Public Health IssueSusceptible Populations

IntroductionSusceptible

populations are those fractions of the population that are overly affected by a certain pathogen or illness/disease more so than other elements of the population.

IntroductionThese populations are

susceptible because of socio-economic factors or environmental factors such as the ones discussed in class.

GeneticsSome of the time,

susceptibility is a product of genetics.

Certain lineages of people are predisposed to getting certain illnesses and diseases due to the genetics/DNA.

Allergies are due to genetics.

Aboriginal CanadiansIn Canada, as in

most countries, native populations are deemed a susceptible population.

What makes Native Canadians a susceptible population?Certain cultural and

social beliefs may isolate them from their non-native neighbours.

They tend to live isolated from other communities and from public health services.

General factors affecting health of Aboriginal Canadians

Poverty

Lack of education

Substandard housing

Poor nutrition

Lack of access to health care and other social services

(from UNICEF – Leaving no child behind)

Residential schoolsThese schools forcibly removed children

from their families and communities into situations of abuse and other forms of maltreatment

This has left a legacy of family, community, and cultural breakdown

This has resulted in psychological disorders in those affected.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2013/02/18/residential-schools-student-deaths.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_V4d7sXoqU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VirdmvVAbIc

Psychological disordersPsychological disorders that are the

result from the impact of residential schools may include/lead to:

DepressionSubstance abuse/problems with addictionMental illnessSuicide

All of these issues will all have a large impact on the public health of Aboriginal communities

Type 2 diabetesFirst Nations populations living on reserves

have a rate of diabetes 3 to 5 times higher than other Canadians

This is due to increase rates of obesity, physical inactivity, and unhealthy eating

Diabetes is considered a pandemic amoung aboriginal people!

Safe drinking waterAs of January 31st,

2013, there are 113 First Nations communities are under drinking water advisories (e.g. boil water or do not drink water)

This environmental factor has a large impact on public health

Sub-Saharan Africa

Another susceptible group of people are Sub-Saharan Africans.

Socio-economic factors:Poverty levels: many countries in Sub-Saharan

Africa are the poorest in the world.This limits access to the necessities of life (food,

clothing, shelter)Education: 32 million children are not in school

(who should be), males get the privilege to attend school more than females*Africa holds some of the worlds deepest inequalities based on gender, location, and language

Environmental factorsTropical environment: Allows for a

greater number of pathogens to exist and reproduce.

Lack of rainfall (drought): means less fertile soil to grow crops of food (lack of food security)

Clean drinking water: 345 million people in Africa lack access to clean drinking water

Life expectancy (stats from 2011)Arab World 71

Caribbean small states 72

East Asia & Pacific 72

Euro area 81

European Union 80

Europe & Central Asia 71

Latin America & Caribbean

74

Least developed countries: UN classification

59

Middle East & North Africa

72

OECD members 80

Other small states 59

Pacific island small states 70

Small states 63

South Asia 66

Sub-Saharan Africa 55World 70