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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2024 | Viewed by 14759

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Takeshi Yoda

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Guest Editor

1. Department of Public health, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Japan
2. Department of Health and Sports Science, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, Kurashiki, Japan
Interests: epidemiology of tropical infectious diseases; life-style related diseases prevention; mental health

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The global outbreak of COVID-19 has placed increasing emphasis on the international public health response. Many strategies to control the epidemic have been tested in different countries, and these strategies have been evaluated so that more effective measures can be selected. At the same time, restrictions on international human mobility and imbalances in vaccine supply have become new global public health challenges. COVID-19 is not the only global health problem. The global aging of the population, the global increase in non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, strokes, and diabetes patients, and the emerging infectious diseases related to global environmental changes are all issues that require international cooperation, not just from one country. This Special Issue is aimed at papers that take a new approach to research on these global public health issues. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

case study on the prevention of COVID-19
COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy
COVID-19 treatment strategy
healthy aging, global aging problems
preventive measures against non-communicable diseases, such as hypertension, stroke, and diabetes
tropical public health
neglected tropical diseases prevention
prevention strategies against emerging/re-emerging infectious diseases

Dr. Takeshi Yoda
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

global health
COVID-19
NCD
aging
diabetes
pollution
neglected tropical diseases
hypertension
stroke
developing countries
emerging/re-emerging infectious diseases

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 1930 KiB

Open AccessArticle

by Horaţiu Coman, Bogdan Stancu, Norina A. Gâvan, Frank L. Bowling, Laura Podariu, Cosmina I. Bondor and Gabriela Radulian

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(1), 557; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010557 - 29 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1970

Abstract

Lower extremity amputations (LEAs) are a feared complication of diabetes mellitus (DM). Here we evaluated the recent trends in DM-related LEAs in Romania. We collected data from a national database regarding minor and major LEAs performed between 2015 and 2019 in patients with DM admitted to a public hospital. Absolute numbers of LEAs were presented by year, diabetes type, sex and age; incidence rates of LEAs in the general population were also calculated. Over the study period, 40,499 LEAs were recorded nationwide (83.16% in persons with type 2 DM [T2DM]); on average, the number of LEAs increased by 5.7%/year. This trend was driven by an increased number of LEAs in patients with T2DM; in patients with type 1 DM (T1DM), LEAs decreased over the study period. In patients with T2DM, the increase in minor LEAs was more pronounced than that in major LEAs. The overall number of LEAs showed an increasing trend with age (r = 0.72), which was most pronounced in patients aged ≥70 years. Men had a higher frequency of LEAs than women, regardless of DM type. These data support renewed efforts to prevent and decrease the burden of amputations among patients with DM. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Challenges and Opportunities of Global Public Health)

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12 pages, 341 KiB

Open AccessArticle

by Yumi Kimura, Hiroshi Akasaka, Toshihito Takahashi, Saori Yasumoto, Kei Kamide, Kazunori Ikebe, Mai Kabayama, Ayaka Kasuga, Hiromi Rakugi and Yasuyuki Gondo

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(10), 6008; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19106008 - 15 May 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2219

Abstract

Older adults face the concern of developing frailty and sarcopenia due to an inactive lifestyle during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study aimed to reveal the preventive behaviors taken by older adults who perceived a decline in physical fitness during COVID-19 and analyze the background factors which promoted such behaviors using a qualitative study design in 2020. The participants were recruited through the cohort study of Japanese older adults who were aged 79–81 and had not been diagnosed with sarcopenia previously in 2019 and perceived their physical fitness to have declined during the pandemic. The interviews of 19 participants were analyzed using thematic analysis. The participants engaged in five types of preventive behaviors to counter declining physical fitness: “walking”, “exercising at home”, “improving daily diet”, “maintaining a daily routine”, and “taking a good rest”. Four themes were extracted pertaining to backgrounds of such preventive behaviors: “feeling anxiety and mental pressure”, “available networks with family and neighbors”, “prior experiences of behaviors”, and “access to information”. Anxiety due to lifestyle changes during the pandemic was the primary reason for the behaviors. This study can be a useful guide for undertaking possible measures to prevent frailty during future pandemics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Challenges and Opportunities of Global Public Health)

