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Vulnerable Populations

I’m particularly interested in how certain environmental exposures influence a woman’s reproductive health and the health of her future children. This module introduces the concept of upstream public health in order to move away from “sick” care to achieve the full potential of “health” care. The beauty of public/environmental health is that they are fields that recognize the complexity of health and disease. It’s crucial to seek the root causes of illness in order to more comprehensively address the issues at hand. In the case of reproductive health and pregnancy, it is greatly distressing that chemical exposures from a deep past can linger and transfer onto later generations, which can sometimes lead to genetic mutations that are harmful to mother and baby. Given this, the field of environmental public health is critical to protecting the health and wellness of future generations. 

Women trying to conceive, pregnant women, fetuses, and young children are all vulnerable to the effects of toxic chemical release, air pollution, environmental injustice, and more. We must act now by contacting policymakers, exposing the truth, and raising awareness to reveal the effects of these exposures on the well-being of our communities across the globe. As noted in the video presentation, “we cannot blame women for eating the food and breathing the air,” but instead we must be motivated to influence those who make investment decisions to protect these vulnerable populations. By looking at the environments in which we surround ourselves daily, we can better identify where these health issues are being generated and determine ways to prevent, and eventually, eradicate the root causes of illness. We have to start somewhere and at some time. The time is now.

Comments

  1. JudyJudeSeptember 16, 2018 at 7:11 PM

    Nica, your passion is inspiring. Although my husband and I have decided not to have children, this is alarming data for all of us, particularly women considering childbearing. It is nerve-wracking to know that our environment is just not safe for pregnant women or their unborn children. The fact that chemical exposures linger and transfer from one generation to proceeding generations is frightening.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Antonio SorianoOctober 10, 2018 at 1:52 PM

    Hi Nica! Upstream public health is something that is emphasized in our field. It's proven cost effectiveness is an imperative for addressing the financial problems that burden our health care system currently. Environmental public health is essential for addressing reproductive issues. Your care and compassion for this population is amazing!

    ReplyDelete

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