scholarly journals Urbanización y Salud / Urbanization and Health

Author(s):  
Jorge L. Tizón

ABSTRACTThe article takes as its starting point the recent meeting held in Menorca in September 2011 on «Healthy Urban Planning», sponsored by the International University Menéndez Pelayo and the School of Public Health of Menorca, which together planners, architects planners, sociologists, foresters, representatives of citizens’ movements, active politicians, political alternative, mathematicians, physicians, epidemiologists, psychologists and a psychiatrist. The key idea of the meeting was that cities are a fundamental building for our species and present data and studies on the «psychodynamic and psychosomatic of urban life». For this reason, and the conflicts that today is subject, should be used to make not only studies and environmental impact assessments and / or ecological urban and territorial plans. We will have to go by requiring previous studies, which have to be agreed between citizens, political representatives and promoters of change, the impact of each of these health plans and health (mental) of citizens and societies.RESUMENEl artículo toma como punto de partida el encuentro recientemente celebrado en Menorca, en septiembre del 2011, sobre «Planificación urbana saludable», patrocinado por la Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo y la Escuela de Salud Pública de Menorca, en el que se juntaron urbanistas, arquitectos, planificadores, sociólogos, ingenieros de montes, representantes de los movimientos ciudadanos, políticos en activo, políticos alternativos, matemáticos, médicos, epidemiólogos, psicólogos y algún psiquiatra. La idea clave del encuentro era que las ciudades son una creación fundamental para nuestra especie. Se aportaron datos y estudios incluso sobre la “psicodinámica y psicosomática de la vida urbana”. Por eso,  y por los conflictos a los que las ciudades se hallan sometidas hoy, habrá que acostumbrarse a realizar no sólo estudios y valoraciones del impacto ambiental y/o ecológico de los planes urbanos y territoriales, en los sentidos clásicos del término: Habrá que ir introduciendo la obligación de realizar estudios previos, que han de ser consensuados entre ciudadanos, representantes políticos y promotores del cambio, sobre el impacto de cada uno de esos planes sobre la salud y la salud (mental) de los ciudadanos y sus sociedades.

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
G Liotta ◽  
N Accarino ◽  
S Orlando ◽  
S Gentili ◽  
E Terracciano ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Ageing of population is associated to the increase of care demand. Many health systems are still centered on hospital care, that sometime is not appropriate. The shift from hospital to community care requires a new model of service delivery. Aim of this paper is to assess the impact of a community service based on the assessment of frailty, on mortality and use of hospital care by older adults. Methods A cohort made up by 8,592 over-75 subjects (67.1% female, mean age 84.5; SD ± 5.29) has been assessed once a year for bio-psycho-social frailty by the administration of the Short Functional Geriatric Evaluation questionnaire. The enrolled subjects were involved in a Community-based pro-Active Monitoring Program which provides interventions aimed at reducing social isolation. Mortality, use of hospital care and use of residential long-term care have been recorded during the follow up and separate and cumulative incidence rate was measured. Results The sample was stratified in Robust (37.5%), Pre-frail (24.0%), Frail, (29.5%) and Very Frail (9.1%) individuals. Mortality, Hospital admission rate and Residential LTC admission rate were higher in the very frails than among the other groups. However, according to social isolation, the integrated subjects at the baseline assessment, showed the highest incidence of negative events: 29.5%, 20.8%, 21.0%, .and 20.8% for integrated, mild isolated, moderate isolated and severely isolated individuals respectively (p < 0.001). The logistic regression analysis, adjusted for age, gender and level of frailty, confirmed the protective role of reducing social isolation among isolated individuals compared with integrated ones (OR: 0.729; CL95% 0.673-0.720). Conclusions The assessment of bio-psycho-social frailty could be the starting point for effective intervention at community level, like the program mentioned above. Management of frailty may lead to an improvement of public health outcomes. Key messages Intervention dealing with social isolation are able to revert the increase of mortality related to the lack of social resources. Management of frailty may lead to an improvement of public health outcomes.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1329878X2095815
Author(s):  
Catherine Archer ◽  
Katharina Wolf ◽  
Joseph Nalloor

This article examines the role of influencers during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the impact of the global pandemic on Social Media Influencers’ (SMIs) lifestyle and business model, using the concept of Disaster Capitalism as a springboard for discussion. Worldwide it first appeared that the global pandemic would severely impact SMI sole traders, as income from travel, luxury goods and other ‘lifestyle’ brands dried up. However, we suggest that brands and influencers themselves have pivoted to meet the COVID challenge, with some brands exploiting the opaque influence of these micro-celebrities. We further suggest that while a handful of governments and health organisations have recognised the reach and social capital of SMIs, their potential in health communication has been underutilised. We write this essay as a starting point, raising questions and calling for further research to be conducted to inform the understanding of SMIs’ role and potential as conveyors of public health information.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viviana STAMPINI ◽  
Alice MONZANI ◽  
Silvia CARISTIA ◽  
Gianluigi FERRANTE ◽  
Martina GERBINO ◽  
...  

