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Health Geography’s Contribution to Environmental Health Research
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Health Geography’s Contribution to Environmental Health Research

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2024 | Viewed by 12084

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Caroline Barakat

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Health Sciences, Ontario Tech University, Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5, Canada
Interests: child health; adolescent health; air pollution; cannabis use; health behaviour

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Health geography is a multi-disciplinary sub-discipline that focuses broadly on health and well-being, by adopting a framework of health that emphasizes its biological, economic, political, social, and cultural contexts and influences. Health geographers have drawn on a large range of theoretical perspectives, conceptual frameworks, and methodological approaches to consider a multitude of local, national, and global health challenges. Indeed, health geography is also proving increasingly influential across other social sciences and health disciplines and in the development of local, national, and global environmental health and public health policies. Themes within health geography are apparent in multiple areas of environmental health and public health research. The emphasis lies in understanding and reducing or mitigating health risks associated with physical, mental, societal, environmental, and behavioral factors. This Special Issue focuses on health geography’s contribution to environmental health research. We invite recent research on topics that reflect this scope, including (but not limited to) the following themes:

  • Health inequalities;
  • Health effects of globalization;
  • Urbanization change and health;
  • Disease surveillance;
  • Modelling and mapping;
  • Therapeutic and healthy landscapes;
  • Health service use;
  • Disease etiology;
  • Determinants of health.

Dr. Caroline Barakat
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. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2500 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

  • environmental health
  • health determinants
  • health geography
  • place and health
  • health inequalities
  • health and well-being

