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Public Health and Sustainable Development: Justice, Inclusivity, and Financing for a Resilient Future

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Health, Well-Being and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 May 2023) | Viewed by 12094

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. David Turbow

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Guest Editor

Edith Neumann School of Health and Human Services, Touro University Worldwide, Los Alamitos, CA 90720, USA
Interests: environmental quality; public health; sustainability; systems-based approaches; social ecology; coastal environment; oceans; water quality; public health policy; global health
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue focuses on current research and scholarship relating public health to sustainable development. Promoting human health and well-being for a sustainable future requires development to be just, equitable, and inclusive. The outbreak of COVID-19 has presented major challenges for disease control, and outbreaks from other emerging infectious diseases can be expected in the future. The resilience of health systems that can respond quickly to emerging diseases while maintaining other essential health services are critical for sustainable development in a context of human health. Indeed, sustainable development has been defined as meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the needs of future generations. This Special Issue will supplement existing literature by exploring ways that planning and governance can be structured and strategized to produce positive health outcomes. Situations we face include how to control the spread of infectious disease in an increasingly urbanized world, assure clean water supply for healthy populations, build sustainable transportation systems, and implement appropriate fuel policies to ensure clean air, water, and soil. Especially in Low-to-Middle-Income Countries, several transitions are occurring to ensure sustainable development of health: a demographic transition, a disease burden transition, donor financing, and a domestic financing trransition. Contributors to this Special Issue are invited to share their research on innovative approaches to sustainable development for human health protection and health promotion. This would include: health system reform, transboundary pollution analysis, systems modeling, mitigation of health impacts of flooding and natural disasters, and reduction of harmful effects of water and air pollution. Other examples may include designing cities for safety, addressing sustainable use of the world oceans, and controlling deforestation. Papers are certainly welcome which combine social, economic, and environmental perspectives to promote health. Articles which help promote human health and longevity through education, innovative development, and environmental justice are also welcome. Manuscripts are sought that address supporting ecosystems that promote healthy diets, mitigating climate risks, providing safe water and sanitation to prevent disease, addressing poverty, reducing premature mortality from non-communicable diseases, and reducing hunger. It is anticipated that manuscripts will address a range of health issues covering the following: transportation to reduce injury and likelihood of death, maternal health, equitable waste management policies, clean energy production, climate resilience, and emergency preparedness/response.

Dr. David Turbow
Guest Editor

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. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2400 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

planetary health
equity in healthcare
health systems resilience
sustainable health financing
public health
pollution control
promoting health and well-being
clean water and sanitation
energy subsidies
infectious disease control
sustainable development
environmental health
climate resilience
environmental justice
maternal and child health
food security
globalization

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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30 pages, 9408 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Appraisal of Provision Structures of Nursing Homes for Old Persons—Illustrated by Cross-Sectional Data for East Tyrol

by Tatjana Fischer, Karl Moder and Markus Jobst

Sustainability 2023, 15(19), 14535; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su151914535 - 06 Oct 2023

Viewed by 967

Abstract

(1) Background: In Austria, stationary long-term care facilities for old persons in need of care are increasingly at the centre of the discussion on sustainable long-term care for old persons. So far, there is a lack of research addressing problems of fit from a spatial planning perspective. This case study on East Tyrol aims to appraise provision structures of stationary long-term care for old persons focusing on nursing homes (LTC) with regard to any intra-regional disparities. (2) Methods: Catchments and Bradshaw’s taxonomy of social needs serve as the conceptual framework. Real-world data on residents and applicants up to a certain cut-off date in 2022 for four nursing homes are statistically analysed at different spatial reference levels. The GIS mapping of catchments focuses on the intra-regional level. The findings are discussed transdisciplinarily. (3) Results: Intra-regional disparities with regard to the level of provision are evident. There are: 1) LTC-specific differences related to catchments with regard to LTC residents and applicants and travel efforts for visitors; and 2) valley-related differences with regard to nursing home choice. Normatively determined catchments broadly match the actual catchments. (4) Conclusions: This study could serve as a starting point for discussing methodological limitations of waiting lists as a parameter for unmet demand. Shortcomings of provision in relation to (future) demand as well as the significance of longitudinal studies for assessing the stability of catchments and area-wide coverage become apparent. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Health and Sustainable Development: Justice, Inclusivity, and Financing for a Resilient Future)

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15 pages, 2200 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Relationship between Environmental Quality, Sustainable Health, and the Coronavirus Pandemic in European Countries

by Moslem Ansarinasab and Sayed Saghaian

Sustainability 2023, 15(15), 11683; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su151511683 - 28 Jul 2023

