This volume provides an overview of the important health promotion and disease prevention theories, methods, and policy issues. Applications of these theories and methods are reviewed to promote health through a variety of channels, for a variety of disease outcomes, and among a variety of populations. It can be used as a text for introductory causes to the field of health promotion and disease prevention, as well as a reference for researchers and practitioner's actively working in this area.

Globally, action to prevent HIV spread is inadequate. Over 16,000 new infections occur every day. Yet we are not helpless in the face of disaster, as shown by the rich prevention experience analyzed in this valuable new compendium. "Best pr- tice" exists-a set of tried and tested ways of slowing the spread of HIV, of persuading and enabling people to protect themselves and others from the virus. Individually, features of best practice can be found almost everywhere. The tragedy, on a world scale, is that prevention is spotty, not comprehensive; the measures are not being applied on anywhere...

Public health has a legacy of neglect regarding social and behavioral research. Too often, prompted by technical and scientific progress, we have ignored- even marginalized-the vital "human element" in health thinking and prac- tice. Thus, for example, while family planning programs focused on providing a choice among safe and effective contraceptive methods (a supremely worthy goal), the central issue of sexuality and sexual behavior was generally neglected. Similarly, the enormous and important efforts to develop rapid and reliable diagnostic and treatment methods for sexually transmitted...

Adolescence is a developmental period of accelerating physical, psychological, social cultural, and cognitive development, often characterized by confronting and surmounting a myriad of challenges and establishing a sense of self-identity and autonomy. It is also, unfortunately, a period fraught with many threats to the health and well-being of adoles- cents and with substantial consequent impairment and disability. Many of the adverse health consequences experienced by adolescents are, to a large extent, the result of their risk behaviors. Many adolescents today, and perhaps an increasing...

This volume is designed to motivate and engage scientists, policymakers, and practitioners to greater scientific discourse, reduce the stigma on and validate the importance of women's sexual and reproductive health. It brings together historians, anthropologists, psychologists, sociologists, epidemiologists, public health researchers, genetic counselors, attorneys, social workers, nurses and physicians, and presents comprehensive coverage that will benefit women's health advocates, students, and practitioners.