Routledge Handbook of Global Public Health

At the beginning of the twenty-first century, key public health issues and challenges have taken centre stage. They range from arsenic in drinking water to asthma among children and adults; from the re-emergence of cholera, to increasing cancer rates and other chronic diseases; from AIDS to malaria and hepatitis; from the crises faced by displaced or refugee populations to the new challenges that have emerged for reproductive health and rights. Like most aspects of contemporary life, these problems have been impacted by globalization. The issues that confront us are being shaped by evolving processes such as the growth of inequalities between the rich and the poor in countries around the world, the globalization of trade and commerce, new patterns of travel and migration, as well as a reduction in resources for the development and sustainability of public health infrastructures. The Routledge Handbook of Global Public Health explores this context and addresses both the emerging issues and conceptualizations of the notion of global health, along with expanding upon and highlighting the critical priorities in this rapidly evolving field. It is organized in ten main sections. The topics covered include: The transition from international to global health Structural inequalities and global public health Ecological transformation and environmental health in the global system Population and reproductive health Conflict, violence and emergencies in global public health Global public health policy and practice Global public health and development Global mental health Global access to essential medicines Health systems, health capacity, and the politics of global public health This comprehensive handbook will provide an authoritative overview for students, practitioners, researchers, and policy makers working in or concerned with public health around the globe. Review ‘A truly multidisciplinary approach to public health and global health makes this book special.’ – Peter Piot, Professor of Global Health and Director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK, and former Executive Director of UNAIDS, and Under Secretary-General of the United Nations "This comprehensive, well-written, and well-edited book is an important contribution to understanding the many complex issues that all nations face. A much-needed addition to the field, and must reading for anyone who is seriously interested in global public health." - R. M. Mullner, University of Illinois at Chicago About the Author Richard Parker is Professor of Sociomedical Sciences and Anthropology in the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University in New York City, USA. He is also Director and President of the Brazilian Interdisciplinary AIDS Association (ABIA) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He is the Editor-in-Chief of Global Public Health journal. Marni Sommer is Assistant Professor of Sociomedical Sciences in the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University. She is the Executive Editor of Global Public Health journal.