Viewed by 1056

Abstract

The emission of air pollutants weakens the body’s immune system and can increase the prevalence of coronaviruses. This study examined the effects of six environmental pollutant gases, including Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), Nitrous Oxide (N2O), Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC), Perfluorocarbons (PFC), and Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6), on the prevalence of coronaviruses (i.e., coronavirus cases, total deaths, and active cases) in 30 European countries. Due to the benefits of ridge regression, this method was used to investigate the effects of those environmental pollutants on coronavirus cases. The results showed that all six gases had a positive effect on active coronavirus cases in European countries. This study concludes that industrialized European countries could focus on reducing environmental pollutants to decrease the effects of future pandemics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Health and Sustainable Development: Justice, Inclusivity, and Financing for a Resilient Future)

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21 pages, 1082 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Organic Milk Production Sector in Poland: Driving the Potential to Meet Future Market, Societal and Environmental Challenges

by Maria Zuba-Ciszewska, Aleksandra Kowalska, Aneta Brodziak and Louise Manning

Sustainability 2023, 15(13), 9903; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15139903 - 21 Jun 2023

Viewed by 1944

Abstract

During the pandemic, health and environmental issues were re-evaluated, stimulating interest in organic food. Organic milk is more beneficial than conventional milk in terms of the health-promoting substances (e.g., vitamins, fatty acids), particularly regarding its protein and lipid fractions. Poland is the main producer of cow’s milk in the EU, but only 0.2% of this production is organic. To identify the antecedents and obstacles to increasing organic milk production in Poland, the aim of this study is to explore the low level of organic cow’s milk output in Poland compared with sector leaders in the EU. We analyzed statistics on milk production, including unpublished data collected by the Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection, Poland, with the use of descriptive statistics and frequency distributions. Over the period 2010–2020, the number of farms producing and selling organic milk and the number of farms with organic pastures and meadows decreased significantly in Poland. A limited number of certified farms sell their milk as organic. If all production of organic milk was sold as organic, the supply would have increased by 56% in 2020. Organic milk processing is highly concentrated which is an obstacle to the development of organic milk farming. Due to its high instability and the spatial differences in the locations of sellers (producers) and buyers (processors) and inconsistent production volumes, the supply of organic cow’s raw milk does not meet the demand from Polish dairies. Cooperation between producers and processors is essential. Providing organic dairy farms with production and market advice, as well as technical support, is crucial for the development of farms and the organic milk sector as a whole, as is, to a certain extent, evidenced by Austria. The specific nature of the raw milk market requires the procurement of organic milk on a lasting basis regarding guarantees of purchase and farmgate prices. In this way, the continuity of organic raw milk supply would be secured and the sector of organic dairy products should grow. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Health and Sustainable Development: Justice, Inclusivity, and Financing for a Resilient Future)

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18 pages, 1009 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Relationship between ICT Use and Perceived Life Satisfaction among Older People in Korea: The Mediating Effect of Social Capital

by Haiyan Kong and Huifang Liu

Sustainability 2023, 15(12), 9353; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15129353 - 09 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1528

Abstract

The advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the spread of infectious diseases have increased people’s reliance on information and communication technology (ICT). However, older adults are the most marginalized group affected by ICT, and their activities and daily life have become more difficult than ever during the pandemic. Based on the theory of the TAM, this study analyzed the effect of ICT use on life satisfaction among older adults during the pandemic, and examined the mediating role of social capital. The partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was applied to test the relationships among ICT use, social capital, and life satisfaction, and the Sobel test was used to test the mediating effect and statistical significance of social capital. The results of the analysis confirmed the positive effects of technology’s perceived usefulness and self-efficacy on attitudes and ICT use among older adults. ICT use had a positive effect on life satisfaction. In addition, it was found that social capital had a mediating effect on the relationship between ICT use and life satisfaction. During the pandemic, ICT use not only had a direct effect on life satisfaction but also had an indirect effect through social capital among older adults. The results of this study have implications for research on ICT use and life satisfaction among older adults, and have implications for formulating public policies for active aging. The results of this study can facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the antecedents and consequential factors of the use of digital information among older adults, which not only complements previous studies but also provides a theoretical basis for systematic research on digital literacy and well-being in older adults. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Health and Sustainable Development: Justice, Inclusivity, and Financing for a Resilient Future)

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16 pages, 3388 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Equity and Driving Factors of Medical Service Supply–Demand Balance for the Elderly in Rapidly Urbanized Communities Based on Big Data Analysis—A Case Study of Xiamen City

by Jinling Sui, Tao Lin, Guoqin Zhang, Hong Ye, Meixia Lin, Hongkai Geng and Yukui Zhang

