ayim's book and will be grateful for his contribution to their education. The book is laid out to enhance progressive understanding of terms and concepts, making it excellent resource for introductory college-level course of Infectious Diseases in Colleges, Schools of Public Health, and for general reading. Long range benefits will be experienced by patients and clients who will be served by the health professionals for whom this text is intended”.

Dan R. Denson. Ed.D., C.H.E.S.

Professor of Health Education

McNeese State University Lake Charles, Louisiana

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“The textbook on Communicable Diseases for School and Community Health Promotion is an excellent reading covering 20 chapters of important health education information. The author introduces readers to the basics of communicable diseases. The book is highly recommended for school and community settings. Implications are evident for world-wide communicable diseases and public health awareness”.

Willie Daniel, Ph.D.

Department Head, Kinesiology, Sport and Leisure Studies (KSLS)

Grambling State University, Louisiana

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How to Order:

Soft Cover: ISBN 9781468500233 ($65.99); E-Book  ISBN 9781468500226 ($9.99). 486 pages.

Publisher: Authorhouse Publishing, 1663 Liberty Drive #200, Bloomington, IN 47403 Phone             1-888-280-7715       orbkorders@authorhouse.com or From Authorhouse Online Bookstore at

http://www.authorhouse.com, or Online from Amazon.com and Barnes and Nobles Stores.

 

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The aim of education must be the training of independently acting and thinking individuals who, however, see in the service to the community their highest life problem.--Albert Einstein.    

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Martin Ayim  Ph.D., MPH, MCHES

Professor of Health Education

Endowed Professor of Dr. Eddie G. Robinson Snr. Foundation, Grambling State University

Past President DELTA SOPHE Chapter of SOPHE (www.deltasophe.org)2008-2010 

National Chairman Widikum Ateh-USA & Cultural Advisor Azem Clan-USA

Executive Director, MHPI, Inc. (www.minorityhealthpromotion.com)