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 4576 KiB  
Article
Incorporating First Nations, Inuit and Métis Traditional Healing Spaces within a Hospital Context: A Place-Based Study of Three Unique Spaces within Canada’s Oldest and Largest Mental Health Hospital
by Vanessa Nadia Ambtman-Smith, Allison Crawford, Jeff D’Hondt, Walter Lindstone, Renee Linklater, Diane Longboat and Chantelle Richmond
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(3), 282; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21030282 - 28 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1762
Abstract
Globally and historically, Indigenous healthcare is efficacious, being rooted in Traditional Healing (TH) practices derived from cosmology and place-based knowledge and practiced on the land. Across Turtle Island, processes of environmental dispossession and colonial oppression have replaced TH practices with a colonial, hospital-based [...] Read more.
Globally and historically, Indigenous healthcare is efficacious, being rooted in Traditional Healing (TH) practices derived from cosmology and place-based knowledge and practiced on the land. Across Turtle Island, processes of environmental dispossession and colonial oppression have replaced TH practices with a colonial, hospital-based system found to cause added harm to Indigenous Peoples. Growing Indigenous health inequities are compounded by a mental health crisis, which begs reform of healthcare institutions. The implementation of Indigenous knowledge systems in hospital environments has been validated as a critical source of healing for Indigenous patients and communities, prompting many hospitals in Canada to create Traditional Healing Spaces (THSs). After ten years, however, there has been no evaluation of the effectiveness of THSs in Canadian hospitals in supporting healing among Indigenous Peoples. In this paper, our team describes THSs within the Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Canada’s oldest and largest mental health hospital. Analyses of 22 interviews with hospital staff and physicians describe CAMH’s THSs, including what they look like, how they are used, and by whom. The results emphasize the importance of designating spaces with and for Indigenous patients, and they highlight the wholistic benefits of land-based treatment for both clients and staff alike. Transforming hospital spaces by implementing and valuing Indigenous knowledge sparks curiosity, increases education, affirms the efficacy of traditional healing treatments as a standard of care, and enhances the capacity of leaders to support reconciliation efforts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Geography’s Contribution to Environmental Health Research)
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23 pages, 1529 KiB  
Article
Air Pollution Health Literacy among Active Commuters in Hamilton, Ontario
by Reed Ciarloni and K. Bruce Newbold
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(13), 6282; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20136282 - 03 Jul 2023
Viewed by 1275
Abstract
The promotion of active transportation (AT), which has been broadly defined as a physical effort performed by the traveller to produce motion, has been a popular strategy to reduce vehicular emissions, improve air quality, and promote physical activity. However, individuals who engage in [...] Read more.
The promotion of active transportation (AT), which has been broadly defined as a physical effort performed by the traveller to produce motion, has been a popular strategy to reduce vehicular emissions, improve air quality, and promote physical activity. However, individuals who engage in AT may incur increased exposure to air pollutants and thus potential health impacts. This research sought to determine how active commuters understand the health risks associated with air pollution during their commutes, and whether they engage in any behaviours to limit exposure. An online survey was adapted from the Environmental Health Literacy framework to assess air pollution health literacy among active commuters in Hamilton, ON, and generated a sample size of 192 AT users. Analyses involved the use of frequency tables and cross-tabulations for the quantitative data, and the Health Belief Model and thematic analysis to interpret the qualitative data. Results revealed that most AT users do not adopt behaviours that would limit air pollution exposure on commutes and exhibited low self-rated knowledge of the health impacts of air pollution exposure. Issues of perceived susceptibility and severity, barriers, cues to action, and self-efficacy all further impacted the likelihood of adopting health protective behaviours. Conclusively, air pollution is an often-neglected consideration among active commuters, with air pollution knowledge predicting the likelihood of behavioural modification. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Geography’s Contribution to Environmental Health Research)
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17 pages, 581 KiB  
Article
Changes in Quantity Measures of Various Forms of Cannabis Consumption among Emerging Adults in Canada in Relation to Policy and Public Health Developments
by Susan J. Yousufzai, Adam G. Cole, Mika Nonoyama and Caroline Barakat
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(13), 6213; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20136213 - 24 Jun 2023
Viewed by 1195
Abstract
Limited research examines changes in quantities of various forms of smoked/vaped cannabis among regular consumers, including emerging adults (EAs; 18 to 29) in Canada. This information is particularly relevant in the current context of emerging cannabis behaviors among EAs related to political amendments [...] Read more.
Limited research examines changes in quantities of various forms of smoked/vaped cannabis among regular consumers, including emerging adults (EAs; 18 to 29) in Canada. This information is particularly relevant in the current context of emerging cannabis behaviors among EAs related to political amendments (legalization of cannabis), vaping-related lung illnesses (EVALI), and unprecedented pandemics (COVID-19). This study investigated the impact of legalizing recreational cannabis use in Canada, the EVALI epidemic, and the COVID-19 pandemic on the quantity of smoked/vaped forms of cannabis in relation to gender differences. EAs retrospectively self-reported the quantity of herb, hash, concentrates, joint size, and the number of joints and vaping cartridges in relation to three consecutive developments: pre-legalization, post-legalization; pre-EVALI, post-EVALI, pre-COVID-19, and during COVID-19. The quantity of herb use significantly increased among heavy users, and vaping quantity significantly increased among light users. Overall, an increasing incremental trend was observed in the average quantity of cannabis forms used over time. Males consumed higher quantities of all cannabis forms than females. More males than females reported using concentrates (p < 0.05). These findings reveal unique aspects of the amount of various cannabis forms smoked/vaped in relation to gender and provides preliminary evidence of cannabis consumption behaviors in relation to changing social and cultural contexts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Geography’s Contribution to Environmental Health Research)
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13 pages, 754 KiB  
Article
