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Patwary MM, Bardhan M, İnan HE, Browning MHEM, Disha AS, Haque MZ, Helmy M, Ashraf S, Dzhambov AM, Shuvo FK, Alam MA, Billah SM, Kabir MP, Hossain MR, Azam MG, Rahman MM, Swed S, Sah R, Montenegro-Idrogo JJ, Bonilla-Aldana DK, Rodriguez-Morales AJ. Exposure to urban green spaces and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from two low and lower-middle-income countries. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1334425. [PMID: 38496388 PMCID: PMC10940342 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1334425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on mental health globally, with limited access to mental health care affecting low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) the most. In response, alternative strategies to support mental health have been necessary, with access to green spaces being a potential solution. While studies have highlighted the role of green spaces in promoting mental health during pandemic lockdowns, few studies have focused on the role of green spaces in mental health recovery after lockdowns. This study investigated changes in green space access and associations with mental health recovery in Bangladesh and Egypt across the pandemic. Methods An online survey was conducted between January and April 2021 after the first lockdown was lifted in Bangladesh (n = 556) and Egypt (n = 660). We evaluated indoor and outdoor greenery, including the number of household plants, window views, and duration of outdoor visits. The quantity of greenness was estimated using the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). This index was estimated using satellite images with a resolution of 10x10m during the survey period (January-April 2021) with Sentinel-2 satellite in the Google Earth Engine platform. We calculated averages within 250m, 300m, 500m and 1000m buffers of the survey check-in locations using ArcGIS 10.3. Multiple linear regression models were used to evaluate relationships between changes in natural exposure and changes in mental health. Results The results showed that mental health improved in both countries after the lockdown period. People in both countries increased their time spent outdoors in green spaces after the lockdown period, and these increases in time outdoors were associated with improved mental health. Unexpectedly, changes in the number of indoor plants after the lockdown period were associated with contrasting mental health outcomes; more plants translated to increased anxiety and decreased depression. Refocusing lives after the pandemic on areas other than maintaining indoor plants may assist with worrying and feeling panicked. Still, indoor plants may assist with depressive symptoms for people remaining isolated. Conclusion These findings have important implications for policymakers and urban planners in LMICs, highlighting the need to increase access to natural environments in urban areas to improve mental health and well-being in public health emergencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Mainuddin Patwary
- Environment and Sustainability Research Initiative, Khulna, Bangladesh
- Environmental Science Discipline, Life Science School, Khulna University, Khulna, Bangladesh
| | - Mondira Bardhan
- Environment and Sustainability Research Initiative, Khulna, Bangladesh
- Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, United States
| | - Hüseyin Ertan İnan
- Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, United States
- Department of Tourism Management, Faculty of Tourism, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Türkiye
| | - Matthew H. E. M. Browning
- Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, United States
| | - Asma Safia Disha
- Environment and Sustainability Research Initiative, Khulna, Bangladesh
- Department of Environmental Science and Management, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Zahidul Haque
- Environment and Sustainability Research Initiative, Khulna, Bangladesh
- Environmental Science Discipline, Life Science School, Khulna University, Khulna, Bangladesh
| | - Mai Helmy
- Psychology Department, College of Education, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman
- Psychology Department, Faculty of Arts, Menoufia University, Shibin el Kom, Egypt
| | - Sadia Ashraf
- Environmental Science Discipline, Life Science School, Khulna University, Khulna, Bangladesh
| | - Angel M. Dzhambov
- Department of Hygiene, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Research Group “Health and Quality of Life in a Green and Sustainable Environment”, SRIPD, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Environmental Health Division, Research Institute at Medical University of Plovdiv, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Institute of Highway Engineering and Transport Planning, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria
| | | | - Md. Ashraful Alam
- Department of Computational Diagnostic Radiology and Preventive Medicine, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Sharif Mutasim Billah
- Environment and Sustainability Research Initiative, Khulna, Bangladesh
- Environmental Science Discipline, Life Science School, Khulna University, Khulna, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Pervez Kabir
- Environment and Sustainability Research Initiative, Khulna, Bangladesh
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Md. Riad Hossain
- Institute of Disaster Management, Khulna University Engineering & Technology, Khulna, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Golam Azam
- Remote Sensing, Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Mijanur Rahman
- Department of Geography and Environment, Jagannath University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Sarya Swed
