Vol. 2 No. 1 (2024)

Open Access

Article

Article ID: 1534

Swings and slippery slopes: Reflecting on processes of higher education curriculum in the space of globalization and a pandemic

by Rob Townsend, Gerald Doyle, Sharon Sperling

Environment and Public Health Research, Vol.2, No.1, 2024; 191 Views, 103 PDF Downloads

The Asia-Pacific is the most expansive region for social services and health care, ranging from New Zealand in the south to the border of the Russian Federation in the north. Professional education in human services, social work, and allied health is rapidly expanding in this region and globally as the power and influence around these professions ‘swings’ between different countries in the region. The globalization of social and health care issues is challenging professional higher education and accreditation processes to adjust to producing education graduates who are global professionals, multi-lingual, culturally responsive, and able to work in diverse community contexts and within the ‘slippery slopes’ of social and economic change. This article explores the development of a new social work curriculum and course for an international higher education provider that was implemented in 2022 and aims to meet the challenges of intercultural learning and skills development in the new plural-lingual and fragmented global contexts. The ethnographic study reveals that education organizations and educators can advocate for and develop globalized, internationalized social work and social care curricula in this unsteady context when supported to do so by regulatory authorities.

Open Access

Article

Article ID: 1525

Joking relationships and humor among the Yorùbá of southwestern Nigeria in the twenty-first century

by Enoch Olujide Gbadegesin

Environment and Public Health Research, Vol.2, No.1, 2024; 247 Views, 158 PDF Downloads

I argue that compromises are reached, and interpersonal relationships are negotiated and maintained among the Yorùbá people through joking relationships. I raise questions on how and when joking relationships can lead to interpersonal, interethnic or intra-ethnic conflict, inclusion or exclusion and the socio-cultural and legal consequences that these could generate. I use the hermeneutic and phenomenological methods to determine the impact of joking relationships on the violent crises that have characterized the twenty-first century Nigerian society. I conclude that whereas joking relationships are still socially acceptable Yoruba patterns of behaviour which have served the people well, the freedom that this practice enjoyed in the ancient times may now be coming under social and legal pressure in the socially and religiously sensitive modern Yorùbá and pan-Nigerian societies. However, the vacuum that may be created if joking relationship were to disappear may be filled by socially dysfunctional outcomes including depression and suicide.

Open Access

Article

Article ID: 1704

The individual and combined effectiveness of virtual reality and interval Nordic walking on the cardiorespiratory hemodynamic and central adiposity among internet addiction adolescents

by Sara Pouriamehr, Zahra Shirovi Khozani, Nima Nejati Boushehri, Valiollah Dabidi Roshan

Environment and Public Health Research, Vol.2, No.1, 2024; 47 Views, 34 PDF Downloads

Physical Inactivity caused by internet addiction (IA) in adolescents is one of the world’s most serious health issues and technology-based intervention and exercise training methods are being developed to control it. This study sought to examine the potential influences of 2- and 4-week-virtual-reality (VR) training program with/without interval Nordic walking (INW) on hemodynamical-cardiorespiratory and central adiposity indices among internet-addicted adolescents. A randomized controlled trial design was conducted among 150 individuals randomly assigned to VR, INW, VR + INW, and control groups regarding sexes. In every specific group, participants performed one of three exercise protocols (i.e., VR, INW, and VR + INW) of three 60-minute sessions/week for 2 and/or 4 weeks, except for control group. The measurements were conducted at different phases (i.e., the baseline, 2- and 4-week-protocol interventions). Following VR and INW training protocols, a significant increase and decrease were detected in VO2max and MVO2 respectively, especially among girls ( p < 0.001). BAI values showed significant improvements ( p < 0.01), especially in the VR-boy group following 4 weeks of intervention ( p < 0.001). The VR with INW training protocols has potential benefits for health status and could be considered an important non-pharmacologic strategy to prevent sedentary and maintain wellness in adolescents

Open Access

Article

Article ID: 1492

Perception about malaria and understanding of malaria prevention information in selected rural communities of Nigeria

by Solomon Abiodun Oyeleye

Environment and Public Health Research, Vol.2, No.1, 2024; 106 Views, 59 PDF Downloads

Studies have shown that social and cultural factors affect how people perceive diseases. Thus; the area of perception about malaria has been the focus of several scholarly interventions. However there has been limited investigation of the perception of people and their understanding of malaria prevention information in Nigeria. This study; anchored on the Health Belief Model; investigated the perception of selected rural dwellers in Oyo and Osun states; Nigeria; about malaria and their understanding of available malaria prevention information provided by Roll Back Malaria (RBM) in the two states. The study used Survey; Focus Group Discussion and analysis of secondary data. There were 2120 survey respondents selected through multi-stage sampling across 10 local government areas of Oyo and Osun states and 96 participants in 16 focus groups involving men; women and expectant mothers. The results show that while the symptoms of malaria are well understood; the etiology is incorrectly believed. The respondents’ recollection of the malaria prevention messages was low due to their limited exposure to the available information. Pearson Chi-Square test indicated significant relationship between perception of the rural dwellers and their utilisation of malaria prevention information. It is important to understand the perception dynamics that drive attitude towards malaria prevention as part of efforts towards achieving the SDG Goal3. Government should encourage broadcast stations to air malaria prevention jingles regularly; not based on programme funding; but as a part of social service among other efforts at devoting more resources to communication activities on the disease.

Open Access

Review

Article ID: 1766

Reconciling patent rights and the human right to access to essential medicines: A critical review

by Bhavna Mahadew

Environment and Public Health Research, Vol.2, No.1, 2024; 64 Views, 62 PDF Downloads

Over 80% of the world’s population lives in developing nations, with limited access to medicines like AIDS and malaria. Competition between patented and generic medications can improve access and lower prices, but counterfeit medicines should be avoided. The Doha Declaration, released at the World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference in 2001, aims to support nations’ rights to safeguard public health and encourage access to medicines. It aims to influence the interpretation and application of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement) in a manner that is health-friendly, considering the responsibility of nations to uphold health rights under international law. The Declaration calls for developed nations to encourage practical solutions for poor people in developing countries, emphasizing that trade agreements should be secondary to defending human rights and achieving the best quality of health for all. International human rights treaties protect the universal human right to health, but rigid trade agreements on patents can hinder affordable medication for low-income populations in developing nations. TRIPS, a treaty that protects intellectual property rights and promotes technological innovation, aims to provide inexpensive medications for HIV/AIDS patients through exclusions from patent admissibility, exceptions, parallel importing, and compulsory licensing.

Open Access

Brief Report

Article ID: 1757

Report on the South Eastern New South Wales Primary Health Network

by Alan Silburn

Environment and Public Health Research, Vol.2, No.1, 2024; 81 Views, 52 PDF Downloads

In response to the evolving healthcare challenges in South Eastern New South Wales, this report outlines a strategic framework for enhancing the region’s health services. Established under Australia’s Primary Health Networks, the South Eastern New South Wales Primary Health Networks aims to address significant health concerns and issues identified including high rates of potentially preventable hospitalisations, increasing chronic conditions, mental health crises, rising substance abuse, and inadequate culturally tailored health services. This report proposes four evidence-based recommendations: shifting chronic condition management to pre-hospital settings, enhancing emergency departments with 24-h mental health coverage, implementing a universal substance use screening tool, and redesigning culturally appropriate services. These recommendations are evaluated based on Duckett and Willcox’s criteria for an ideal health system, aiming to improve service efficiency, equity, quality, and acceptability.