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Ortiz AP, Hospedales CJ, Méndez-Lázaro PA, Hamilton WM, Rolle LD, Shepherd JM, Espinel Z, Gay HA, Nogueira LM, Shultz JM. Protecting Caribbean patients diagnosed with cancer from compounding disasters. Lancet Oncol 2024; 25:e217-e224. [PMID: 38697167 DOI: 10.1016/s1470-2045(24)00071-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
Caribbean small island developing states are becoming increasingly vulnerable to compounding disasters, prominently featuring climate-related hazards and pandemic diseases, which exacerbate existing barriers to cancer control in the region. We describe the complexities of cancer prevention and control efforts throughout the Caribbean small island developing states, including the unique challenges of people diagnosed with cancer in the region. We highlight potential solutions and strategies that concurrently address disaster adaptation and cancer control. Because Caribbean small island developing states are affected first and worst by the hazards of compounding disasters, the innovative solutions developed in the region are relevant for climate mitigation, disaster adaptation, and cancer control efforts globally. In the age of complex and cascading disaster scenarios, developing strategies to mitigate their effect on the cancer control continuum, and protecting the health and safety of people diagnosed with cancer from extreme events become increasingly urgent. The equitable development of such strategies relies on collaborative efforts among professionals whose diverse expertise from complementary fields infuses the local community perspective while focusing on implementing solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Patricia Ortiz
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - C James Hospedales
- EarthMedic and EarthNurse Foundation for Planetary Health, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago; Defeat-NCD Partnership Executive Committee Climate and Health, Healthy Caribbean Coalition, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Pablo A Méndez-Lázaro
- Environmental Health Department, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | | | - LaShae D Rolle
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - J Marshall Shepherd
- Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems, Department of Geography, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Zelde Espinel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Hiram A Gay
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Washington University in St Louis, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | | | - James M Shultz
- Protect & Promote Population Health in Complex Crises, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
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Myhre SL, Scobie M, Meriläinen E, Kelman I, Gopinathan U. Climate Change, Community Action, and Health in the Anglophone Caribbean: A Scoping Review. Public Health Rev 2024; 44:1605843. [PMID: 38283581 PMCID: PMC10811550 DOI: 10.3389/phrs.2023.1605843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective: This scoping review investigates the status of research focusing on the nexus of community action, climate change, and health and wellbeing in anglophone Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Methods: This review was guided by Arksey and O'Malley framework and utilized the PRISMA-ScR checklist. We searched Medline/OVID, PsychInfo, VHL, Sociological Abstracts, Google Scholar, and Scopus to capture interdisciplinary studies published from 1946 to 2021. Results: The search yielded 3,828 records of which fourteen studies met the eligibility criteria. The analysis assessed study aim, geographic focus, community stakeholders, community action, climate perspective, health impact, as well as dimensions including resources/assets, education/information, organization and governance, innovation and flexibility, and efficacy and agency. Nearly all studies were case studies using mixed method approaches involving qualitative and quantitative data. Community groups organized around focal areas related to fishing, farming, food security, conservation, and the environment. Conclusion: Despite the bearing these areas have on public health, few studies explicitly examine direct links between health and climate change. Research dedicated to the nexus of community action, climate change, and health in the anglophone Caribbean warrants further study.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michelle Scobie
- Institute of International Relations, The University of the West Indies St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Eija Meriläinen
- School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
- Hanken School of Economics, Helsinki, Finland
- Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction and Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ilan Kelman
- Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction and Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Global Development and Planning, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway
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Sever MS, Luyckx V, Tonelli M, Kazancioglu R, Rodgers D, Gallego D, Tuglular S, Vanholder R. Disasters and kidney care: pitfalls and solutions. Nat Rev Nephrol 2023; 19:672-686. [PMID: 37479903 DOI: 10.1038/s41581-023-00743-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
Patients with kidney disease, especially those with kidney failure, are particularly susceptible to the adverse effects of disasters because their survival depends on functional infrastructure, advanced technology, the availability of specific drugs and well-trained medical personnel. The risk of poor outcomes across the entire spectrum of patients with kidney diseases (acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease and kidney failure on dialysis or with a functioning transplant) increases as a result of disaster-related logistical challenges. Patients who are displaced face even more complex problems owing to additional threats that arise during travel and after reaching their new location. Overall, risks may be mitigated by pre-disaster preparedness and training. Emergency kidney disaster responses depend on the type and severity of the disaster and include medical and/or surgical treatment of injuries, treatment of mental health conditions, appropriate diet and logistical interventions. After a disaster, patients should be evaluated for problems that were not detected during the event, including those that may have developed as a result of the disaster. A retrospective review of the disaster response is vital to prevent future mistakes. Important ethical concerns include fair distribution of limited resources and limiting harm. Patients with kidney disease, their care-givers, health-care providers and authorities should be trained to respond to the medical and logistical problems that occur during disasters to improve outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehmet Sukru Sever