- Faculty of Medicine, Aleppo University, Aleppo, Syria
| | - Ranjit Sah
- Green City Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Department of Microbiology, Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune, India
| | - Juan J. Montenegro-Idrogo
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Cientifica del Sur, Lima, Peru
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Service, Hospital Nacional Dos de Mayo, Lima, Peru
| | | | - Alfonso J. Rodriguez-Morales
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Cientifica del Sur, Lima, Peru
- Grupo de Investigación Biomedicina, Faculty of Medicine, Fundación Universitaria Autónoma de las Américas-Institución Universitaria Visión de las Américas, Pereira, Colombia
- Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon
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Xie Y, Hirabayashi S, Hashimoto S, Shibata S, Kang J. Exploring the Spatial Pattern of Urban Forest Ecosystem Services based on i-Tree Eco and Spatial Interpolation: A Case Study of Kyoto City, Japan. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 72:991-1005. [PMID: 37382645 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-023-01847-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Urban forest, as an essential urban green infrastructure, is critical in providing ecosystem services to cities. To enhance the mainstreaming of ecosystem services in urban planning, it is necessary to explore the spatial pattern of urban forest ecosystem services in cities. This study provides a workflow for urban forest planning based on field investigation, i-Tree Eco, and geostatistical interpolation. Firstly, trees across an array of land use types were investigated using a sampling method. Then i-Tree Eco was applied to quantify ecosystem services and ecosystem service value in each plot. Based on the ecosystem services estimates for plots, four interpolation methods were applied and compared by cross-validation. The Empirical Bayesian Kriging was determined as the best interpolation method with higher prediction accuracy. With the results of Empirical Bayesian Kriging, this study compared urban forest ecosystem services and ecosystem service value across land use types. The spatial correlations between ecosystem service value and four types of point of interest in urban places were explored using the bivariate Moran's I statistic and the bivariate local indicators of spatial association. Our results show that the residential area in the built-up area of Kyoto city had higher species richness, tree density, ecosystem services, and total ecosystem service value. Positive spatial correlations were found between ecosystem service value and the distribution of urban space types including the tourist attraction distribution, urban park distribution, and school distribution. This study provides a specific ecosystem service-oriented reference for urban forest planning based on land use and urban space types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusong Xie
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | | | - Shizuka Hashimoto
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shozo Shibata
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Jiefeng Kang
- Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan.
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Abdi F, Rahnemaei FA, Shojaei P, Afsahi F, Mahmoodi Z. Social determinants of mental health of women living in slum: a systematic review. Obstet Gynecol Sci 2021; 64:143-155. [PMID: 33685034 PMCID: PMC7990997 DOI: 10.5468/ogs.20264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE With the rise of urbanization globally, the problem of living in slums has become a problem for the civil society. As a vulnerable segment, women make up half of the population in these regions; therefore, women's mental health has always been a concern. The purpose of this study was to review the social determinants of mental health in women living in slum areas. METHODS We systematically reviewed articles published between 2009 and 2019 on the social determinants of women's mental health in SID, Magiran, Google scholar, PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Embase, MEDLINE, PsychINFO, and PsychARTICLES databases using MeSH keywords according to PRISMA guidelines. The quality of the studies was assessed depending on the type of study using Ottawa Newcastle" scale and Joanna Briggs Institute quality assessment tools. Finally, 23 studies were analyzed. RESULTS Different social determinants influenced the mental health of women living in slum areas. Among the structural determinants, the socioeconomic level had the highest frequency, and gender was in the second rank with the highest correlation with poorer women's mental health status. Among the intermediate determinants, living conditions, food insecurity, social capital, and social support were most frequently associated with mental health status. CONCLUSION Women living in slum areas are prone to developing mental disorders and poorer mental health; therefore, supporting these women and creating job opportunities to raise their incomes and, subsequently, improve their social, economic, and living conditions should be taken into consideration. In addition, this requires careful planning and comprehensive social support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Abdi
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Alsadat Rahnemaei
- Student Research Committee, Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parisa Shojaei
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Afsahi
- Master Student of Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zohreh Mahmoodi
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
