Open Access

Perspective

Article ID: 2361

Rich people have better health than the poor: Health equity in an unequal world

by Jean Woo, Gary Ka-ki Chung, Roger Yat-Nork Chung, Ning Fan, Eric TC Lai, Richard Lee, Hung Wong, Eng-Kiong Yeoh, Michael Marmot

Environment and Public Health Research, Vol.3, No.1, 2025;

Many accept as inevitable that the rich have better health than the poor; at the same time, many would view this as contravening social justice. This topic was discussed between experts from diverse disciplines at a colloquium on 15th November 2024 in Hong Kong, jointly organized by the Institutes of Health Equity of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and University College London. To address health equity, there need to be indicator(s) that consist of health data, disaggregated by age groups, gender, and measures of deprivation, that are regularly collected. Social determinants of health that give rise to health inequalities need to be documented, to enable measures to be developed to counter such inequalities in the presence of wealth disparities. Such measures include government policies covering health, social, and other areas such as housing, transport, urban planning etc. Civil society also has an important role in mitigating health inequalities, particularly in societies with a steep gradient in wealth, such as Hong Kong.

Open Access

Article

Article ID: 2323

Evaluating the implementation of an integrated work health intervention among cleaners in Denmark: Challenges and lessons learned

by Vivian Rueskov Poulsen, Astrid Juhl Andersen, Ole Steen Mortensen, Margrethe Bordado Streymá, Mette Korshøj

Environment and Public Health Research, Vol.3, No.1, 2025;

Introduction: Work-related diseases and injuries represent a rising global health challenge, with 2.9 million deaths attributed to work-related causes in 2019. Work-related risk factors and diseases are unequally distributed across occupational groups, with cleaners identified as a vulnerable occupational group. Integrated approaches combining the prevention of disease and promotion of health in work health interventions have been developed. This process evaluation aims to assess the implementation of the Integrated Approach to Health, Wellbeing, and Productivity at Work (ITASPA) intervention. Methods: The ITASPA intervention was implemented at two workplaces among cleaners in Denmark. At each workplace, a committee of employees and line managers was formed to develop initiatives to prevent work-related injuries and diseases and promote workers’ health, safety, and well-being. Using the British Medical Research Council’s framework, this process evaluation assessed the implementation through reach, dose, fidelity, adaptations, mechanisms of impact, and contextual factors. Data from focus group interviews and field notes were utilized to evaluate the implementation. Results: A total of 91 cleaners provided data, and three workshops were held at each workplace. Lack of information about the intervention and motivation challenged the implementation. Furthermore, unwanted power dynamics were unintended consequences of the intervention. Contextual factors, such as many replacements, time pressure, and the absence of managers, challenged the implementation and fidelity. Conclusion: Integrated approaches to work health interventions among employees with short or no education can positively impact employees’ health, well-being, and safety if comprehensively implemented. However, attention should be given to unintended power dynamics arising from participatory approaches and the importance of management during implementation. Future interventions may benefit from increased attention to such factors to enhance long-term sustainability as well as realist evaluation approaches for more comprehensive evaluations of contextual factors. Trial registration: ITASPA was retrospectively registered at Clinicaltrials.gov on the 19 May 2023 (NCT05866978).

Open Access

Brief Report

Article ID: 2244

Comparisons of cost-utility analyses for major diseases: A focus in the Australian context

by Alan Silburn

Environment and Public Health Research, Vol.3, No.1, 2025;

This article delves into the nuances of cost-utility analyses applied to prevalent health conditions, examining the distinctive approaches for lung cancer, ischemic heart disease, and depressive disorders in Australia. The study explores the impact of utility-based units such as Disability-Adjusted Life Years, Quality-Adjusted Life Years, and Potential Years of Life Lost in economic evaluations. Notably, variations in disability weights and their implications on comparability are scrutinized, providing insights into the economic burden and cost-effectiveness of interventions. Findings reveal nuanced evaluation techniques’ critical importance and contextual relevance in health economic assessments.

