Rebekka Mumm1,2, Sonia Diaz-Monsalve1, Eva Hänselmann1,3, Johanna Freund1,3, Michael Wirsching1,3, Jan Gärtner1,4, Richard Gminski1,5, Katrin Vögtlin1,5, Mirjam Körner1,6, Lena Zirn1,6, Ursula Wittwer-Backofen1,2, Tolu Oni7, Axel Kroeger1. 1. a Center for Medicine and Society , University of Freiburg , Freiburg , Germany. 2. b Faculty of Medicine, Biological Anthropology , University of Freiburg , Freiburg , Germany. 3. c Faculty of Medicine, Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine und Psychotherapy , University of Freiburg , Freiburg , Germany. 4. d Faculty of Medicine, Clinic for Palliative Care , University of Freiburg , Freiburg , Germany. 5. e Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Environmental Medicine and Hospital Hygiene , University of Freiburg , Freiburg , Germany. 6. f Faculty of Medicine, Medical Sociology and Psychology , University of Freiburg , Freiburg , Germany. 7. g Division of Public Health Medicine, School of Public Health and Family Medicine , University of Cape Town , Cape Town , South Africa.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: With modern information technology, an overwhelming amount of data is available on different aspects of societies. Our research investigated the feasibility of using secondary data sources to get an overview of determinants of health and health outcomes in different population strata of Cape Town, a large city of South Africa. METHODS: The methodological approach of secondary-data analysis was similar in the different disciplines: Biological Anthropology, Public Health, Environmental Health, Mental Health, Palliative Care, Medical Psychology and Sociology at the University of Freiburg and Public Health at the University of Cape Town. The teams collected information on Cape Town through Internet searches and published articles. The information was extracted, analyzed, condensed, and jointly interpreted. RESULTS: Data show the typical picture of a population in epidemiological and demographic transition exposed to often difficult social, mental, and physical environmental conditions. Comparison between low and higher socioeconomic districts demonstrated that the former had higher air pollution, poorer water quality, and deficient sanitary conditions in addition to sub-optimal mental health services and palliative care. CONCLUSION: Although important information gaps were identified, the data draw attention to critical public health interventions required in poor health districts, and to motivate for pro-equity policies.
BACKGROUND: With modern information technology, an overwhelming amount of data is available on different aspects of societies. Our research investigated the feasibility of using secondary data sources to get an overview of determinants of health and health outcomes in different population strata of Cape Town, a large city of South Africa. METHODS: The methodological approach of secondary-data analysis was similar in the different disciplines: Biological Anthropology, Public Health, Environmental Health, Mental Health, Palliative Care, Medical Psychology and Sociology at the University of Freiburg and Public Health at the University of Cape Town. The teams collected information on Cape Town through Internet searches and published articles. The information was extracted, analyzed, condensed, and jointly interpreted. RESULTS: Data show the typical picture of a population in epidemiological and demographic transition exposed to often difficult social, mental, and physical environmental conditions. Comparison between low and higher socioeconomic districts demonstrated that the former had higher air pollution, poorer water quality, and deficient sanitary conditions in addition to sub-optimal mental health services and palliative care. CONCLUSION: Although important information gaps were identified, the data draw attention to critical public health interventions required in poor health districts, and to motivate for pro-equity policies.
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