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Nawrath M, Guenat S, Elsey H, Dallimer M. Exploring uncharted territory: Do urban greenspaces support mental health in low- and middle-income countries? ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 194:110625. [PMID: 33338487 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to urban greenspaces promotes an array of mental health benefits. Understanding these benefits is of paramount importance, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where cities are expanding at an unprecedented rate. However, the existing evidence-base for the health benefits of greenspaces has a strong bias towards high-income countries. Here we systematically assess the emerging evidence regarding the mental health benefits provided by urban greenspaces in LMICs. We carried out a scoping review to assess the extent, type and quality of evidence investigating the relationship between greenspaces and mental health in LMICs. We systematically searched the literature databases Web of Science, Medline, Embase and CAB Abstracts using key terms related to greenspaces and mental health in LMICs. We analysed the resulting studies using a narrative synthesis approach, taking into account study quality, to assess the overall effects on mental health. 36 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the narrative synthesis. Studies were heterogeneous in design, study population, greenspace and mental health assessment. While more than 90% of LMICs remain unstudied, we found that eight out of ten studies using validated mental health screening tools detected positive associations between greenspaces and one or more mental health outcomes. These studies mostly took place in upper-middle-income countries. However, there still is a lack of evidence from regions with the highest levels of urbanisation, and only four studies assessed lower-middle and low-income countries. Furthermore, the analysis of mediating and moderating factors indicates that the relationship between greenspaces and mental health in LMICs is context dependent and needs to be assessed in relation to locally relevant environmental and cultural settings. Based on the evidence reviewed here, exposure to urban greenspaces can support multiple mental health outcomes in upper-middle-income countries. However, we still know little about poorer, rapidly urbanising countries. Our findings highlight the need for high-quality, context specific research in those urban areas with the highest levels of urbanisation, and the need to address specific challenges regarding mediating and moderating factors. Future studies should combine robust ecological assessments of greenspaces with validated mental health screening tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Nawrath
- Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.
| | - Solène Guenat
- Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.
| | - Helen Elsey
- Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, YO10 5NG, UK.
| | - Martin Dallimer
- Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.
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Wang J, Wang X, Li H, Yang L, Li Y, Kong C. Spatial distribution and determinants of health loss from Kashin-Beck disease in Bin County, Shaanxi Province, China. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:387. [PMID: 33607974 PMCID: PMC7893884 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-10407-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) is one of the major endemic diseases in China, which severely impacts the physical health and life quality of people. A better understanding of the spatial distribution of the health loss from KBD and its influencing factors will help to identify areas and populations at high risk so as to plan for targeted interventions. Methods The data of patients with KBD at village-level were collected to estimate and analyze the spatial pattern of health loss from KBD in Bin County, Shaanxi Province. The years lived with disability (YLDs) index was applied as a measure of health loss from KBD. Spatial autocorrelation methodologies, including Global Moran’s I and Local Moran’s I, were used to describe and map spatial clusters of the health loss. In addition, basic individual information and environmental samples were collected to explore natural and social determinants of the health loss from KBD. Results The estimation of YLDs showed that patients with KBD of grade II and patients over 50 years old contributed most to the health loss of KBD in Bin County. No significant difference was observed between two genders. The spatial patterns of YLDs and YLD rate of KBD were clustered significantly at both global and local scales. Villages in the southwestern and eastern regions revealed higher health loss, while those in the northern regions exhibited lower health loss. This clustering was found to be significantly related to organically bound Se in soil and poverty rate of KBD patients. Conclusions Our results suggest that future treatment and prevention of KBD should focus on endemic areas with high organically bound Se in soil and poor economic conditions. The findings can also provide important information for further exploration of the etiology of KBD. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-10407-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wang
- Key Laboratory for Geographical Process Analysis & Simulation, Research Institute of Sustainable Development, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China.,Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Xiaoya Wang
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Hairong Li
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China. .,College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, People's Republic of China.
