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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 July 2021) | Viewed by 22049

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. C. Eduardo Siqueira

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Guest Editor

Department of Urban Planning and Community Development, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA
Interests: immigrant health; global health; worker health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Italla Bezerra

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Assistant Guest Editor

School of Sciences of Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Vitória - EMESCAM, Vitória, ES, Brazil
Interests: health education; health promotion; health care systems; epidemiology; technologies and health; public policies

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The separation of the urban planning and public health fields has led to a lack of coordination to solve urban health problems and lack of understanding of the always present links between the built environment and health inequities faced by low-income populations and people of color. The mainstream planning and organization of local urban infrastructure, services, and health information systems has produced and reproduced social inequities all over the world. Sociospatial analysis of sustainability and the complex relationships between the environment and quality of life have not usually been included in local development planning, nor have the health impacts of such development been assessed comprehensively.

Based on a broad view of health in all policies, in this Special Issue, we invite submission of research studies that show the relationships between the state, civil society, public policies, and local development and include a variety of disciplines and expertise involved in local development. We welcome social epidemiology studies that focus on mechanisms by which past, current, and future social conditions relate to differential exposures to hazards in local environments and unequal outcomes.

We will accept interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary studies that use quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods to address local development and health issues. We invite original research, literature reviews, case studies, and methodological contributions.

Examples of topics that could be covered include:

Public policies and local development, including transportation, housing, sanitation, among others, and their impact on health.
Social determinants of health, such as housing, education, access to health care, and work, focusing on relationships between local development and health.
Health impact assessment of local development projects.

Dr. C. Eduardo Siqueira
Dr. Italla Bezerra
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Local development
Economic development
Public policy, Urban health
Public health
Health impact assessment
Social determinants of health
Population health

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 982 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Perinatal Mortality Analysis in Espírito Santo, Brazil, 2008 to 2017

by Italla Maria Pinheiro Bezerra, José Lucas Souza Ramos, Micael Colodetti Pianissola, Fernando Adami, João Batista Francalino da Rocha, Mariane Albuquerque Lima Ribeiro, Magda Ribeiro de Castro, Juliana da Fonsêca Bezerra, Fabiana Rosa Neves Smiderle, Luiz Vinicius de Alcantara Sousa, Carlos Eduardo Siqueira and Luiz Carlos de Abreu

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(21), 11671; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph182111671 - 06 Nov 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2159

Abstract

This is an ecological and time-series study using secondary data on perinatal mortality and its components from 2008 to 2017 in Espírito Santo, Brazil. The data were collected from the Mortality Information System (SIM) and Live Births Information System (SINASC) of the Unified Health System Informatics Department (DATASUS) in June 2019. The perinatal mortality rate (×1000 total births) was calculated. Time series were constructed from the perinatal mortality rate for the regions and Espírito Santo. To analyze the trend, the Prais–Winsten model was used. From 2008 to 2017 there were 8132 perinatal deaths (4939 fetal and 3193 early neonatal) out of a total of 542,802 births, a perinatal mortality rate of 15.0/1000 total births. The fetal/early neonatal ratio was 1.5:1, with a strong positive correlation early neonatal mortality rate, perinatal mortality rate, r (9) = 0.8893, with a significance level of p = 0.000574. The presence of differences in trends by health region was observed. Risk factors that stood out were as follows: mother’s age ranging between 10 and 19 or 40 and 49 years old, with no education, a gestational age between 22 and 36 weeks, triple and double pregnancy, and a birth weight below 2499 g. Among the causes of death, 49.70% of deaths were concentrated in category of the tenth edition of the International Classification of Diseases, fetuses and newborns affected by maternal factors and complications of pregnancy, labor, and delivery (P00–P04), and 11.03% were in the category of intrauterine hypoxia and birth asphyxia (P20–P21), both related to proper care during pregnancy and childbirth. We observed a slow reduction in the perinatal mortality rate in the state of Espírito Santo from 2008 to 2017. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Health Policy and Local Development)

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14 pages, 800 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparing the Different Manifestations of Postpartum Mental Disorders by Origin, among Immigrants and Native-Born in Israel According to Different Mental Scales

by Shakked Lubotzky-Gete, Maru Gete, Roni Levy, Yaffa Kurzweil and Ronit Calderon-Margalit

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(21), 11513; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph182111513 - 02 Nov 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2247

Abstract

We conducted a prospective study, aimed to study whether the prevalence of mental disorders after birth differs by country of origin. Parturient mothers of Ethiopian origin, Former-USSR (FSU) origin, or nonimmigrant, native-Israeli origin (n = 974, all Jewish) were recruited in hospitals in Israel and were followed 6–8 weeks and one year after birth. General linear models were used to study the associations between origin and mental health, comparing Ethiopian and FSU origin with native-Israeli. Ethiopian and FSU mothers were more likely to report on somatic symptoms, compared with native-Israeli women. Ethiopian origin was negatively and significantly associated with anxiety in all three interviews (β = −1.281, β = −0.678 and β = −1.072, respectively; p < 0.05 in all). FSU origin was negatively associated with depression after birth (β = −0.709, p = 0.036), and negatively associated with anxiety after birth and one-year postpartum (β = −0.494, and β = −0.630, respectively). Stressful life events were significantly associated with all mental disorders in the three time points of interviews. Our findings suggest that immigrants tend to express higher mental distress with somatic symptoms. Additional tools are needed for mental distress screening among immigrants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Health Policy and Local Development)

