Journal of Asian-african Focus in Health

The Role of Urban Green Spaces in Enhancing Environmental Health

Nurul Aqirah, Nadya Salsabila, Nur Indriyani — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0700

Urban green spaces and their components of parks, gardens and forests stand essential to environmental health by delivering multiple advantages which support both ecological and social health and public welfare. The review analyzes the major environmental health benefits of urban green spaces which primarily originate from their regulatory functions for air quality, their climate control capabilities and their service capacity to biodiversity preservation. The presence of green spaces in urban areas enhances air quality since they capture pollutants like carbon dioxide together with nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter thus diminishing respiratory disease risks. The green spaces serve as heat island regulators that create cooling effects which become particularly crucial during periods of extensive heat. Ecosystem balance in urban areas benefits from urban green spaces through their provision of habitats for plant and animal species allowing the enhancement of biodiversity. The designed areas enhance climate regulation through their capability to capture carbon while performing effective stormwater management and building urban climates that resist climate change impacts. The review demonstrates why urban planners should prioritize adding green infrastructure because it deals with neighborhood environmental concerns at the same time as solving worldwide problems including climate change and biodiversity reduction. Cities develop sustainable healthier living environments when designers focus on green spaces correctly and set their priorities.

Investigating the Impact of Flooding on Sanitation and Disease Outbreaks in South Sulawesi

Nur Syamsih, Sri Hasryanty, Diah Ayu Lestari Rajam — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0700

Flooding has long been recognized as a significant public health hazard, particularly in regions with inadequate sanitation infrastructure. This study investigates the impact of flooding on sanitation and disease outbreaks in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, using a quantitative approach. A sample of 400 households from urban, peri-urban, and rural areas was selected through stratified random sampling. Data were collected using structured surveys and secondary data from health centers and meteorological agencies. The study examined sanitation conditions before, during, and after flooding events, and the prevalence of waterborne and vector-borne diseases. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and regression models were employed to analyze the data. Results revealed a substantial deterioration in sanitation conditions during flooding, with significant increases in the prevalence of waterborne (60%) and vector-borne diseases (50%) compared to pre-flooding levels. The correlation analysis indicated strong relationships between flooding intensity, poor sanitation, and higher disease prevalence. Regression models confirmed that flooding intensity and sanitation conditions were the primary predictors of disease outbreaks. These findings underscore the critical role of maintaining sanitation infrastructure during flooding and highlight the increased vulnerability of lower-income households. This study contributes to the literature on flood-induced health risks, offering valuable insights for disaster management and public health policy, particularly in developing regions facing similar challenges.

Enhancing Public Health Outcomes Through Community-Based Preventive Strategies and Policy Interventions

Khoirotun Najihah, Cut Saura Salmira, Nurlia Apriani — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0700

The research examines the success rate of preventive approaches performed by communities together with policy developments which boost public health results. We used qualitative research methods to execute interviews with community members as well as health workers and policymakers who let us understand the effects of community health initiatives alongside state policies on public health delivery. Community-directed prevention interventions such as vaccine rollout and sanitation methods and health awareness programs delivered substantial health benefits that specifically reached communities without enough healthcare access. These programs-maintained sustainability only when funding was steady and both communities possessed sufficient capacity and government officials supported their actions. Policy interventions serve as fundamental components for expanding and keeping these initiatives sustainable because government financial aid together with infrastructure supplies prove essential. The research finds that implementation gaps produce difficulties because policies tend to fail in execution because bureaucracy leads to delays and insufficient community engagement and limited resources. Local needs assessment along with community involvement in developing health intervention policies would make these programs more effective and equitable according to participants. The present investigation extends present knowledge regarding health initiative sustainability over time and the need for policies that integrate community perspectives during their development process.

Public Health Strategies for Mitigating the Spread of Infectious Diseases in Rural Communities

Intan Diana Putri, Yuniati Yuniati, Asriwati Asriwati — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0700

A research investigation evaluates public health strategies along with their ability to stop infectious diseases from spreading in rural populations. This study measured disease incidence through a quantitative research design focused on evaluating how health education combined with vaccination coverage alongside sanitation access and vector control methods affect disease transmission. The researchers collected their data through surveys which they analyzed by describing it statistically along with applying inference through regression analysis. Health education showed clear effectiveness in cutting down the occurrence of respiratory infections together with diarrheal diseases and vector-borne diseases. The level of vaccination preparedness demonstrated a powerful inverse link to the occurrence rates of disease prevention cases along with malaria and additional vector spread illnesses. The study confirmed access to sanitation facilities as the main factor for cutting down waterborne disease occurrences but also proved how vector control strategies like insecticide-treated nets played an essential role in fighting malaria and dengue infections. Empirical evidence demonstrates that rural areas benefit from combined public health interventions because this research fills gaps in scientific knowledge about these strategies in rural regions. The research demonstrates why rural communities should use multiple integrated strategies to combat their heavy infectious disease load. Research conclusions demonstrate an acute need for policymakers with public health practitioners to implement these interventions which will lead to better health results in underserved populations.

The Influence of Climate Change on the Spread of Infectious Diseases in Coastal Regions

Okkis Razuansyah Siregar, Siti Kemala Sari, Edward Kosasih — Sat, 26 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0700

Climate change has significantly influenced the spread of infectious diseases, particularly in coastal regions where rising temperatures, increased precipitation, and extreme weather events create favorable conditions for disease transmission. This study examines the relationship between climate change and the prevalence of vector-borne and waterborne diseases in coastal communities, addressing gaps in previous research that primarily focused on macro-level epidemiological trends. Using a quantitative approach, data were collected from multiple coastal regions, analyzing climate variables and disease incidence rates. The findings reveal a strong correlation between increasing temperatures and the expansion of disease vectors such as mosquitoes, contributing to higher cases of malaria and dengue fever. Additionally, poor drainage systems and inadequate sanitation were found to exacerbate the spread of cholera and typhoid fever. While community-driven adaptation strategies—such as improved water storage and mosquito control—play a role in mitigating risks, institutional responses remain fragmented, limiting long-term disease prevention efforts. This study underscores the urgent need for climate-resilient public health infrastructure, decentralized early warning systems, and the integration of public health and climate adaptation policies to reduce disease outbreaks in vulnerable coastal populations. Future research should explore longitudinal data on climate-disease interactions and assess the effectiveness of policy-driven interventions. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how climate change exacerbates public health risks and highlight the necessity for proactive, evidence-based strategies to enhance resilience in coastal regions.