| | - Linsheng Yang
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China. .,College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yingchun Li
- Binxian Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Binxian, 713500, China
| | - Chang Kong
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
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Cooper-Vince CE, Arachy H, Kakuhikire B, Vořechovská D, Mushavi RC, Baguma C, McDonough AQ, Bangsberg DR, Tsai AC. Water insecurity and gendered risk for depression in rural Uganda: a hotspot analysis. BMC Public Health 2018; 18:1143. [PMID: 30257659 PMCID: PMC6158871 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-018-6043-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Water insecurity is linked to depression in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), though it remains unclear how geospatial clustering of water insecurity in rural regions is associated with risk for depression. Methods We conducted a population-based survey of a rural parish in southwestern Uganda (N = 1603) to evaluate the joint geospatial clustering of water insecurity and risk for depression among men and women living in rural Uganda. Results Geospatial clustering of self-reported water insecurity and depressive symptoms was found to be present among both men and women. Depression hotspots were more often observed near water insecurity hotspots among women, relative to men. Multivariable regression revealed that residing in a water insecurity hotspot significantly increased risk for depressive symptoms among women, but not among men. Conclusions Residing in a water insecurity hotspot is associated with greater risk for probable depression among women, but not among men, pointing to the need for focused depression screening among women residing in water insecure households.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hawk Arachy
- Department of Environmental Management, Harvard University, Cambridge, USA
| | | | | | | | - Charles Baguma
- Mbarara University Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Amy Q McDonough
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA
| | - David R Bangsberg
- Mbarara University Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda.,Oregon Health Sciences University-Portland State University School of Public Health, Portland, USA
| | - Alexander C Tsai
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.,Mbarara University Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
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Caswell JM. Prevalence of reported high blood pressure in Canada: investigation of demographic and spatial trends. J Public Health (Oxf) 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10389-016-0761-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
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Sanitation, Stress, and Life Stage: A Systematic Data Collection Study among Women in Odisha, India. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0141883. [PMID: 26551866 PMCID: PMC4638353 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2015] [Accepted: 09/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence demonstrates how inadequate access to water and sanitation is linked to psychosocial stress, especially among women, forcing them to navigate social and physical barriers during their daily sanitation routines. We examine sanitation-related psychosocial stress (SRPS) across women’s reproductive lives in three distinct geographic sites (urban slums, rural villages, and rural tribal villages) in Odisha, India. We explored daily sanitation practices of adolescent, newly married, pregnant, and established adult women (n = 60) and identified stressors encountered during sanitation. Responding to structured data collection methods, women ranked seven sanitation activities (defecation, urination, menstruation, bathing, post-defecation cleaning, carrying water, and changing clothes) based on stress (high to low) and level of freedom (associated with greatest freedom to having the most restrictions). Women then identified common stressors they encountered when practicing sanitation and sorted stressors in constrained piles based on frequency and severity of each issue. The constellation of factors influencing SRPS varies by life stage and location. Overall, sanitation behaviors that were most restricted (i.e., menstruation) were the most stressful. Women in different sites encountered different stressors, and the level of perceived severity varied based on site and life stage. Understanding the influence of place and life stage on SRPS provides a nuanced understanding of sanitation, and may help identify areas for intervention.
