Asia-Pacific journal of public health
-
Asia Pac J Public Health · Mar 2011
Climate change and rising heat: population health implications for working people in Australia.
The rapid rise in extreme heat events in Australia recently is already taking a health toll. Climate change scenarios predict increases in the frequency and intensity of extreme heat events in the future, and population health may be significantly compromised for people who cannot reduce their heat exposure. Exposure to extreme heat presents a health hazard to all who are physically active, particularly outdoor workers and indoor workers with minimal access to cooling systems while working. ⋯ Modeling of future climate change in Australia shows a substantial increase in the number of very hot days (>35°C) across the country. In this article, the authors characterize the health risks associated with heat exposure on working people and discuss future exposure risks as temperatures rise. Progress toward developing occupational health and safety guidelines for heat in Australia are summarized.
-
Asia Pac J Public Health · Jul 2010
Cancer in the global health era: opportunities for the Middle East and Asia.
The global burden of cancer is rising with almost 70% of cancer cases being in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The Middle East and Asia have two thirds of the world's population and the largest regional concentration of LMICs. Because of massive demographic and epidemiologic transitions, cancer mortality is projected to increase substantially in these populations. ⋯ Enhanced tobacco control and managing obesity are the most important measures for effective control of most cancers. However, detailed research is required within each population to best identify risk factors and to develop evidence-based methods for cancer prevention. International collaborations are an essential step in facilitating this process, because it can improve cancer registries, create robust infrastructure, improve skills of personnel and lead to effective cancer control and prevention.
-
Asia Pac J Public Health · Jul 2010
ReviewReview paper: Organ transplants: ethical, social, and religious issues in a multicultural society.
Recent advances in the fields of organ donation and organ transplant have introduced new hope for the treatment of serious diseases. However, this promise has been accompanied by several issues. The most common issue raised is ethical implications, but in a multicultural society like Malaysia, additional concerns arise pertaining to social and religious issues. ⋯ The diverse cultural, religious, and traditional concepts pertaining to organ donation may hamper its acceptability and cause a lack of willingness to donate organs. The purpose of this article is to briefly explore the ethical issues involved in organ transplant and the various religious opinions on organ donation. It is hoped that this knowledge and understanding may benefit both health care providers and patients in a multicultural society like Malaysia.
-
Asia Pac J Public Health · Jul 2010
Probable impacts of climate change on public health in Bangladesh.
The recent report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change confirmed that there is overwhelming evidence that the global climate will severely affect human health. Climate change might have severe consequences on public health in Bangladesh, especially in light of the poor state of the country's public health infrastructure. A number of possible direct and indirect impacts of climate change on public health in Bangladesh have been identified in this article. Adaptive measures that should be taken to reduce the negative consequences of climate change on public health have also been discussed.
-
Asia Pac J Public Health · Jul 2010
Implementation of a registry for acute coronary syndrome in resource-limited settings: barriers and opportunities.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in Egypt and worldwide, placing great strain on the world's health systems. High-quality treatment of CVD requires a valid, reliable measurement for ensuring evidence-based care. ⋯ Themes that emerged from daily observations include the importance of rapid cycles of change, the need to build a culture of applied research, the importance of modeling a blame-free culture, and key constraints encountered related to human resources and technical infrastructure. This pilot demonstrates that clinical registries may be a cost-effective investment in data infrastructure to support quality improvement in low- and middle-income countries.