Peace through health I: development and use of a working model.

Peace through Health (PtH) is an evolving academic discipline that explores how health interventions may contribute to peace in actual and potential war zones and situations of conflict. This article is an attempt to define the scope of PtH activities, to develop a framework for groups and individuals to conceptualise their role in peace work and to develop clearly definable goals for evaluation. The use of a new model of 'Peace through Health' work is explored. A demonstration of how this model could help guide actions of organisations working for peace in current and potential war zones is undertaken. In particular, the work of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War and medical war prevention work in Iraq since 1990 is discussed. It is felt that such a model might be used to classify and better direct medical peace work to areas of expertise.