scholarly journals Governing excess: Boxing, biopolitics and the body

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 689-705
Author(s):  
Jennifer Jane Hardes
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Body ◽  
The Public ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Civilizing Process ◽  
Health And Well Being

During the late 18th to late 19th centuries, practices of duelling and prize fighting were criminalized in Britain, while boxing remained legal. Through a genealogical method, this article locates discourses, primarily law, medicine, policing and science, to trace these mechanisms of criminalization and legalization. Focusing on the jurisdictions of the United Kingdom and the United States, I argue that the legalization of boxing did not simply emerge as a part of a ‘civilizing process’. Rather, I explain these processes of criminalization and legalization in the context of biopolitical rationalities of governance. In contrast to its contemporaries, boxing was rationalized as a scientific ‘sport’ that fitted with wider biopolitical visions of public health and well-being: allegedly it did not breed violence or threaten the public peace but was instead practised by skilled technicians. However, the biopolitical management of human life within rational and scientific form comes at a price: life’s ontological need for expression, and the drive to experience and witness boxing’s corporeal excesses remains a ghostly presence threatening to undo the sweet ‘science’.

scholarly journals A Comparison of Public Perceptions of Physicians and Veterinarians in the United States

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 50
Author(s):  
April A. Kedrowicz ◽  
Kenneth D. Royal
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Public Perceptions ◽  
Medical Specialties ◽  
The Public ◽  
Veterinary Profession ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
Research Show

Veterinary medicine consists of virtually the same medical specialties as human medicine, with veterinarians performing similar roles as medical doctors, albeit with different species. Despite these similarities, anecdotally, some perceptions of veterinarians as not “real doctors” persist. The purpose of this study was to explore and compare public perceptions of physicians and veterinarians. Participants were provided brief definitions of a physician and a veterinarian and then asked to provide a rating that best describes their perception with respect to 25 different personality characteristics/traits. A sample of 606 participants (unweighted) in the United States completed the survey. The results of this research show that the public tends to perceive veterinarians more favorably than physicians. More specifically, veterinarians were viewed as more approachable, sensitive, sympathetic, patient and understanding, while physicians were viewed as more proud, arrogant and overconfident. These results point to the favorable public perceptions of veterinarians. These findings are particularly relevant for veterinary educators who train the future workforce and have a significant role both in how the profession is portrayed and emphasizing the relationship between the public trust and social responsibility. Reinforcing the public’s strong trust in the veterinary profession throughout students’ education could enhance their own self-concept, self-esteem and overall mental health and well-being.

Public Health Implications of Household Pharmaceutical Waste in the United States

2010 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. HSI.S4673 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin T. Bain
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
The United States ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Cost Burden ◽  
Comprehensive Review ◽  
The Public ◽  
Pharmaceutical Waste

Household pharmaceuticals are ubiquitous and untold quantities are wasted annually. Most often, people dispose of household pharmaceuticals by flushing them down the toilet, pouring them down the drain, or throwing them away in the trash. Pharmaceuticals disposed in this manner compromise the safety of our environment. This article provides a comprehensive review on the public health issue of household pharmaceutical waste, describing its epidemiology, explaining its effects on aquatic and human life, estimating its cost burden, and discussing strategies for reducing environmental exposure to it. In doing so, this article proposes two key objectives for our nation: (1) reduce the amount of household pharmaceuticals wasted and (2) devise environmentally friendly and cost-effective ways for handling this waste once it has been generated.

scholarly journals Public Health Impacts of Underemployment and Unemployment in the United States: Exploring Perceptions, Gaps and Opportunities

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (19) ◽  
pp. 10021
Author(s):  
Preethi Pratap ◽  
Alison Dickson ◽  
Marsha Love ◽  
Joe Zanoni ◽  
Caitlin Donato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Complex Nature ◽  
Public Health Burden ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health And Well Being

