A conceptual framework for selecting appropriate populations for public health interventions

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Policy
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Defining target populations is crucial for effective public health interventions.
• Existing approaches include 'individuals at risk,' 'whole population,' 'vulnerable populations,' and 'spatial demarcations.'

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a conceptual framework for selecting target populations in public health interventions.
• To integrate the life-course perspective as a temporal criterion for population selection.
• To guide informed decision-making in public health planning and research.

Main Methods:

• Review of seminal work (Geoffrey Rose) and subsequent contributions (Frohlich and Potvin).
• Exploration of different criteria for defining intervention populations: risk, social determinants, spatial, and temporal (life-course).
• Analysis of advantages and disadvantages of each criterion for primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention.

Main Results:

• The life-course perspective offers a temporal dimension for selecting target populations across different age phases.
• Each selection criterion (risk, vulnerability, space, life-course) has distinct implications for intervention strategies.
• The framework supports a balance between precision prevention and community-based interventions.

Conclusions:

• A comprehensive conceptual framework aids in selecting appropriate target populations for public health interventions.
• Integrating a life-course perspective enhances the temporal dimension of public health planning.
• Informed decisions on population selection are vital for optimizing precision prevention and community-based approaches.