- Istanbul University, Istanbul School of Medicine, Department of Nephrology, Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Valerie Luyckx
- Department of Public and Global Health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Renal Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard, Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marcello Tonelli
- Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Rumeyza Kazancioglu
- Division of Nephrology, Bezmialem Vakif University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Darlene Rodgers
- Independent Nurse Consultant, American Society of Nephrology, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Dani Gallego
- European Kidney Health Alliance, Brussels, Belgium
- European Kidney Patient Federation, Wien, Austria
| | - Serhan Tuglular
- Marmara University, School of Medicine, Department of Nephrology, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Raymond Vanholder
- European Kidney Health Alliance, Brussels, Belgium
- Nephrology Section, Department of Internal Medicine and Paediatrics, University Hospital Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
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Ghazanchaei E, Allahbakhshi K, Khorasani-Zavareh D, Aghazadeh-Attari J, Mohebbi I. Challenges in Providing Care for Patients with Chronic Diseases during Disasters: A Qualitative Study with Focus on Diabetes and Chronic Respiratory Diseases in Iran. TANAFFOS 2023; 22:83-101. [PMID: 37920319 PMCID: PMC10618573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Background Non-communicable diseases are of the major health challenges and the leading cause of death in Iran and at the global level. Moreover, Iran is a disaster-prone country and considering the exacerbation of diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases in natural disasters, its healthcare system is facing challenges. This study was designed to explore challenges in providing healthcare services to patients with diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases during disasters in Iran. Materials and Methods The conventional content analysis is used in this qualitative study. Participants included 46 patients with diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases, and 36 of stakeholders were experienced and had theoretical knowledge. Participants' selection started by means of purposive sampling and continued to the point of data saturation. Data collection was carried out employing semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was performed using Graneheim and Lundman method. Results Based on participants' experiences, four major challenges in providing care to patients with diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases during natural disasters include integrated management (with three subcategories: control and supervision, patient data management, volunteer management), physical, psychosocial health (with three subcategories: psychological impacts, exacerbation of signs and symptoms, special patient characteristics), health literacy and the behavior (with three subcategories: risk perception, values and beliefs, education and awareness) and barriers to healthcare delivery (with three subcategories: facilities and human resources, financial and living problems and insurances, accessibilities and geographic access). Conclusion Developing countermeasures against medical monitoring system shutdown in order to detect medical needs and problems faced by chronic disease patients including those with diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is essential in preparedness for future disasters. Developing effective solutions may result in improved preparedness and better planning of diabetic and COPD patients for disasters, and potentially promote health outcomes during and after disasters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elham Ghazanchaei
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Kiyoumars Allahbakhshi
- Department of Health in Emergencies and Disasters, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Davoud Khorasani-Zavareh
- Skull Base Research Center, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Health in Emergencies and Disasters, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Javad Aghazadeh-Attari
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Iraj Mohebbi
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
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Chinea A, Ríos-Bedoya CF, Vicente I, Vega-Corteguera RJ, Martínez-Maldonado V, Carmona-Burgos DX, Rubí C, Amezcua L, Gilman CK, Díaz de la Matta PG, Rivera EP. Epidemiologic trends of multiple sclerosis in Puerto Rico (2013-2020). Mult Scler Relat Disord 2022; 68:104240. [PMID: 36544310 DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2022.104240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies have demonstrated higher multiple sclerosis (MS) incidence and prevalence in Puerto Rico (PR) than in other Caribbean and Latin American countries. Our objectives are to update the epidemiologic trends in MS incidence and prevalence rates for PR from 2017 through 2020 and compare them to prior rate data from 2013 to 2016. METHODS We used the Puerto Rico MS Foundation's registry (PRMS Registry) data to identify all newly diagnosed MS cases between January 2017 and December 2020. The study population included 568 MS patients, 406 women and 162 men living in PR. All individuals were 18 years and older and met the 2017 revised McDonald criteria for MS diagnosis. In addition, age- and sex-standardized incidence rates were estimated. RESULTS A total of 568 new MS cases were diagnosed in Puerto Rico between 2017 and 2020. The 2020 MS cumulative prevalence for Puerto Rico was 95.3/100,000 (95% CI: 91.6, 99.1), higher than previously reported. The age- and sex-standardized MS incidence rate for Puerto Rico decreased from 6.5/100,000 (2017) to 6.3/100,000 (2020). The annual age-standardized MS incidence rates declined for females: from 9.5/100,000 (2017) to 8.2/100,000 (2020) but increased for males from 3.6/100,000 to 4.6/100,000 during the same period. CONCLUSION These incidence and prevalence rates are among the highest reported among Caribbean and Latin American countries. A peak in the age- and sex-standardized MS incidence rate was observed after hurricane María (2018) and a decline during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020). Further investigation is needed to determine whether there was a causal relationship between the fluctuations observed and those natural events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angel Chinea
- San Juan MS Center, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico; San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Caguas, Puerto Rico; Puerto Rico Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico; School of Medicine, Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamón, Puerto Rico
| | - Carlos F Ríos-Bedoya
- Corporate Director of the Division of Scholarly Inquiry, McLaren Health Care, Graduate Medical Education, 10362 Edgewood Ct, Grand Blanc, MI 48439, USA.
