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Learning unit 4
Environmental quality and principles of prevention
Outcomes
Outcomes as they are in page 7 of your study guide
4.1 Introduction
Despite concerted efforts by countries to address environmental health challenges in
21st century, every individual can contribute in promoting the quality of the environment
to reduce and prevent environmental health problems that contribute to increased
incidences of morbidity and mortality. The learning unit seeks to provide a way of
addressing these challenges.
4.2 Impact of environmental factors on health as explained by D-P-S-E-E-A
framework
It is important to note that many human activities have a huge impact on the exploitation
of the environment. This could be through energy generation, agriculture and farming
activities, industrial activities etc.
The D-P-S-E-E-A framework is explained in depth on page 965-966 in Chapter 26 of
Goldman LR (2010) and summarized as follows.
The driving forces for environmental health problems are all the activities I referred to
in the first paragraph, including population growth and economic development
initiatives. Taking an example of population growth, we explained in the previous
learning unit how population growth impacts negatively on environmental health. Think
about how other driving forces like economic development affect the environment.
The impacts of the driving forces put pressure and strain on the environment, which is
hazardous to human beings, and when human population is exposed or come into
contact with these hazards, they cause health effects. When human beings are
affected, actions should be taken to eliminate, prevent, or control hazards at every
chain of events in the framework. This can take the form of health promotions,
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Learning unit 4
Environmental quality and principles of prevention
Outcomes
Outcomes as they are in page 7 of your study guide
4.1 Introduction
Despite concerted efforts by countries to address environmental health challenges in
21st century, every individual can contribute in promoting the quality of the environment
to reduce and prevent environmental health problems that contribute to increased
incidences of morbidity and mortality. The learning unit seeks to provide a way of
addressing these challenges.
4.2 Impact of environmental factors on health as explained by D-P-S-E-E-A
framework
It is important to note that many human activities have a huge impact on the exploitation
of the environment. This could be through energy generation, agriculture and farming
activities, industrial activities etc.
The D-P-S-E-E-A framework is explained in depth on page 965-966 in Chapter 26 of
Goldman LR (2010) and summarized as follows.
The driving forces for environmental health problems are all the activities I referred to
in the first paragraph, including population growth and economic development
initiatives. Taking an example of population growth, we explained in the previous
learning unit how population growth impacts negatively on environmental health. Think
about how other driving forces like economic development affect the environment.
The impacts of the driving forces put pressure and strain on the environment, which is
hazardous to human beings, and when human population is exposed or come into
contact with these hazards, they cause health effects. When human beings are
affected, actions should be taken to eliminate, prevent, or control hazards at every
chain of events in the framework. This can take the form of health promotions,
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