Using the Multidimensional AIMES to Estimate Connection-to-Nature in an Australian Population: A Latent Class Approach to Segmentation
by Bradley S. Jorgensen and Julia Meis-Harris
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(19), 12307; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912307 - 28 Sep 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1270
Abstract
Individuals can interact and develop multiple connections to nature (CN) which have different meanings and reflect different beliefs, emotions, and values. Human population are not homogenous groups and often generalised approaches are not effective in increasing connectedness to nature. Instead, target-group specific approaches [...] Read more.
Individuals can interact and develop multiple connections to nature (CN) which have different meanings and reflect different beliefs, emotions, and values. Human population are not homogenous groups and often generalised approaches are not effective in increasing connectedness to nature. Instead, target-group specific approaches focusing on different segments of the population can offer a promising approach for engaging the public in pro-environmental behaviours. This research employed latent class analysis to identify subgroups of individuals in a large, representative sample (n = 3090) of an Australian region. Three groups were identified using the AIMES measure of CN with its focus on five types of connection to nature. The high CN group comprised about one-third (35.4%) of participants while the group with the lowest profile of scores contained around a fifth (18.6%) of participants. The majority (46.0%) of participants registered CN levels between the high and low groups. These classes were then regressed on predictor variables to further understand differences between the groups. The largest, consistent predictors of class membership were biocentric and social-altruistic value orientations, stronger intentions to perform pro-environmental behaviours in public (e.g., travel on public transport), the amount of time spent in nature, and the age of participants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Geography’s Contribution to Environmental Health Research)
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29 pages, 7271 KiB  
Article
Participatory and Spatial Analyses of Environmental Justice Communities’ Concerns about a Proposed Storm Surge and Flood Protection Seawall
by Judith Taylor, Norman S. Levine, Ernest Muhammad, Dwayne E. Porter, Annette M. Watson and Paul A. Sandifer
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(18), 11192; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811192 - 06 Sep 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2308
Abstract
In response to increasing threats from sea-level rise and storm surge, the City of Charleston, South Carolina, and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) propose constructing a seawall around the Charleston peninsula. The proposed seawall will terminate close to lower wealth, predominantly [...] Read more.
In response to increasing threats from sea-level rise and storm surge, the City of Charleston, South Carolina, and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) propose constructing a seawall around the Charleston peninsula. The proposed seawall will terminate close to lower wealth, predominantly minority communities. These communities are identified as environmental justice (EJ) communities due to their history of inequitable burdens of industrial and urban pollution and proximity to highways and US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated Superfund sites. The present study documents community concerns and opinions related to the proposed seawall, existing flooding problems, and other issues. The project was guided by knowledge co-production and participant-observation approaches and included interviews with community members, collection of locality-specific data, GIS mapping to visualize key issues, development of an ArcGIS Story Map, and participation in public meetings. Community concerns are reported in the voices of community members and fell into eight major themes: community connections, drainage, impacts of road infrastructure, displacement, increasing vulnerability, sense of exclusion and isolation, mistrust of government, and civic engagement. Community members were significantly engaged in the study and are the owners of the results. As one of the first US East Coast cities pursuing major structural adaptation for flooding, Charleston is likely to become a model for other cities considering waterfront protection measures. We demonstrate the importance of meaningful engagement to ensure that climate adaptation will benefit all, including marginalized communities, and have as few unintended negative consequences as possible. Bringing more people to the table and creating vibrant, long-term partnerships between academic institutions and community-based organizations that include robust links to governmental organizations should be among the first steps in building inclusive, equitable, and climate resilient cities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Geography’s Contribution to Environmental Health Research)
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14 pages, 410 KiB  
Commentary
The Impact of Health Geography on Public Health Research, Policy, and Practice in Canada
by Michelle M. Vine, Kate Mulligan, Rachel Harris and Jennifer L. Dean
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(18), 6735; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20186735 - 09 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3524
Abstract
The link between geography and health means that the places we occupy—where we are born, where we live, where we work, and where we play—have a direct impact on our health, including our experiences of health. A subdiscipline of human geography, health geography [...] Read more.
The link between geography and health means that the places we occupy—where we are born, where we live, where we work, and where we play—have a direct impact on our health, including our experiences of health. A subdiscipline of human geography, health geography studies the relationships between our environments and the impact of factors that operate within those environments on human health. Researchers have focused on the social and physical environments, including spatial location, patterns, causes of disease and related outcomes, and health service delivery. The work of health geographers has adopted various theories and philosophies (i.e., positivism, social interactionism, structuralism) and methods to collect and analyze data (i.e., quantitative, qualitative, spatial analysis) to examine our environments and their relationship to health. The field of public health is an organized effort to promote the health of its population and prevent disease, injury, and premature death. Public health agencies and practitioners develop programs, services, and policies to promote healthy environments to support and enable health. This commentary provides an overview of the recent landscape of health geography and makes a case for how health geography is critically important to the field of public health, including examples from the field to highlight these links in practice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Geography’s Contribution to Environmental Health Research)
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