Ecosystems and Human Health - A Critical Approach to Ecohealth Research and Practice

Preface

Contents

Part I Ecohealth: The Ecosystem Approach to Human Health

1 Exploring the Linkages Between Ecosystems and Human Health

1.1 Introduction

1.2 Ecosystem Services and Human Health

1.3 Land Fragmentation and Health

1.4 Water Resource Development and Health

1.5 Urbanization and Health

1.6 Modern Food Production Systems and Health

1.7 Climate Change and Health

1.8 Wars, Conflicts and Health

1.9 Conclusion

References

2 Evolution Towards an Ecosystem Approach to Public Health

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Old Public Health and the Biomedical Approach

2.3 The New Public Health and Ecological Approaches

2.4 Integrated Approaches to Natural Resource Management

2.5 Making the Links with Sustainable Development

2.6 Modeling Human Health from an Ecosystem Perspective

2.7 Towards Critical Public Health

2.8 Conclusion

References

3 Ecosystem Approaches to Human Health: Key Concepts and Principles

3.1 Introduction

3.2 The Concept of Human Health

3.3 The Concept of Ecosystem

3.4 Assessing the Health of Ecosystems

3.5 The Ecosystem Approach to Human Health: Key Issues

3.6 The Ecohealth Research Framework

3.6.1 Integrating Transdisciplinary, Indigenous, and Stakeholder Perspectives

3.6.2 Making use of Collaborative and Inclusive Processes

3.6.3 Taking Heterogeineity and Difference into Account

3.6.4 Historicizing Environment and Health Problems

3.6.5 Infusing Critical Social Theory into Ecohealth Research

3.7 Conclusion

References

Part II Methodological Approaches and Processes for Conducting Ecohealth Research

4 Community-Based Participatory Research for Ecohealth

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Participatory Action Research

4.3 Being Critical About Participatory Research Approaches

4.3.1 Being Critical About ''Community''

4.3.2 Being Critical about ''Participation''

4.3.3 Being Critical About ''Empowerment''

4.4 Conclusion

References

5 The Process of Conducting an Ecohealth Research Project: A Participatory Action Research Approach

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Gaining Entry into the Research Community

5.3 Forming a Transdisciplinary Research Team

5.4 Recruiting Research Participants

5.5 Data Gathering Processes

5.6 Focus Group Discussions

5.7 Follow-up and In-depth Individual Interviews

5.8 Strategic Planning for a Healthy Community

5.9 Steps to Planning for a Healthy Community

5.9.1 Step 1: Mapping Out a Vision for a Healthy Community

5.9.2 Step 2: Analysing Underlying Obstacles and Barriers to Achieving a Healthy Community

5.9.3 Step 3: Identifying Appropriate Strategic Directions for a Healthy Community

5.9.4 Step 4: Identifying Systematic Actions and Assessing Community Capacity

5.9.5 Step 5: Developing an Implementation Schedule and Carrying Out Proposed Actions

5.10 Site Visits

5.11 Secondary Data Sources

5.12 Data Management and Analysis

5.13 Conclusion

References

Part III Case Studies: Application of the Ecohealth Approach

6 Applying an Ecosystem Approach to Community Health Research in Ghana: A Case Study

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Health and Environment Challenges of the Study Community

6.3 Making Use of an Ecosystem Approach to Community Health Research

6.4 Forming a Transdisciplinary Research Team and Setting the Research Agenda

6.5 Findings of the Study

6.5.1 Community Members' Perceptions of Health and Poor Health

6.5.2 Indicators of Good Health and Poor Health

6.5.3 Identifying Major Community Health Problems

6.5.4 Examining the Underlying Causes of Poor Health in the Community

6.6 Analysing Participants Responses from a Political Ecology of Health Perspective

6.7 Conclusion

References

7 Planning for a Healthy Community: A Case Study Phase II

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Mapping Out A Vision for a Healthy Community

