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Your Environment. Your Health.

Climate Change and Human Health Literature Portal Sustainable control of water-related infectious diseases: A review and proposal for interdisciplinary health-based systems research

Climate Change and Human Health Literature Portal

Author(s):
Batterman S, Eisenberg J, Hardin R, Kruk ME, Lemos MC, Michalak AM, Mukherjee B, Renne E, Stein H, Watkins C, Wilson ML
Year:
2009
Journal:
Environmental Health Perspectives. 117 (7): 1023-1032
Abstract:

Objective: Even when initially successful, many interventions aimed at reducing the toll of water-related infectious disease have not been sustainable over longer periods of time. Here we review historical practices in water-related infectious disease research and propose an interdisciplinary public health oriented systems approach to research and intervention design. Data sources: On the basis of the literature and the authors’ experiences, we summarize contributions from key disciplines and identify common problems and trends. Practices in developing countries, where the disease burden is the most severe, are emphasized. Data extraction: We define waterborne and water-associated vectorborne diseases and identify disciplinary themes and conceptual needs by drawing from ecologic, anthropologic, engineering, political/economic, and public health fields. A case study examines one of the classes of water-related infectious disease. Data synthesis: The limited success in designing sustainable interventions is attributable to factors that include the complexity and interactions among the social, ecologic, engineering, political/economic, and public health domains; incomplete data; a lack of relevant indicators; and most important, an inadequate understanding of the proximal and distal factors that cause water-related infectious disease. Fundamental change is needed for research on water-related infectious diseases, and we advocate a systems approach framework using an ongoing evidence-based health outcomes focus with an extended time horizon. The examples and case study in the review show many opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborations, data fusion techniques, and other advances. Conclusions: The proposed framework will facilitate research by addressing the complexity and divergent scales of problems and by engaging scientists in the disciplines needed to tackle these difficult problems. Such research can enhance the prevention and control of water-related infectious diseases in a manner that is sustainable and focused on public health outcomes.

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Resource Description

Exposure What is this?

weather or climate related pathway by which climate change affects health

    Ecosystem Change, Extreme Weather-Related Event or Disaster, Human Conflict/Displacement, Water Quality, Water Security
    • Ecosystem Change, Extreme Weather-Related Event or Disaster, Human Conflict/Displacement, Water Quality, Water Security: Drought, Flood
    • Ecosystem Change, Extreme Weather-Related Event or Disaster, Human Conflict/Displacement, Water Quality, Water Security: Marine/Freshwater Pathogen
Geographic Feature What is this?

resource focuses on specific type of geography

    General Geographic Feature
Geographic Location What is this?

resource focuses on specific location

    Global or Unspecified Location
Health Impact What is this?

specification of health effect or disease related to climate change exposure

    Infectious Disease, Morbidity/Mortality
    • Infectious Disease, Morbidity/Mortality: General Infectious Disease, Vectorborne Disease, Waterborne Disease
      • General Infectious Disease, Vectorborne Disease, Waterborne Disease: General Vectorborne Disease, Fly-borne Disease, Mosquito-borne Disease
        • General Vectorborne Disease, Fly-borne Disease, Mosquito-borne Disease: General Fly-borne Disease
        • General Vectorborne Disease, Fly-borne Disease, Mosquito-borne Disease: General Mosquito-borne Disease, Dengue, Malaria
        Fly-borne DiseaseMosquito-borne Disease
      • General Infectious Disease, Vectorborne Disease, Waterborne Disease: General Waterborne Disease, Diarrheal Disease, Unspecified
      Vectorborne DiseaseWaterborne Disease
Model/Methodology What is this?

type of model used or methodology development is a focus of resource

    Methodology
Resource Type What is this?

format or standard characteristic of resource

    Commentary/Opinion, Research Article, Review Article
Special Topic What is this?

related topics that intersect with those captured in other filters

    Adaptation, Climate Justice/Climate Equity, Communication, Health Sector Influence, Sociodemographic Vulnerability, Vulnerable Population
    • Adaptation, Climate Justice/Climate Equity, Communication, Health Sector Influence, Sociodemographic Vulnerability, Vulnerable Population: Adaptation Co-Benefit/Co-Harm, Intervention, Resilience
    • Adaptation, Climate Justice/Climate Equity, Communication, Health Sector Influence, Sociodemographic Vulnerability, Vulnerable Population: Researcher
    • Adaptation, Climate Justice/Climate Equity, Communication, Health Sector Influence, Sociodemographic Vulnerability, Vulnerable Population: Mitigation Co-Benefit/Co-Harm
    • Adaptation, Climate Justice/Climate Equity, Communication, Health Sector Influence, Sociodemographic Vulnerability, Vulnerable Population: Children
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