Factors and Health
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Environmental factors have a direct relationship with health and disease. One’s environment can contribute to three of the top ten leading causes of death. COPD, lower respiratory infections, and diarrheal diseases are the leading causes of death in low- and middle- income countries (Skolnik, 2016). Some countries do not have access to clean drinking water, which contribute to diarrheal disease. Some counties’ homes do not have good ventilation in the kitchen, so the smoke contributes to lower respiratory infections and COPD (Skolnik, 2016). Also, the amount of pollution in some countries can contribute to health problems or diseases (Skolnik, 2016).
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One’s nutritional status is essential in the growth of young children to ensure proper mental and physical development. In fact, 45 percent of child deaths in low- and middle-income countries are nutrition-related causes. It is also important in the development of their adult health (Skolnik, 2016). One being overweight, underweight, or obese has many health problems associated with them (Skolnik, 2016). They are closely linked to non-communicable diseases like stroke, heart disease, and diabetes (Skolnik, 2016). A proper diet can help to prevent all kinds of diseases. One should incorporate protein, energy, vitamin A, iron, iodine, zinc, and calcium into his or her diet (Skolnik, 2016).
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There are two types of injuries. They include intentional and unintentional. An injury is the result of an act that hurts or harms one’s body resulting from acute exposure to thermal, mechanical, chemical, or electrical energy or from the absence of heat and oxygen (Skolnik, 2016). Intentional injuries are self-explanatory. They are injuries to the body caused by someone with the intent to harm you (Skolnik, 2016). Unintentional injuries are injuries that occur with no evidence of predetermined intent. Injuries are important because many people are dying from these injuries. In fact, in 2016, the number of people dying from injuries was twice the number of people dying from lung cancer and four times the number of people dying from HIV/AIDS (Skolnik, 2016).
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Occupational factors can range from needlestick injuries, slipping on the job, being caught in moving machinery, and fires and explosions all of which can cause serious damage to one’s health (Skolnik, 2016). A needlestick injury could cause one to contract HIV or Hepatitis C.
How These Factors Impact Liberia?
Nutritional: In Liberia, food insecurity and undernutrition are still critical challenges Liberia faces (USAID, 2019). Liberia also has poor drinking water. 32% of children under 5 years suffer from chronic malnutrition and 69% are anemic (USAID, 2019). The nutritional status during one’s childhood or while in the womb has many adverse consequences for child survival (USAID, 2019). It also has a direct link to one’s long-term well-being (USAID, 2019). The nutritional factors in Liberia affect health because malnutrition has negative effects on one’s health and their access to safe drinking water puts them at risk for diseases from things that can be found in the poor drinking water. Also, malnutrition can cause diabetes, heart disease, decreased immune response, and loss of muscle and bone.
Environmental: Liberia’s number one cause of death is Malaria because of their environment. Furthermore, they also are at risk of contracting waterborne diseases because they have poor drinking water and poor sanitation (Index Mundi, 2019). Liberia has pollution in their environment from man-made waste (Index Mundi, 2019).
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Occupational: When looking for occupational risk for Liberia, a lot of healthcare-related articles came up more than anything else. Some things that put Liberians at risk are the incorrect use of personal protective equipment, the shortage of supplies, and the lack of trained health personnel (Li et al., 2018) The lack of competent healthcare providers puts both the healthcare providers and the patients they are treating at risk for all sorts of infections. (Li et al., 2018). Also, the improper use of personal protective equipment can put the healthcare providers at risk for contact, airborne, and droplet diseases that require the use of that protective equipment. The healthcare providers did not have protocols in place for dealing with emerging infectious disease pandemics (Li et al., 2018). Hospitals were also crowded, which helps to spread infections.