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Fernandez A, Black J, Jones M, Wilson L, Salvador-Carulla L, Astell-Burt T, Black D. Flooding and mental health: a systematic mapping review. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0119929. [PMID: 25860572 PMCID: PMC4393088 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0119929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2014] [Accepted: 01/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Floods are the most common type of global natural disaster. Floods have a negative impact on mental health. Comprehensive evaluation and review of the literature are lacking. Objective To systematically map and review available scientific evidence on mental health impacts of floods caused by extended periods of heavy rain in river catchments. Methods We performed a systematic mapping review of published scientific literature in five languages for mixed studies on floods and mental health. PUBMED and Web of Science were searched to identify all relevant articles from 1994 to May 2014 (no restrictions). Results The electronic search strategy identified 1331 potentially relevant papers. Finally, 83 papers met the inclusion criteria. Four broad areas are identified: i) the main mental health disorders—post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety; ii] the factors associated with mental health among those affected by floods; iii) the narratives associated with flooding, which focuses on the long-term impacts of flooding on mental health as a consequence of the secondary stressors; and iv) the management actions identified. The quantitative and qualitative studies have consistent findings. However, very few studies have used mixed methods to quantify the size of the mental health burden as well as exploration of in-depth narratives. Methodological limitations include control of potential confounders and short-term follow up. Limitations Floods following extreme events were excluded from our review. Conclusions Although the level of exposure to floods has been systematically associated with mental health problems, the paucity of longitudinal studies and lack of confounding controls precludes strong conclusions. Implications We recommend that future research in this area include mixed-method studies that are purposefully designed, using more rigorous methods. Studies should also focus on vulnerable groups and include analyses of policy and practical responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Fernandez
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Centre for Disability Research and Policy, Brain and Mind Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - John Black
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Ageing Work and Health Unit, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Mairwen Jones
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Discipline of Behavioral and Social Sciences in Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Leigh Wilson
- School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Luis Salvador-Carulla
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Centre for Disability Research and Policy, Brain and Mind Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Thomas Astell-Burt
- School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Deborah Black
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Ageing Work and Health Unit, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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Nolan LB. Slum Definitions in Urban India: Implications for the Measurement of Health Inequalities. POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW 2015; 41:59-84. [PMID: 26877568 PMCID: PMC4746497 DOI: 10.1111/j.1728-4457.2015.00026.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Half the population of low- and middle-income countries will live in urban areas by 2030, and poverty and inequality in these contexts is rising. Slum dwelling is one way in which to conceptualize and characterize urban deprivation but there are many definitions of what constitutes a slum. This paper presents four different slum definitions used in India alone, demonstrating that assessments of both the distribution and extent of urban deprivation depends on the way in which it is characterized, as does slum dwelling's association with common child health indicators. Using data from India's National Family and Health Survey from 2005-2006, two indictors of slum dwelling embedded in the survey and two constructed from the household questionnaire are compared using descriptive statistics and linear regression models of height- and weight-for-age z-scores. The results highlight a tension between international and local slum definitions, and underscore the importance of improving empirical representations of the dynamism of slum and city residents.
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12
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Newman MS. Review of Studies of Mental Health in Bangladesh, with a Focus on Depression. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MENTAL HEALTH 2014. [DOI: 10.2753/imh0020-7411420403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Heitzinger K, Montano SM, Hawes SE, Alarcón JO, Zunt JR. A community-based cluster randomized survey of noncommunicable disease and risk factors in a peri-urban shantytown in Lima, Peru. BMC INTERNATIONAL HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS 2014; 14:19. [PMID: 24885980 PMCID: PMC4040114 DOI: 10.1186/1472-698x-14-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2013] [Accepted: 05/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND An estimated 863 million people-a third of the world's urban population-live in slums, yet there is little information on the disease burden in these settings, particularly regarding chronic preventable diseases. METHODS From March to May 2012, we conducted a cluster randomized survey to estimate the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and associated risk factors in a peri-urban shantytown north of Lima, Peru. Field workers administered a questionnaire that included items from the WHO World Health Survey and the WHO STEPS survey of chronic disease risk factors. We used logistic regression to assess the associations of NCDs and related risk factors with age and gender. We accounted for sampling weights and the clustered sampling design using