Background: Unemployment, underemployment, and the quality of work are national occupational health risk factors that drive critical national problems; however, to date, there have been no systematic efforts to document the public health impact of this situation. Methods: An environmental scan was conducted to explore the root causes and health impacts of underemployment and unemployment and highlight multilevel perspectives and factors in the landscape of underemployment and unemployment. Methods: included a review of gray literature and research literature, followed by key informant interviews with nine organizational representatives in employment research and policy, workforce development, and industry to assess perceived needs and gaps in practice. Results: Evidence highlights the complex nature of underemployment and unemployment, with multiple macro-level underlying drivers, including the changing nature of work, a dynamic labor market, inadequate enforcement of labor protection standards, declining unions, wage depression, and weak political will interacting with multiple social determinants of health. Empirical literature on unemployment and physical, mental, and psychological well-being, substance abuse, depression in young adults, and suicides is quite extensive; however, there are limited data on the impacts of underemployment on worker health and well-being. Additionally, organizations do not routinely consider health outcomes as they relate to their work in workforce or policy development. Discussion and Conclusions: Several gaps in data and research will need to be addressed in order to assess the full magnitude of the public health burden of underemployment and unemployment. Public health needs to champion a research and practice agenda in partnership with multisector stakeholders to illuminate the role of employment quality and status in closing the gap on health inequities, and to integrate workforce health and well-being into labor and economic development agendas across government agencies and industry.

The United States and Vietnam

2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 152-154
Author(s):  
Raymond F. Burghardt
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Foreign Direct Investment ◽  
Direct Investment ◽  
Balance Of Power ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Diplomatic Relations ◽  
Future Trends ◽  
Health And Well Being

US and Vietnamese relations have progressed remarkably since diplomatic relations between the two countries were normalized in 1995. The purpose of this essay is to reflect on this progress and to consider implications for the future. Trends suggest the United States and Vietnam will continue to cooperate closely and pragmatically on matters of trade and foreign direct investment, education, public health and well-being, and strategic interests, including military cooperation. While these trends are viewed as beneficial to both countries, they also are considered important to the regional balance of power, as China continues to increase its influence in Southeast Asia and beyond.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of Face Coverings in Mitigating the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 3666
Author(s):  
Olukayode James Ayodeji ◽  
Seshadri Ramkumar
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
District Of Columbia ◽  
Preventive Measure ◽  
The United States ◽  
Protective Measure ◽  
Sharp Change ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Health Challenges ◽  
Effective Preventive Measure

The COVID-19 pandemic has been one of the biggest public health challenges of the 21st century. Many prevalent measures have been taken to prevent its spread and protect the public. However, the use of face coverings as an effective preventive measure remains contentious. The goal of the current study is to evaluate the effectiveness of face coverings as a protective measure. We examined the effectiveness of face coverings between 1 April and 31 December 2020. This was accomplished by analyzing trends of daily new COVID-19 cases, cumulative confirmed cases, and cases per 100,000 people in different U.S. states, including the District of Columbia. The results indicated a sharp change in trends after face covering mandates. For the 32 states with face covering mandates, 63% and 66% exhibited a downward trend in confirmed cases within 21 and 28 days of implementation, respectively. We estimated that face covering mandates in the 32 states prevented approximately 78,571 and 109,703 cases within 21- and 28-day periods post face covering mandate, respectively. A statistically significant (p = 0.001) negative correlation (−0.54) was observed between the rate of cases and days since the adoption of a face covering mandate. We concluded that the use of face coverings can provide necessary protection if they are properly used.

Will Routine Annual Influenza Prevention and Control Systems Serve the United States Well in a Pandemic?

2009 ◽  
Vol 3 (S2) ◽  
pp. S160-S165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeanne S. Ringel ◽  
Melinda Moore ◽  
John Zambrano ◽  
Nicole Lurie
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
The United States ◽  
Qualitative Assessment ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Pandemic Preparedness ◽  
The Public ◽  
Influenza Prevention ◽  
And Control

ABSTRACTObjective: To assess the extent to which the systems in place for prevention and control of routine annual influenza could provide the information and experience needed to manage a pandemic.Methods: The authors conducted a qualitative assessment based on key informant interviews and the review of relevant documents.Results: Although there are a number of systems in place that would likely serve the United States well in a pandemic, much of the information and experience needed to manage a pandemic optimally is not available.Conclusions: Systems in place for routine annual influenza prevention and control are necessary but not sufficient for managing a pandemic, nor are they used to their full potential for pandemic preparedness. Pandemic preparedness can be strengthened by building more explicitly upon routine influenza activities and the public health system’s response to the unique challenges that arise each influenza season (eg, vaccine supply issues, higher than normal rates of influenza-related deaths). (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2009;3(Suppl 2):S160–S165)

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