Open Access

Review

Article ID: 2021

Study of the concept and dimensions of gender-based violence and its connection to adolescence and its link to education

by Iratxe Suberviola Ovejas, María Isabel Gurría, Aroa Martínez-García

Environment and Public Health Research, Vol.2, No.2, 2024;

Gender-based violence is a global issue that, in addition to claiming thousands of lives worldwide each year, has serious physical, psychological, and social consequences for the victims. The synergy between gender-based violence and adolescence is a concerning phenomenon, as adolescents are vulnerable to abusive behaviors that they may normalize within romantic relationships. During this stage, ideas about love and relationships are still being formed, which may lead young people to not recognize certain behaviors as gender-based violence. This article provides a literature review on the different types of gender-based violence, focusing on adolescence. Additionally, the main risk factors and the consequences for the victims are analyzed. Finally, preventive lines of work in various areas are proposed, with particular emphasis on coeducation and highlighting the importance of early identification of violence indicators in adolescent relationships, such as control, jealousy, emotional manipulation, and cyberbullying.

Open Access

Article

Article ID: 2527

Sustainable developments goals in the Arab region

by Abdesslam Boutayeb

Environment and Public Health Research, Vol.2, No.2, 2024;

This paper is devoted to the sustainable development goals in the Arab region. The author explored the most recent data provided by the Sustainable Development Report 2024, using the SDG index score to track the achievement progress in each Arab country and for each of the 17 goals. The results show that the Arab region achieved an overall SDG index score of nearly 62, less than the world average SDG index score (66.3). The low performance of low-income countries is obviously explained by conflicts, drought, the Covid-19 pandemic, economic crises, and political instability. Unexpectedly, however, high-income countries also contribute to the low performance in terms of SDG’s achievement. Zero hunger (SDG2) is one of the most important SDGs that Arab countries can’t reach by 2030, but Arab countries are facing significant and major challenges in many other essential SDGs like no poverty (SDG1), good health and wellbeing (SDG3), quality education (SDG4), gender equality (SDG5), clean water and sanitation (SDG6), decent work and economic growth (SDG8), and peace, justice and strong institutions (SDG16).

Open Access

Short Report

Article ID: 2038

First field and laboratory trial of VectorBac® WG around the airport zone of the capital city of Libreville, Gabon

by Sevidzem Silas Lendzele, Poungou Natacha, Okane Glen, Brizard Zongo Sylvie, Rodrigue Mintsa Nguema

Environment and Public Health Research, Vol.2, No.2, 2024;

Context/Purpose: The urban ecosystem of Akanda behind the airport of the capital city of Libreville in Gabon, harbors diverse and dense mosquito larval habitats and hotspots for malaria and arboviruses transmission. To effectively conduct vector control, it is imperative to adopt an integrated approach by adding biolarvicides to the toolbox. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a biolarvicide under laboratory and field conditions. Methods: In Gabon, this current pilot and preliminary study sought to test the efficacy of the biolarvicide VectorBac® Water dispersable Granule (WG) (VBG) during the rainy season period (March to May 2024) under field and laboratory conditions following the 2005 World Health Organisation protocol. Results: For the bioassay of VBG, in the laboratory, the required dose to kill 88% and 100% of the larvae in rearing cups was 0.001 g/mL and 0.01 g/mL respectively. Under field conditions, the percentage larval density reduction irrespective of the microhabitat type ranged from 90 to 100% and the mosquito larval density reduction between test and control groups in the field differed statistically (X²=34; p = 0.026). Conclusion: The larvae from Akanda tested under field and laboratory conditions were very sensitive to the standard dose recommended by the manufacturer after 24 hrs post-treatment with VBG. This pilot study provides baseline information that is required to conduct a longitudinal study to evaluate the residual effect of VBG in different ecological settings in Gabon.