Sustainability 2023, 15(10), 8014; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15108014 - 15 May 2023

Viewed by 984

Abstract

Against the backdrop of rapid population aging and significant demographic changes, cities are facing great challenges in providing healthcare resources for the elderly. Understanding the equity and spatial differentiation mechanisms between the demand and supply of healthcare resources for the elderly in cities, especially in rapidly urbanized areas, can help policymakers to promote the planning and construction of a ‘Just City’ and ‘Age-Friendly City’, safeguarding the human well-being of the elderly. This study combines outpatient appointment data classified by service type with community-scale demographic data to assess the equity in the supply of medical resources for the elderly in the city using a refined two-step moving search method. Taking Xiamen City as an example, we analyzed the spatial heterogeneity in the equity in the supply of different types of health care services for potential elderly patients in each community in the city. Then, we selected six driving factors to explore the underlying driving factors. The results showed that there were 308 communities (61.11%) with a high medical service balance of the internal medicine type for the elderly in Xiamen City, concentrated in the southwest of the whole area. There are only 157 communities with high medical service balance for the surgical type of medical services, concentrated in the central part and southwest of Xiamen City. For these two types of medical services, the number of communities with low medical service balance is 30 (5.95%) and 182 (36.11%), respectively. These communities are far away from the central city. Economic vitality is the most important driving factor in the spatial distribution pattern of equity in the balance of medical services for the elderly. Our study can provide quantitative information on the current situation evaluation and decision support for the development and design of a ‘Just City’ and ‘Age-Friendly City’ Planning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Health and Sustainable Development: Justice, Inclusivity, and Financing for a Resilient Future)

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14 pages, 354 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Social Well-Being for a Sustainable Future: The Influence of Trust in Big Business and Banks on Perceptions of Technological Development from a Life Satisfaction Perspective in Latin America

by Arelys López-Concepción, Ana Gil-Lacruz, Isabel Saz-Gil and Víctor Bazán-Monasterio

Sustainability 2023, 15(1), 628; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15010628 - 30 Dec 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2158

Abstract

Sustainable development is becoming increasingly important because it improves the quality of our lives. Businesses must focus beyond maximizing corporate economic profits, which are very important. They must internalize the fact that planning and governance-oriented strategies focused on promoting human health and well-being ensure a sustainable future. This study explores the influence exerted by trust in large companies and banks on the perception that technological development has on people’s life satisfaction. The research uses data from the World Value Survey (WVS) and the World Bank, contemplating six Latin American countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, in the period between 2012 and 2018. Our main results show that the lower the trust in institutions, the stronger the negative association with perceiving science and technology as making life easier, healthier and more comfortable in the near future. We also confirm that people who have very high levels of national pride tend to trust institutions. We also confirm that people who have very high levels of national pride tend to trust institutions. Finally, with this work, we contribute new empirical evidence to the current field of research on the influence of technological development on issues related to human beings, specifically in Latin America. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Health and Sustainable Development: Justice, Inclusivity, and Financing for a Resilient Future)

Review

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19 pages, 1088 KiB

Open AccessReview

Effect of Persistent Organic Pollutants on Human Health in South Korea: A Review of the Reported Diseases

by Ladan Rokni, Mehdi Rezaei, Mahdi Rafieizonooz, Elnaz Khankhajeh, Ali Akbar Mohammadi and Shahabaldin Rezania

Sustainability 2023, 15(14), 10851; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su151410851 - 11 Jul 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2069

Abstract

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) usually originate from human activities and have been released into the environment for several decades. They are highly resistant to natural decomposition and can accumulate in an organism’s tissues and in all environmental components. Due to their unique characteristics, they have an ability to bio-magnify and bio-accumulate in animals, through the food chain and via inhalation, severely endangering the health of people. As reported, the exposure of humans to POPs causes various health problems such as cancers, diabetes, birth defects, endocrine disruption, cardiovascular diseases and dysfunctional immune and reproductive systems. The residents of South Korea are likely to face a high risk of diseases because of the existence of POPs in the environment. For instance, South Korea’s atmosphere has been reported as a hotspot for POP pollution. Besides, South Koreans’ high amount of seafood consumption is considered another source of POPs. Therefore, this article reviews the status of POP contamination in food and the health impact of POPs in South Korea. Based on the findings, the most-reported diseases were obesity and diabetes, which positively correlated to age, food habits, body index, and level of exposure to POPs. In addition, cancer and metabolic diseases are at an alarming level. Therefore, the public health impacts of POPs need continuous assessment in South Korea over the next decade. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Health and Sustainable Development: Justice, Inclusivity, and Financing for a Resilient Future)

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