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12 pages, 510 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Use of Cardiac Autonomic Responses to Aerobic Exercise in Elderly Stroke Patients: Functional Rehabilitation as a Public Health Policy

by Rodrigo Daminello Raimundo, Juliana Zangirolami-Raimundo, Claudio Leone, Tatiana Dias de Carvalho, Talita Dias da Silva, Italla Maria Pinheiro Bezerra, Alvaro Dantas de Almeida, Jr., Vitor Engracia Valenti and Luiz Carlos de Abreu

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(21), 11460; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph182111460 - 31 Oct 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1872

Abstract

Background and purpose: The development of public policies must be guided by full knowledge of the health–disease process of the population. Aerobic exercises are recommended for rehabilitation in stroke patients, and have been shown to improve heart rate variability (HRV). Our aim was to compare the cardiac autonomic modulation of elderly stroke patients with that of healthy elderly people during and after an acute bout of aerobic exercise. Methods: A total of 60 elderly people participated in the study (30 in the control group, mean age of 67 ± 4 years; 30 in the stroke group, mean age of 69 ± 3 years). HRV was analyzed in rest—10 min of rest in supine position; exercise—the 30 min of peak exercise; and recovery—30 min in supine position post-exercise. Results: Taking rest and exercises together, for SDNN, RMSSD, pNN50, RRTri, and TINN, there was no difference between the stroke and control groups (p = 0.062; p = 0.601; p = 0.166; p = 0.224, and p = 0.059, respectively). The HF (ms²) was higher and the LF/HF ratio was lower for the stroke group than the control group (p < 0.001 and p = 0.007, respectively). The SD2 was lower for the stroke group than for the control group (p = 0.041). Conclusion: Stroke patients present reduced variability at rest, sympathetic predominance during exercise, and do not return to baseline after the 30 min of recovery, with similar responses found in the healthy elderly group. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Health Policy and Local Development)

18 pages, 3013 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mining Dam Failures in Brazil: Comparing Legal Post-Disaster Decisions

by Paola Pinheiro Bernardi Primo, Michele Nacif Antunes, Ana Rosa Linde Arias, Adauto Emmerich Oliveira and Carlos Eduardo Siqueira

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(21), 11346; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph182111346 - 28 Oct 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2468

Abstract

Mining dam failures have increased worldwide since the 1980s. Two large mining dam failures occurred recently in Mariana and Brumadinho, both in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. We hypothesize that there were significant differences in legal post-disaster decisions. The aim of this article is to understand the similarities and differences of post-disaster actions and controversies in Mariana and Brumadinho. We reviewed 686 news reports about court decisions and settlement agreements from the websites of state and federal courts and judicial institutions. After classifying the reports using an adapted protocol from a media health observatory, we conducted a thematic analysis. Our analysis suggests that there were significant differences in legal post-disaster decisions in the cases of Mariana and Brumadinho. In Mariana, there was privatization of post-disaster management, with the creation of the Renova Foundation, a mediated indemnity program, lack of access to information for those affected, and uncertainties in health and resettlement issues. In Brumadinho, there was faster implementation of the recovery and compensation measures, faster recognition of affected parties, and stronger participation of the population since the first hearings. Even though there were particularities in post-disaster management, the ultimate goal of the corporations responsible for the disasters was to protect their profits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Health Policy and Local Development)

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12 pages, 1014 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Small Area Estimation Method for Investigating the Relationship between Public Perception of Drug Problems with Neighborhood Prognostics: Trends in London between 2012 and 2019

by Arun Sondhi, Alessandro Leidi and Emily Gilbert

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(17), 9016; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18179016 - 26 Aug 2021

Viewed by 1433

Abstract

The correlation of the public’s perception of drug problems with neighborhood characteristics has rarely been studied. The aim of this study was to investigate factors that correlate with public perceptions in London boroughs using the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) Public Attitude Survey between 2012 and 2019. A subject-specific random effect deploying a Generalized Linear Mixed Model (GLMM) using an Adaptive Gaussian Quadrature method with 10 integration points was applied. To obtain time trends across inner and outer London areas, the GLMM was fitted using a Restricted Marginal Pseudo Likelihood method. The perception of drug problems increased with statistical significance in 17 out of 32 London boroughs between 2012 and 2019. These boroughs were geographically clustered across the north of London. Levels of deprivation, as measured by the English Index of Multiple Deprivation, as well as the percentage of local population who were non-UK-born and recorded vehicle crime rates were shown to be positively associated with the public’s perception of drug problems. Conversely, recorded burglary rate was negatively associated with the public’s perception of drug problems in their area. The public are influenced in their perception of drug problems by neighborhood factors including deprivation and visible manifestations of antisocial behavior. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Health Policy and Local Development)