| | - Ivonne Vicente
- San Juan MS Center, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico; San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Caguas, Puerto Rico
| | - Ramón J Vega-Corteguera
- San Juan MS Center, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico; Puerto Rico Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
| | | | | | | | - Lilyana Amezcua
- Department of Neurology, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Casey K Gilman
- San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Caguas, Puerto Rico
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Andrade EL, Cordova A, Schagen CRV, Jula M, Rodriguez-Diaz CE, Rivera MI, Santos-Burgoa C. The impact of Hurricane Maria on individuals living with non-communicable disease in Puerto Rico: the experience of 10 communities. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:2083. [PMCID: PMC9664670 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14552-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Coinciding with the rising non-communicable disease (NCD) prevalence worldwide is the increasing frequency and severity of natural hazards. Protecting populations with NCDs against natural hazards is ever more pressing given their increased risk of morbidity and mortality in disaster contexts. This investigation examined Hurricane Maria’s impacts across ten lower SES municipalities in Puerto Rico with varying community characteristics and hurricane impacts to understand experiences of supporting individuals with NCD management in the six-month period following the hurricane.
Methods
We conducted 40 qualitative interviews with mayors, first responders, faith leaders, community leaders, and municipal employees from 10 municipalities in Puerto Rico. Using QSR NVivo software, we deductively and inductively coded interview transcripts and undertook thematic analysis to characterize community-level hurricane impact and consequences for NCD management, and to identify convergent and divergent themes.
Results
Damages to infrastructure, including healthcare facilities and roadways, complicated the provision of timely health care for NCDs, patient transport, and pharmaceutical/medical supply chain continuity. Lengthy power outages at both healthcare facilities and private residences were barriers to healthcare service delivery, use of medical equipment, and storage of prescription medications with refrigeration, and led to a widespread mental health crisis. Cascading failures such as fuel shortages further compounded these challenges. The consequences of these impacts included the reported exacerbation of health conditions and loss of life among NCD patients.
Conclusions
Study findings identify contributors to morbidity and mortality among individuals with NCDs following Hurricane Maria. With the growing frequency of catastrophic disasters from natural hazards, the experiences of communities that endured these impacts offer important lessons regarding policies and practices to better support community disaster resilience and address the evolving preparedness needs of NCD patients.
