96
rates, higher disability rates, and higher death rates circulatory and respiratory ailment, due to injuries, diabetes and suicide (White 2013). Challenges related to low
income, lower levels of education, poverty and higher unemployment affect health
status negatively in Canada (Hart et al. 2005; Romanow 2002; Smith et al. 2008).
Issues affecting health of people in rural Americans include declining population,
economic stagnation, a disproportionate number of elderly, shortage of healthcare
professionals, poverty, high rates of chronic illness and underinsured residents
(Weisgrau 1995).
Critical factors in the relationship between health and poverty are population and
environmental issues. 80% of the poor in Latin America, 60% in Asia and 50% in
Africa live on marginal lands of stumpy productivity and high susceptibility to
degradation (Strasser 2003). This tends to support migration from rural to urban
areas. However, in the world’s cities, more than one billion people live without
facilities for water drainage, or garbage disposal and breathe polluted air
(WHO 1999).
No low-income countries have long life expectancy and no high-income countries have short life expectancy. Poor housing condition, lack of sanitation, exposure
to environmental odds, unsafe drinking water and use of biomass fuels often increase
the risk of many health problems (Barik and Thorat 2015). Desai et al. (2010) noted
a very high occurrence of minor diseases like cough, fever and diarrhoea (124 per
1000 individuals) among Indian population.
The major challenges in rural set-up are:
• Proximity to healthcare establishment
• Poor housing condition
• Unsafe drinking water
• Use of biomass fuels
• Willingness of doctors and other healthcare workers to work in rural hospitals
• Poor sanitation
• Education
• Economic stagnation
• Disproportionate number of elderly
• Safety against snakes and wildlife
• Exposure to agrochemicals
• Contamination of drinking water source by human/animal waste and
agrochemicals
A study by Goel and Khera (2015) noted that provision of free diagnostic facilities and medicine have benefitted people in the state of Rajasthan, India. Early
detection of disease conditions and augmented coverage of health insurance can add
an additional protection from the health risks besides helping in achieving good
health as well as lower treatment cost (Barik and Thorat 2015).
4 Environmental Health Planning
rates, higher disability rates, and higher death rates circulatory and respiratory ailment, due to injuries, diabetes and suicide (White 2013). Challenges related to low
income, lower levels of education, poverty and higher unemployment affect health
status negatively in Canada (Hart et al. 2005; Romanow 2002; Smith et al. 2008).
Issues affecting health of people in rural Americans include declining population,
economic stagnation, a disproportionate number of elderly, shortage of healthcare
professionals, poverty, high rates of chronic illness and underinsured residents
(Weisgrau 1995).
Critical factors in the relationship between health and poverty are population and
environmental issues. 80% of the poor in Latin America, 60% in Asia and 50% in
Africa live on marginal lands of stumpy productivity and high susceptibility to
degradation (Strasser 2003). This tends to support migration from rural to urban
areas. However, in the world’s cities, more than one billion people live without
facilities for water drainage, or garbage disposal and breathe polluted air
(WHO 1999).
No low-income countries have long life expectancy and no high-income countries have short life expectancy. Poor housing condition, lack of sanitation, exposure
to environmental odds, unsafe drinking water and use of biomass fuels often increase
the risk of many health problems (Barik and Thorat 2015). Desai et al. (2010) noted
a very high occurrence of minor diseases like cough, fever and diarrhoea (124 per
1000 individuals) among Indian population.
The major challenges in rural set-up are:
• Proximity to healthcare establishment
• Poor housing condition
• Unsafe drinking water
• Use of biomass fuels
• Willingness of doctors and other healthcare workers to work in rural hospitals
• Poor sanitation
• Education
• Economic stagnation
• Disproportionate number of elderly
• Safety against snakes and wildlife
• Exposure to agrochemicals
• Contamination of drinking water source by human/animal waste and
agrochemicals
A study by Goel and Khera (2015) noted that provision of free diagnostic facilities and medicine have benefitted people in the state of Rajasthan, India. Early
detection of disease conditions and augmented coverage of health insurance can add
an additional protection from the health risks besides helping in achieving good
health as well as lower treatment cost (Barik and Thorat 2015).
4 Environmental Health Planning