statistical survey methods. RESULTS A total of 142 adults were surveyed and had a weighted mean age of 36 years (range 18-81). The most prevalent diseases were depression (12%) and chronic respiratory disease (8%), while lifetime prevalence of cancer, arthritis, myocardial infarction, and diabetes were all less than 5%. Fifteen percent of respondents were hypertensive and the majority (67%) was unaware of their condition. Being overweight or obese was common for both genders (53%), but abdominal obesity was more prevalent in women (54% vs. 10% in men, p < 0.001). Thirty-five percent of men binge drank and 34% reported current smoking; these behaviors were less common among women (4% binge drank, p < 0.001; 8% smoked, p = 0.002). Increasing age was associated with an increased risk of abdominal obesity (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.01, 1.07, p = 0.02), hypertension (OR = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.02, 1.10, p = 0.006), arthritis (OR = 1.07, 95% CI = 1.03, 1.11, p < 0.001) and cancer (OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.07, 1.20, p < 0.001) in adjusted models. The prevalences of other NCDs and related risk factors were similar when stratified by age or gender. CONCLUSIONS This study underlines the important burden of noncommunicable disease in informal settlements in Peru and suggests that prevention and treatment interventions could be optimized according to age and gender.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Stephen E Hawes
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jorge O Alarcón
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical “Daniel A. Carrión”, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru
| | - Joseph R Zunt
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Departments of Neurology, Global Health, and Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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Duncan DT, Piras G, Dunn EC, Johnson RM, Melly SJ, Molnar BE. The built environment and depressive symptoms among urban youth: A spatial regression study. Spat Spatiotemporal Epidemiol 2013; 5:11-25. [PMID: 23725884 DOI: 10.1016/j.sste.2013.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2012] [Revised: 01/05/2013] [Accepted: 03/15/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
This study evaluated spatial relationships between features of the built environment and youth depressive symptoms. Data used in this study came from the 2008 Boston Youth Survey Geospatial Dataset, which includes Boston high school students with complete residential information (n=1170). Features of the built environment (such as access to walking destinations and community design features) were created for 400- and 800-m street network buffers of the youths' residences. We computed standard Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression and spatial simultaneous autoregressive models. We found significant positive spatial autocorrelation in all of the built environment features at both spatial scales (all p=0.001), depressive symptoms (p=0.034) as well as in the OLS regression residuals (all p<0.001), and, therefore, fit spatial regression models. Findings from the spatial regression models indicate that the built environment can have depressogenic effects, which can vary by spatial scale, gender and race/ethnicity (though sometimes in unexpected directions, i.e. associations opposite to our expectations). While our results overall suggest that the built environment minimally influences youth depressive symptoms, additional research is needed, including to understand our results in the unexpected direction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dustin T Duncan
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
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Salinas-Pérez JA, García-Alonso CR, Molina-Parrilla C, Jordà-Sampietro E, Salvador-Carulla L. Identification and location of hot and cold spots of treated prevalence of depression in Catalonia (Spain). Int J Health Geogr 2012; 11:36. [PMID: 22917223 PMCID: PMC3460765 DOI: 10.1186/1476-072x-11-36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2012] [Accepted: 08/10/2012] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Spatial analysis is a relevant set of tools for studying the geographical distribution of diseases, although its methods and techniques for analysis may yield very different results. A new hybrid approach has been applied to the spatial analysis of treated prevalence of depression in Catalonia (Spain) according to the following descriptive hypotheses: 1) spatial clusters of treated prevalence of depression (hot and cold spots) exist and, 2) these clusters are related to the administrative divisions of mental health care (catchment areas) in this region. Methods In this ecological study, morbidity data per municipality have been extracted from the regional outpatient mental health database (CMBD-SMA) for the year 2009. The second level of analysis mapped small mental health catchment areas or groups of municipalities covered by a single mental health community centre. Spatial analysis has been performed using a Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithm (MOEA) which identified geographical clusters (hot spots and cold spots) of depression through the optimization of its treated prevalence. Catchment areas, where hot and cold spots are located, have been described by four domains: urbanicity, availability, accessibility and adequacy of provision of mental health care. Results MOEA has identified 6 hot spots and 4 cold spots of depression in Catalonia. Our results show a clear spatial pattern where one cold spot contributed to define the exact location, shape and borders of three hot spots. Analysing the corresponding domain values for the identified hot and cold spots no common pattern has been detected. Conclusions MOEA has effectively identified hot/cold spots of depression in Catalonia. However these hot/cold spots comprised municipalities from different catchment areas and we could not relate them to the administrative distribution of mental care in the region. By combining the analysis of hot/cold spots, a better statistical and operational-based visual representation of the geographical distribution is obtained. This technology may be incorporated into Decision Support Systems to enhance local evidence-informed policy in health system research.