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17 pages, 1490 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Is Pollution a Cost to Health? Theoretical and Empirical Inquiry for the World’s Leading Polluting Economies

by Ramesh Chandra Das and Enrico Ivaldi

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(12), 6624; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18126624 - 20 Jun 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1449

Abstract

Making development sustainable in the long run is the goal of policy makers of countries all over the world. To attain such a goal, countries have to face the dynamics of pollution-income interactions in both the short and long run, which are observed along the well-known Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC). In the short run stage of the EKC, rising income and rising health expenditure may lead to rising pollution, while in the long run, as pollution continues, health expenditures increase, besides conservation of capital investment. The former is a common phenomenon in developing economies and the latter in the developed economies. Hence, there are both theoretical and empirical questions on whether health expenditures are caused by environmental pollution or not. The present study has attempted to investigate the issue from the theoretical point of view, through the endogenous growth framework, and by considering empirical observations for the world’s top 20 polluting countries for the period 1991–2019. The results show that per capita health expenditure and per capita pollution are cointegrated in the majority of the countries. However, in the short run, pollution is the cause of health expenditures for many developed countries in the list, and health expenditures are the cause of pollution in some of the developing countries. The results justify the claim of the endogenous growth model incorporating pollution and health expenditure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Health Policy and Local Development)

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15 pages, 376 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Brazilian Immigrant Community in the U.S: Results from a Qualitative Study

by Leticia Priebe Rocha, Rebecca Rose, Annmarie Hoch, Cristiane Soares, Adriana Fernandes, Heloisa Galvão and Jennifer D. Allen

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(7), 3355; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18073355 - 24 Mar 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3077

Abstract

While an increasing body of data suggests that marginalized groups have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, little has been published about the specific impact on Brazilian immigrants in the U.S. We conducted 15 key informant interviews, one of which included two participants (n = 16), with representatives from social service agencies, healthcare, and faith-based organizations serving Brazilian immigrants. Key informants were asked about the community’s experiences with COVID-19 testing and treatment, responses to CDC (Centers for Disease Control) guidelines, perceptions about the virus, and the pandemic’s impact on physical and mental health. Results suggest that COVID-19 has profoundly impacted Brazilian immigrants’ mental and physical health. Key informants perceived that community members faced higher risk of COVID-19 infection due to overcrowded living conditions and over-representation in public-facing and informal (e.g., housecleaning) jobs. They reported barriers to COVID-19-related healthcare services including language, immigration status, and fear of deportation. Brazilian cultural norms surrounding hygiene practices, social distancing, and information distribution have shaped the community’s pandemic response. The Brazilian community has faced extensive social, economic, and health ramifications due to the pandemic. While not unique to this community, pre-existing concerns about social disadvantage suggest a particular vulnerability of this population to the virus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Health Policy and Local Development)

15 pages, 702 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chronic Illness and Income Diversification in Rural China

by Wenmei Liao, Jiawei Wang, Ying Lin and Yao Wang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(7), 3350; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18073350 - 24 Mar 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1730

Abstract

Off-farm diversification offers an important pathway out of poverty while health-impaired rural farmers can hardly seize the opportunity in developing countries. This paper investigates how chronic illness shapes livelihood structure and income generation in rural China. Our sample consists of 3850 rural households in Southern China and we rely on instrumental variable regressions to identify causal effects. We find that farmers with chronic illness tend to diversify towards local off-farm employments, rather than migrants, since local off-farm employments are more likely to act in a strategically complementary way to farming. Further analysis shows that income returns of diversification tend to be substantially higher for the health-impaired. While the relationship between diversification and income presents a conventional inverted U shape for the healthy, it is best categorized as upward sloping with diminishing marginal effects for farmers with chronic illness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Health Policy and Local Development)

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13 pages, 1159 KiB

Open AccessArticle

“I Want to See a Drowning-Free Philippines”: A Qualitative Study of the Current Situation, Key Challenges and Future Recommendations for Drowning Prevention in the Philippines

by Jonathan P. Guevarra, Richard C. Franklin and Amy E. Peden

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(2), 381; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18020381 - 06 Jan 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4319

Abstract

Drowning is described as a public health challenge by the World Health Organization. This challenge faces the Philippines where drowning claims an average of 3276 lives annually (3.50/100,000 population). However, no research comprehensively documents prevention strategies implemented by government and non-government agencies at a national or local level in the Philippines. This study aimed to qualitatively explore the current situation and key challenges of preventing drowning in the Philippines through key informant interviews and make recommendations to guide prevention efforts. Interviews were conducted among government and non-government agencies involved in drowning prevention using purposive sampling. Qualitative data collected were thematically analyzed. Findings indicate government and non-government agencies implement drowning prevention programs or strategies based on the mandate of their institutions. Most commonly cited were activities related to education or information awareness, emergency and disaster preparedness, and swimming skills. It was revealed that each agency was relatively unaware of the drowning prevention programs of other agencies. A multisector approach is needed to develop coordinated and comprehensive programs and activities aimed at preventing drowning. In this way, duplication will be avoided and the minimal resources available will be used effectively to reduce the burden of drowning in the Philippines. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Health Policy and Local Development)

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