What does primary prevention in healthcare focus on?

Primary prevention in healthcare is fundamentally concerned with preventing diseases before they manifest. This involves strategies and interventions aimed at reducing risk factors and promoting health in the population, thereby averting the onset of diseases. Examples include vaccination programs that protect against infectious diseases, health education campaigns that encourage healthy lifestyle choices such as diet and exercise, and policies that improve environmental health conditions.

Unlike treating diseases after they occur, which is associated with secondary and tertiary prevention, primary prevention is proactive. It emphasizes the importance of addressing the root causes of health issues before they develop. This proactive approach includes initiatives like regular health screenings and education on smoking cessation, which specifically aim to reduce the incidence of diseases in the community.

The other options describe different levels of prevention that focus on managing existing conditions, which do not align with the core principle of primary prevention.