194
5.10 Obstetrics and Gynecology
Gynecology is the field of study concerned with the health of the female reproductive systems as well as the breasts.
Obstetrics is the medical specialization concerned with pregnancy, childbirth, as
well as the postpartum period. Environmental exposures in the womb can have
effects throughout the life.
Magnitude of maternal mortality is high in spite of efforts by governments all
over the world. Globally, around 830 women die daily due to childbirth/pregnancy
complications. In 2015, about 303,000 women died during/following child birth and
pregnancy which could have been prevented (Alkema et al. 2016).
In sub-Saharan Africa, many nations reduced their levels of maternal mortality
by about 50% since 1990 and even greater headway was made in other regions.
Between 1990 and 2015, the maternal mortality ratio in the world declined by only
2.3% per year (WHO 2018).
Despite improving statistics, every year about 2.6 million are still born besides
2.7 million babies die during first month of life (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank,
UN-DESA Population Division 2015; Blencowe et al. 2016). Premature birth
increases the risk of new-born mortality in addition to long-term health problems
(Prüss-Ustün et al. 2016).
Exposure to chemicals and air pollution are known to increase the risks of premature birth (Ferguson et al. 2013).
5.11 Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology is a specialization of medicine which deals with the functions,
structure, as well as diseases of the eye.
Environmental features such as pollutants, temperature variations, ultraviolet
radiations, variable humidity affect various parts of eyes in several ways resulting in
disorders such as conjunctivitis, cataract, glaucoma as well as dry eye (Shubhrica
2013). Eye is the most susceptible organ to environmental and atmospheric abuse.
Although human eyes are evolved to protect it from foreign objects, they need to
remain open for the purpose of vision. It can act as port of entry to respiratory
viruses besides acting as primary site of virus replication (Belser et al. 2013).
Chronic exposure to pollutants affects the eye from slight irritation to bleeding of
retina. Exposure to contaminated water can degrade eye health over the time
(Yadav 2019).
5 Introduction to Medical Sciences
5.10 Obstetrics and Gynecology
Gynecology is the field of study concerned with the health of the female reproductive systems as well as the breasts.
Obstetrics is the medical specialization concerned with pregnancy, childbirth, as
well as the postpartum period. Environmental exposures in the womb can have
effects throughout the life.
Magnitude of maternal mortality is high in spite of efforts by governments all
over the world. Globally, around 830 women die daily due to childbirth/pregnancy
complications. In 2015, about 303,000 women died during/following child birth and
pregnancy which could have been prevented (Alkema et al. 2016).
In sub-Saharan Africa, many nations reduced their levels of maternal mortality
by about 50% since 1990 and even greater headway was made in other regions.
Between 1990 and 2015, the maternal mortality ratio in the world declined by only
2.3% per year (WHO 2018).
Despite improving statistics, every year about 2.6 million are still born besides
2.7 million babies die during first month of life (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank,
UN-DESA Population Division 2015; Blencowe et al. 2016). Premature birth
increases the risk of new-born mortality in addition to long-term health problems
(Prüss-Ustün et al. 2016).
Exposure to chemicals and air pollution are known to increase the risks of premature birth (Ferguson et al. 2013).
5.11 Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology is a specialization of medicine which deals with the functions,
structure, as well as diseases of the eye.
Environmental features such as pollutants, temperature variations, ultraviolet
radiations, variable humidity affect various parts of eyes in several ways resulting in
disorders such as conjunctivitis, cataract, glaucoma as well as dry eye (Shubhrica
2013). Eye is the most susceptible organ to environmental and atmospheric abuse.
Although human eyes are evolved to protect it from foreign objects, they need to
remain open for the purpose of vision. It can act as port of entry to respiratory
viruses besides acting as primary site of virus replication (Belser et al. 2013).
Chronic exposure to pollutants affects the eye from slight irritation to bleeding of
retina. Exposure to contaminated water can degrade eye health over the time
(Yadav 2019).
5 Introduction to Medical Sciences