Can Chronic Conditions Co-exist with Being Healthy: HIV/AIDS - Research Paper Example

Traditional concept defines health as lack of disease, symptoms or problems (Geyman, 2007). This concept concentrates on illness as health but neglects the individual as a whole. World Health Organization concept on the other hand defines health as a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely as the absence of disease or infirmity. Lastly, Ecological concept defines health as an adequate functional capacity which allows the individuals to carry out their duties and responsibilities or a certain quality of life which enables individuals to live happily, successfully, fruitfully and creatively (American Association of Retired People Public Policy Institute, 2009). Analysis Although definition of illness consists of components related to improper functioning and deviation from normality, it is also diverse in definition just as health since it might be difficult to establish what constitutes proper functioning and what characterizes a deviation from normality. The definition has been grouped in children, adolescents and adults, but they all center on the fact that illness refers to an alteration in an individual’s functioning (Price & Wilson, 1997). ...