Ecosystem approach to human health in two villages of the North Jordan Valley : scoping the problems
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Date
2004
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Springer-Verlag
Abstract
North Jordan Valley (NJV) is a narrow rift valley that extends from lake Tiberius in the north to the Dead Sea in the south. It follows the River Jordan and contains the most fertile lands in Jordan. With a population around 140,000, primarily working in agriculture, NJV is Jordan’s premier agricultural production area. NJV is an ecosystem that is stressed both naturally and by human activities. Limited precipitation and very hot summer seasons are stresses that are inherent parts of the ecosystem itself. However, human activities like agriculture, poor sanitation, and tourism produce health risks to the people through the pollution and degradation of natural resources. The area also faces several socioeconomic problems such as poverty, large family size, and unemployment. In NJV, women typically work at home as housewives taking care of large families and are engaged in agricultural activities through which they are exposed, along with men and children, to high temperature and high concentration of pesticides. This article presents the findings of a Participatory Rapid Appraisal (PRA) study that focused on assessing local communities’ perception and awareness of the linkages between disruption of the ecosystem and prevailing public health problems.
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Includes abstract in French and Spanish
Due to copyright restrictions, this item cannot be shared
Due to copyright restrictions, this item cannot be shared
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Journal Article (peer-reviewed)
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Keywords
JORDAN, HEALTH, ECOSYSTEM APPROACHES, PARTICIPATORY RAPID APPRAISAL, DISRUPTIONS, INTERVENTION, COMMUNITY-BASED PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Citation
Al-Ghazawi, Z. D. (2004). Ecosystem approach to human health in two villages of the North Jordan Valley: scoping the problems. EcoHealth, 1(2), SU97-SU108.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-004-0089-3