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May 31, 2022

Public Health & War

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Health Chatter
Public Health & War
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This week Clarence and Stan explore the role of public health during war.

 

Discussion Topics + Research

 

  • Guests
  • Research

 

      1. “Healthy Generations - War and Public Health”; 2007 

 

  • General 

 

          1. War accounts for more death and disability than many major diseases combined
          2. Refugees and immigrants from war-affected regions has a significant effect on US public health system
          3. “War almost assures epidemic levels of STIs and HIV” 
        1. Economics 
          1. Some public health professionals argue that government spending on war/terrorism diverts scarce resources from other public health priotities

 

  • Role of public health professionals in war/conflict 

 

          1. Develop the evidence base for interventions during and after conflict 
          2. Highlight the idea that health concerns are central to foreigh policy 

 

  • Vulnerable populations

 

          1. Veterans 
            1. Severe mental and physical stress
            2. Mental and physical health needs upon returning from deployment 
          2. Children 
          3. Women 
            1. And other victims of gender-based violence during war; reproductive health struggles during conflict
          4. The environment
            1. Pollution of habitats 
            2. Destruction of economic security 
            3. Destruction of health and safety infrastructure 
            4. Exposure to chemical and biological warfare 

 

  • Principles of Prevention (for public health professional during war)

 

          1. Surveillance & documentation
          2. Education & awareness-raising 
          3. Advocacy 
          4. Direct action 
      1. War and Public Health Handbook; 1996 

 

  • General

 

          1. War impacts the economic and social sectors most 
            1. Specifically agriculture and health systems 

 

  • Areas of public health impacted by war 

 

          1. Food & nutrition
            1. Impact on availability, distribution, and consumption
          2. Water & environmental health
            1. Water quality, waste, access to resources, etc
          3. Communicable diseases
            1. Ex. STIs, malaria, hepatitis, tuberculosis, etc
            2. Increase in transmission/spread during conflict because of immunity differences and deterioration of health services 
          4. Medical & surgical care
            1. Increased prevalence and seriousness of medical problems during emergencies 
            2. Impaired access to medical care during conflict 
          5. Epidemiology
          6. Health-care system
            1. Increase needs during times of conflict 
            2. Added challenge for developing countries during conflict 
          7. Being pulled in all different directions? 
            1. Mental health of other countries 
      1. The Role of Public Health in the Prevention of War; 2014 

 

  • General

 

          1. Push for public health organizations and agencies to focus on strategies for prevention of war 
            1. “Public health professionals are uniquely qualified for involvement in the prevention of war on the basis of their skills in epidemiology; identifying risk and protective factors; planning, developing, monitoring, and evaluating prevention strategies; management of programs and services; policy analysis and development; environmental assessment and remediation; and health advocacy” 

 

  • War impacts: 

 

          1. Childhood health
          2. Displacement and migration
          3. Agricultural productivity 
          4. Mortality
          5. Vaccination rates
          6. Birth rates 
          7. Water and sanitation
      1. The Threat of War to Public Health and Humanity; 2022

 

  • General

 

          1. War can have fundamental long-term population health consequences 
            1. Environmental impacts
            2. Diversion of social and economic resources
            3. Prioritization of killing/destruction over creation of environments, infrastructure, and systems needed to protect health
          2. Largest impacts on children, those facing poverty, and those at the bottom or social and economic hierarchies 
          3. Arguments for the need for public health professionals to take on the prevention side of war as a critical public health issue
          4. “The prevention of all armed conflicts is therefore critical and fundamental to the mission of all public health professionals, scientists, and advocates” 
      1. The Impacts of War on Public Health .
        1. General 
          1. “War inevitably reduces access to clean water, food, and sanitation. This further increases the risk of contracting communicable diseases. It elevates the risk of malnutrition and diseases linked with malnutrition. Lack of access to clean water can also enhance the prevalence of cholera and other water-borne illnesses”
      2. House Passes $40 Billion More in Ukraine Aid, With Few Questions Asked
      3. Long Term Financial Effects
        1. Both are finance research… not sure how much we want to talk about funding since we were talking about a funding episode 

 

  • Resources

 

    1. Stan’s finds
      1. Healthy Generations
      2. War and Public Health Handbook 
    2. Wiist WH, Barker K, Arya N, et al. The role of public health in the prevention of war: rationale and competencies. Am J Public Health. 2014;104(6):e34-e47. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2013.301778
    3. The Threat of War to Public Health and Humanity. Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health. Published February 28, 2022. Accessed May 12, 2022. https://drexel.edu/dornsife/news/deans-blog/2022/February/Threat-of-War-to-Public-Health/