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Campbell MH, Greaves N. Caribbean mental health professionals support climate resilience through community engagement, disaster response, and research. Int Rev Psychiatry 2022; 34:516-519. [PMID: 36165757 DOI: 10.1080/09540261.2022.2093101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Mental health professionals (MHPs) have roles supporting mitigation, preparation, and recovery in the global climate crisis. This commentary describes initiatives in the Caribbean to address climate-related threats to individuals and communities focussing on the role of MHPs in supporting community-based projects, regional public health disaster responses, and climate research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael H Campbell
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Bridgetown, Barbados
| | - Natalie Greaves
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Bridgetown, Barbados
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Mattei J, Tamez M, O’Neill J, Haneuse S, Mendoza S, Orozco J, Lopez-Cepero A, Ríos-Bedoya CF, Falcón LM, Tucker KL, Rodríguez-Orengo JF. Chronic Diseases and Associated Risk Factors Among Adults in Puerto Rico After Hurricane Maria. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5:e2139986. [PMID: 35019984 PMCID: PMC8756309 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.39986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE As public health emergencies become more prevalent, it is crucial to identify adverse physical and mental health conditions that may be triggered by natural disasters. There is a lack of data on whether Hurricane Maria in 2017 influenced the disease burden of adults in Puerto Rico. OBJECTIVE To estimate the prevalence of chronic diseases and their associated risk factors among adults living in Puerto Rico before and after Hurricane Maria in 2017. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This cross-sectional study used data from 2 previous cross-sectional studies, including the pre-Hurricane Maria Puerto Rico Assessment on Diet, Lifestyles and Disease (PRADLAD) study, conducted in 2015, and the post-Hurricane Maria Puerto Rico Observational Study of Psychosocial, Environmental, and Chronic Disease Trends (PROSPECT), conducted in 2019. Participants included adults aged 30 to 75 years residing in Puerto Rico. Data were analyzed from April to October 2020. EXPOSURES Self-reported data were obtained on sociodemographic, lifestyle, and psychosocial factors and medically diagnosed conditions using validated questionnaires. Anthropometrics were measured in triplicate. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Data were obtained using similar protocols in both studies. Characteristics were contrasted for all participants across studies and for 87 PRADLAD participants who returned to PROSPECT. RESULTS A total of 825 participants from both cohorts were included, with 380 PRADLAD participants and 532 PROSPECT participants. In the 2019 PROSPECT study, the mean (SD) age was 53.7 (10.8) years, and 363 participants (68.2%) were assigned female at birth and 169 participants (31.8%) were assigned male at birth. In the 2019 cohort, 360 participants (67.7%) had college education or higher, 205 participants (38.5%) reported annual income greater than $20 001, and 263 participants (49.5%) were employed. Most sociodemographic variables were similar between studies, except for higher income and employment after the hurricane. In the main analysis, participants in 2019, compared with participants in 2015, had higher abdominal obesity (389 participants [73.2%] vs 233 participants [61.3%]), sedentarism (236 participants [44.4%] vs 136 participants [35.8%]), binge drinking (95 participants [17.9%] vs 46 participants [12.1%]), and social support (mean [SD] score, 26.9 [7.2] vs 24.7 [7.1]) but lower depressive symptoms (169 participants [31.7%] vs 200 participants [52.6%]) and perceived stress (mean [SD] score, 19.3 [9.5] vs 21.7 [7.7]). In 2019, compared with 2015, there were higher rates of hypertension (252 participants [47.3%] vs 149 participants [39.2%]), arthritis (172 participants [32.3%] vs 97 participants [25.6%]), high cholesterol (194 participants [36.4%] vs 90 participants [23.8%]), high triglycerides (123 participants [23.1%] vs 56 participants [14.7%]), eye disease (94 participants [17.6%] vs 48 participants [12.7%]), fatty liver disease (68 participants [12.8%] vs 29 participants [7.5%]), and osteoporosis (74 participants [13.9%] vs 20 participants [5.2%]). Secondary analysis for the 87 returning participants showed similar results. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this cross-sectional study, a higher prevalence of unhealthy behaviors and chronic conditions was noted among adults in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, warranting long-term studies. Psychosocial factors were better, but still need attention. As natural disasters intensify, efforts should focus on continuous surveillance of health outcomes and promoting healthy behaviors, positive emotional health, and disease control, particularly in populations with higher risk for poor health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josiemer Mattei
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Martha Tamez
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - June O’Neill
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sebastien Haneuse
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | | | - Andrea Lopez-Cepero
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Carlos F. Ríos-Bedoya
- FDI Clinical Research of Puerto Rico, San Juan
- McLaren Health Care, Graduate Medical Education, Grand Blanc, Michigan
| | - Luis M. Falcón
- College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Lowell
| | - Katherine L. Tucker
- Department of Biomedical and Nutritional Sciences and Center for Population Health, University of Massachusetts, Lowell
| | - José F. Rodríguez-Orengo
- FDI Clinical Research of Puerto Rico, San Juan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan
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Miller A. What's new in critical illness and injury science? The effect of concomitant natural and manmade disasters on chronic disease exacerbations: COVID-19, armed conflicts, refugee crises and research needs. Int J Crit Illn Inj Sci 2022; 12:1-3. [PMID: 35433393 PMCID: PMC9008291 DOI: 10.4103/ijciis.ijciis_19_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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Revising "Nutritional Reference Values for Feeding at Evacuation Shelters" According to Nutrition Assistance by Public Health Dietitians Based on Past Major Natural Disasters in Japan: A Qualitative Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph181910063. [PMID: 34639364 PMCID: PMC8508193 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph181910063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
It is important to provide nutritionally adequate food in shelters to maintain the health of evacuees. Since the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has released the “Nutritional Reference Values for Evacuation Shelters” (Reference Values) after every major natural disaster. There is clear evidence, however, that the Reference Values have only been used infrequently. This study aims to revise these guidelines to include the actual situation in the affected areas and the feasibility of the endeavor. This qualitative study uses group interviews with local government dietitians to propose revisions to Japan’s Reference Values. These revisions include the following: issuing Reference Values within 1 week of a disaster, showing one type of values for meal planning for each age group, showing the minimum values of vitamins, upgrading salt to basic components, creating three phases of nutrition (Day 1, Days 1–3, and After Day 4), stipulating food amounts rather than nutrient values, and creating a manual. Local government officials could use the Reference Values as guidelines for choosing food reserves, and dietitians could use them while formulating supplementary nutrition strategies for a model menu in preparation for disasters.
