Abstract
The study of human health includes considering environmental factors that have a significant, complex, direct and indirect impact on human health. To better understand the complex interplay of factors between the environment and human health, students were asked to provide photographic evidence of direct environmental factors through exposure and indirect factors through lifestyle and social conditions in their communities. Over four years, undergraduate students in a South African University were asked to capture visual narratives of the influence of the environment on human health. They were working in groups of two to four to identify, photograph, and critically analyze environmental factors affecting health. The findings reveal diverse dimensions of environmental health encompassing air and land pollution due to human behaviors. Littering, illegal dumping sites, industrial emissions, overcrowded accommodations, and informal settlements (houses made of corrugated iron) could lead to respiratory diseases, pests (rats, cockroaches, flies) infestations, and soil contamination. The findings also revealed how students taught the community about the epidemiological importance of having and keeping a clean environment. The study demonstrates the potential of photovoice as a valuable tool for engaging students in public health research and health promotion and education. By incorporating the students’ perspectives, this research provides a nuanced understanding of the environmental determinants of health. It offers valuable insights for future public health interventions and policies aimed at fostering healthier and more sustainable communities.
Presenters
Esther Lydie Mbobnda KapchePostdoctorate fellow, Baisc Medical Sciences, Durban University of Technology, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa Firoza Haffejee
Professor, Basic Medical Sciences, Durban University of Technology, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Health Promotion and Education
KEYWORDS
Human Health, Environmental Factors, Health promotion and education, South Africa