7.3 Identifying Obstacles to Achieving a Healthy Community

7.4 Assessing Our Strengths and Resources

7.5 Identifying Strategic Directions and Systematic Actions for a Healthy Community

7.5.1 Building Community Capacity to Manage Local Environments Sustainably

7.5.2 Strengthening Intersectoral Collaboration

7.5.3 Broadening the Concept of Community Participation

7.5.4 Communicating Environment and Health Information Effectively

7.5.5 Building on Local Knowledge Systems

7.6 Building Community Capital: Integrating the Strategic Directions

7.7 Drawing up an Implementation Plan

7.8 Conclusion

References

8 Challenges and Ethical Dilemmas in Conducting Participatory Ecohealth Research

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Gaining a Second Entry into the Community

8.3 Establishing Equal Partnerships Between Participants and the Research Team

8.4 Participatory Ecohealth Research as Transformative and Empowering

8.5 To Be or Not To Be: Insider Outsider Relations

8.6 Dealing with Vulnerability in Focus Group Discussions

8.7 Are all Voices and Knowledges Captured through Group Processes

8.8 Conclusion

References

9 Ecosystem Approaches to Indigenous Health

9.1 Introduction

9.2 Indigenous Peoples and Communities

9.3 Indigenous Conceptions of Health and Links to Country

9.4 Colonized and Politicized Indigenous Ecosystems: Implications for Human Health

9.4.1 Mercury Poisoning in Grassy Narrows First Nations

9.5 Climate Change and Indigenous Health

9.6 Examining Indigenous Health Problems from a Political Ecology of Health Perspective

9.7 Ecosystem Approaches to Indigenous Health

9.8 Conducting Research with Indigenous Communities: Some Considerations

9.9 Conclusion

References

10 Policy Frameworks on Health and Environment Linkages

10.1 Introduction

10.2 Global Policy Frameworks on Health, Environment and Development

10.3 Regional Initiatives on Health and Environment: Africa and Europe

10.3.1 Health and Environment Policy Frameworks in Africa

10.3.2 Health and Environment Policy Frameworks in Europe

10.4 Developing Integrated Policy Frameworks: Issues and Challenges

10.5 Influencing Policy Through Community-Based Ecohealth Research

10.6 Conclusion

References

Part IV A Critical Approach to Ecohealth Research and Practice

11 Applying Critical Theory to Environment and Health Issues

11.1 Introduction

11.2 Critical Theoretical Perspectives

11.3 The Production of Scientific Knowledge Claims

11.3.1 Processes Through which Scientific Knowledge Claim Authority

11.4 Constructing Subject Positions Through the Use of Binary Logic

11.5 Scientific Interventions and Forms of Resistance

11.6 Conclusion

References

12 Examining Environmental Problems from a Critical Perspective

12.1 Introduction

12.2 Examining Various Environmental Discourses

12.3 Key Features of Political Ecology

12.4 Political Ecology of Health

12.5 Conclusion

References

13 Examining Public Health Concerns from a Critical Perspective

13.1 Introduction

13.2 Public Health as Discourse

13.3 Negotiating Definitions of Health and Ill Health

13.4 Negotiating the Determinants of Health Problems

13.5 Historicizing Health Problems

13.6 Conclusion

References

14 Towards a Critical Approach to Ecohealth Research and Practice

14.1 Introduction

14.2 Identifying Environmental Problems from a Critical Perspective

14.3 Explaining Environmental Problems from a Critical Perspective

14.4 Identifying Health Problems from a Critical Perspective

14.5 Explaining Health Problems from a Critical Perspective

14.6 Contextualizing Environment and Health Experiences

14.7 Developing Mutually Acceptable Ecohealth Interventions

14.8 Approaching Transdisciplinarity and Participation from a Critical Perspective

14.9 Towards a Reflexive Ecohealth Research Practitioner

14.10 Conclusion

References

Index