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Campbell D, Moulton AA, Barker D, Malcolm T, Scott L, Spence A, Tomlinson J, Wallace T. Wild Food Harvest, Food Security, and Biodiversity Conservation in Jamaica: A Case Study of the Millbank Farming Region. FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2021.663863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Harvesting wild food is an important coping strategy to deal with food insecurity in farming households across the Caribbean. The practice is tightly connected to the region's unique agrarian history, food heritage, traditional cuisine, and local knowledge of wild or semidomesticated plants. In Jamaica, small-scale farmers are the chief stewards of agrobiodiversity, and their food security and well-being are often dependent on wild food harvest. Yet, there is a paucity of empirical research on the relationship between wild food use, food security, and biodiversity conservation. In this paper, we use the knowledge and lived experience of rural farmers in a remote community (Millbank) at the edge of the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park (BJMNP) to explore the relationship between wild food harvest and food insecurity within the context of protected area management. Specifically, we seek to (1) characterize different patterns of wild food harvest; (2) examine the relationship between food insecurity and wild food harvest, and (3) explore the implications of forest conservation measures for wild food harvest. Detailed interviews were conducted with 43 farmers to capture data on food insecurity, wild food collection, livelihood satisfaction, household characteristics, farming activities, livelihood strategies, and forest resource interaction. The Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) was used to characterize food insecurity, while participatory techniques were used to develop indicators to assess the well-being of farmers. The results show strong evidence of a relationship between wild food harvest and food insecurity (p < 0.001). Overall, the findings support the importance of wild foods to the well-being of rural households and provide empirical evidence for its inclusion in food security, poverty, and biodiversity conservation policies.
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Bikomeye JC, Rublee CS, Beyer KMM. Positive Externalities of Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation for Human Health: A Review and Conceptual Framework for Public Health Research. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:2481. [PMID: 33802347 PMCID: PMC7967605 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18052481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Anthropogenic climate change is adversely impacting people and contributing to suffering and increased costs from climate-related diseases and injuries. In responding to this urgent and growing public health crisis, mitigation strategies are in place to reduce future greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) while adaptation strategies exist to reduce and/or alleviate the adverse effects of climate change by increasing systems' resilience to future impacts. While these strategies have numerous positive benefits on climate change itself, they also often have other positive externalities or health co-benefits. This knowledge can be harnessed to promote and improve global public health, particularly for the most vulnerable populations. Previous conceptual models in mitigation and adaptation studies such as the shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs) considered health in the thinking, but health outcomes were not their primary intention. Additionally, existing guidance documents such as the World Health Organization (WHO) Guidance for Climate Resilient and Environmentally Sustainable Health Care Facilities is designed primarily for public health professionals or healthcare managers in hospital settings with a primary focus on resilience. However, a detailed cross sectoral and multidisciplinary conceptual framework, which links mitigation and adaptation strategies with health outcomes as a primary end point, has not yet been developed to guide research in this area. In this paper, we briefly summarize the burden of climate change on global public health, describe important mitigation and adaptation strategies, and present key health benefits by giving context specific examples from high, middle, and low-income settings. We then provide a conceptual framework to inform future global public health research and preparedness across sectors and disciplines and outline key stakeholders recommendations in promoting climate resilient systems and advancing health equity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean C. Bikomeye
- PhD Program in Public and Community Health, Institute for Health and Equity, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA;
| | - Caitlin S. Rublee
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA;
| | - Kirsten M. M. Beyer
- PhD Program in Public and Community Health, Institute for Health and Equity, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA;
- Division of Epidemiology, Institute for Health and Equity, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
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