Abstract In response to the COVID-19 pandemics, drastic measures for social distancing have been introduced also in Italy. The purpose of this study was to describe some aspects of lifestyle, access to health services, and mental wellness of Italian pregnant women and new-mothers during the lockdown. We carried out a web-based survey to assess how pregnant women and new-mothers were coping with the lockdown. Expected outcomes were categorized in different analysis domains: psychological well-being and support, physical exercise, dietary habits, access to care, delivery and obstetric care, neonatal care and breastfeeding.We included 742 respondents (response rate 86.2%), 603 were pregnant (81.3%) and 139 (18.7%) had delivered during lockdown. We found a high score for anxiety and depression in 62.7% of pregnant women and 61.9% of new-mothers. During the lockdown, 61.9% of pregnant women reduced their physical exercise, and 79.8% reported to eat in a healthier way. 94.2% of new-mothers reported to have breastfed their babies during hospital staying. Regarding the impact of restrictive measures on breastfeeding, no impact was reported by 56.1% of new-mothers, a negative impact by 36.7%.The higher prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms in pregnant women and new-mothers should be a public health issue. Clinicians might also consider to recommend and encourage “home” physical exercise. On the other hand, most women improved their approach towards healthy eating during the lockdown and a very high breastfeeding rate was reported soon after birth: these data are an interesting starting point to develop new strategies for public health.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 53-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah C. Haacke ◽  
Friederike Enßle ◽  
Dagmar Haase ◽  
Ilse Helbrecht ◽  
Tobia Lakes

Two of the dominant processes shaping today’s European cities are the ageing and diversification of the population. Given that the range of action usually decreases in later life, the living environment around the place of residence plays an important role in the social integration of the older generation. Hence, spatial patterns of residence indicate the extent of opportunities for the older population to engage in urban life and, therefore, need to be addressed by urban planning and policy. The aim of this article is to study the interrelation between diversity in later life—in terms of migrant history, gender, social class, and age—as well as planned and actual (past) movements of elders. We have chosen Berlin as a case study and draw from a quantitative survey with elders (age 60+) from diverse backgrounds (N = 427). Our results from descriptive analysis and statistical hypothesis tests show that age impacts people’s past and planned movement; we observe a peak in the decisions to move at the age of 65–75 and a drop in the inclination to move among people over 80. None of the other factors is similarly influential, but we observe appreciable tendencies regarding the impact of gender and social class on planned movements. Our study suggests that variables other than classic socio-demographic data, such as apartment size, rent, social networks, and health, and their interrelations may offer a promising starting point for achieving a full picture of older people’s movement behaviour.


2000 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tony McBride ◽  
Alana Hulme

This paper discusses the current state of play in Victorian municipal public health planning and practice. It questions whether a legislative vehicle is still appropriate to realise local government's potential to affect its populations' health. The paper draws on four recent studies focused on the metropolitan experience. The impact of the radical local government restructuring in the mid-1990s and Compulsory Competitive Tendering were evident in the overlapping findings. These included: increased legitimacy for planning; an ambivalent policy environment; inconsistent support within councils; a paradox about external collaboration; limited community participation; and confusion about models for municipal health planning. However, there was a complex tapestry of positive and negative stories, perspectives, capacities and public health practices, reflecting the sectors' inherent geographical and political diversity. The continuing constraints on effective practice suggest that a reliance on State government legislation as the driving force for councils' approach to public health might no longer be the most productive approach. Public health advocates within and across councils need to help councils develop their own local rationales for action. To support this, the State government should act to create a more supportive and consistent policy environment.


Author(s):  
Georgeta-Madalina Meghisan ◽  
Dorin Toma

Abstract Part of the National Strategy of Sustainable Development from Romania, life expectancy and air pollution indicators have an important role in establishing long term public health management strategies. International scientific literature within the field underlines the strong connection between air pollution and life expectancy. This research study focuses on the impact of greenhouse gas emissions, particulate matter air pollutants, ozone air pollutants on the length of life at 65 years old and life expectancy at birth of the population from Romania. The methods used for research are correlation and linear regression. Our results will be a starting point for further development of public health policies in developing countries, which mostly focus on socio-economic aspects, neglecting the negative impact of air pollution.


2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 274-279
Author(s):  
Bart Van Vooren ◽  
Charlotte Ryckman

Opponents of the transatlantic trade and investment partnership treaty (TTIP) fear that the EUmight lose the capacity to protect public health as it deems appropriate. The freedomto regulate would be jeopardized because TTIP would bind the EU to the United States’ regulatory interests, which are expressly or implicitly assumed to live up to a ‘lower’ standard than those in the EU. The ‘TTIP–leaks’ provide a good opportunity to examine the potential impact of the agreement on EU public health regulation. This brief contribution uses as its starting point the document “Tactical State of Play of the TTIP negotiations” (hereafter “Tactical Document”) of March 2016, and focuses on pharmaceuticals and medical devices. In light of the statements in this document, we query what would change for the EU consumer, and what would be the impact on the EU regulators’ role in protecting public health.


ASHA Leader ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 8 (13) ◽  
pp. 8-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Ourand
Keyword(s):  

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