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Affiliation(s)
- José A Salinas-Pérez
- Universidad Loyola Andalucía, Business Administration Faculty, Sevilla, Córdoba, Spain.
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Gruebner O, Khan MMH, Lautenbach S, Müller D, Krämer A, Lakes T, Hostert P. Mental health in the slums of Dhaka - a geoepidemiological study. BMC Public Health 2012; 12:177. [PMID: 22404959 PMCID: PMC3361672 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-12-177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2011] [Accepted: 03/09/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Urban health is of global concern because the majority of the world's population lives in urban areas. Although mental health problems (e.g. depression) in developing countries are highly prevalent, such issues are not yet adequately addressed in the rapidly urbanising megacities of these countries, where a growing number of residents live in slums. Little is known about the spectrum of mental well-being in urban slums and only poor knowledge exists on health promotive socio-physical environments in these areas. Using a geo-epidemiological approach, the present study identified factors that contribute to the mental well-being in the slums of Dhaka, which currently accommodates an estimated population of more than 14 million, including 3.4 million slum dwellers. Methods The baseline data of a cohort study conducted in early 2009 in nine slums of Dhaka were used. Data were collected from 1,938 adults (≥ 15 years). All respondents were geographically marked based on their households using global positioning systems (GPS). Very high-resolution land cover information was processed in a Geographic Information System (GIS) to obtain additional exposure information. We used a factor analysis to reduce the socio-physical explanatory variables to a fewer set of uncorrelated linear combinations of variables. We then regressed these factors on the WHO-5 Well-being Index that was used as a proxy for self-rated mental well-being. Results Mental well-being was significantly associated with various factors such as selected features of the natural environment, flood risk, sanitation, housing quality, sufficiency and durability. We further identified associations with population density, job satisfaction, and income generation while controlling for individual factors such as age, gender, and diseases. Conclusions Factors determining mental well-being were related to the socio-physical environment and individual level characteristics. Given that mental well-being is associated with physiological well-being, our study may provide crucial information for developing better health care and disease prevention programmes in slums of Dhaka and other comparable settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Gruebner
- Geomatics Lab, Geography Department, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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Dake FA. Where do Overweight Women in Ghana Live? Answers from Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis. J Public Health Afr 2012; 3:e12. [PMID: 28299085 PMCID: PMC5345441 DOI: 10.4081/jphia.2012.e12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2011] [Revised: 11/24/2011] [Accepted: 01/09/2012] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Contextual influence on health outcomes is increasingly becoming an important area of research. Analytical techniques such as spatial analysis help explain the variations and dynamics in health inequalities across different context and among different population groups. This paper explores spatial clustering in body mass index among Ghanaian women by analysing data from the 2008 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey using exploratory spatial data analysis techniques. Overweight was a more common occurrence in urban areas than in rural areas. Close to a quarter of the clusters in Ghana, mostly those in the southern sector contained women who were overweight. Women who lived in clusters where the women were overweight were more likely to live around other clusters where the women were also overweight. The results suggest that the urban environment could be a potential contributing factor to the high levels of obesity in urban areas of Ghana. There is the need for researchers to include a spatial dimension to obesity research in Ghana paying particular attention the urban environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fidelia A.A. Dake
- Regional Institute for Population Studies, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra-Ghana
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