10 pages, 298 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Environment Encouraging COVID-19 Response at Public Health Centers and Future Challenges in Japan

by Eri Osawa, Hiroko Okuda, Kyoko Koto-Shimada, Akira Shibanuma and Tomoya Saito

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(6), 3343; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19063343 - 11 Mar 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2394

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has triggered the implementation of public health measures globally. The health department of local governments has played a critical role in confronting COVID-19. In Japan, public health centers (PHCs) are focal points for COVID-19 response. Understanding the response to COVID-19 in local areas is critical to ensure adequate preparation for future emergencies. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to clarify how the COVID-19 operations by PHCs in Japan were managed and facilitated at the beginning of the infection spread, and their future challenges. We designed a case study that included two PHCs with a population of approximately 400,000 in Japan. Semi-structured focus group interviews with public health nurses from these two PHCs were conducted in September and October 2020. The data were analyzed using chronological time-series analysis. The switch to crisis response was encouraged by the business continuity plan. Their operations for the prevention of COVID-19 in the community were facilitated by the existing network. Further, strengthening the knowledge and skill regarding infectious disease control and management skills during infectious disease-related health emergencies were recommended. It is important to ensure that the environment facilitates emergency response and that people-and-community-centered health promotion activities are conducted, during an emergency situation, with more innovative action and leadership. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Challenges and Opportunities of Global Public Health)

11 pages, 661 KiB

Open AccessArticle

by Akira Teramura, Yumi Kimura, Kosuke Hamada, Yasuko Ishimoto and Masato Kawamori

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(1), 256; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010256 - 27 Dec 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2883

Abstract

In Japan, the community-based comprehensive care system is an important initiative. The purpose of this study was to understand COVID-19-related lifestyle changes experienced by older adults who lived in communities and used day-care services. Using a qualitative inductive research method, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 older adults who used day-care services in Kyoto City, which assessed lifestyle changes before and after the spread of COVID-19 during March–April 2021. The extracted lifestyle change codes were classified into six categories and 16 subcategories. The data revealed that older adults felt socially isolated and experienced multiple changes in their lives, including limited leisure activities, changes in roles, decreased interpersonal interaction with family and acquaintances, poor diet and sleep quality, and reduced attention to personal appearance and grooming. The findings suggest that during COVID-19, older adults had difficulty adapting to the various changes in their lives and showed a decline in physical and mental functioning. Thus, it is important for day-care facilities to create sustainable spaces in response to the various care needs of community-dwelling older adults whose lifestyles have changed as a result of the COVID-19 situation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Challenges and Opportunities of Global Public Health)

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11 pages, 1073 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Can Muscle Mass Be Maintained with A Simple Resistance Intervention in the Older People? A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial in Thailand

by Bumnet Saengrut, Takeshi Yoda, Yumi Kimura, Yasuko Ishimoto, Rujee Rattanasathien, Tatsuya Saito, Kanlaya Chunjai, Kensaku Miyamoto, Kawin Sirimuengmoon, Rujirat Pudwan and Hironobu Katsuyama

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(1), 140; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010140 - 23 Dec 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4279

Abstract

The aging population is rapidly increasing worldwide. Sarcopenia is a common and important health problem among older people. The prevalence of sarcopenia among older Thai adults is increasing. Exercise intervention for sarcopenia prevention may significantly improve muscle strength, body balance, and muscle mass. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of a simple resistance intervention (SRI) program in preventing sarcopenia on physiological outcomes among community-dwelling older Thai adults. This study was a 12-week randomized controlled trial, which included 80 community-dwelling older adults in Chiang Mai, Thailand, who were randomly assigned into control (40 participants who performed usual exercise) and intervention (40 participants who performed the SRI program) groups. The SRI program was a home-based program consisting of 30 min of resistance exercise three times/week for 12 weeks, health education on sarcopenia. After 12 weeks, all physiological outcomes were measured and were significantly improved in the intervention group compared with baseline; hand grip, skeletal muscle mass index, and walking speed were significantly improved in the intervention group compared with the control group. Based on our results, the SRI program may prevent muscle weakness in community-dwelling older people in Thailand. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Challenges and Opportunities of Global Public Health)

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