ABSTRACT

Global public health is of growing concern to most governments and populations, nowhere more so than in Asia, the world’s largest and most populous continent. Whilst major advances have been made in controlling infectious diseases through public health measures as well as clinical medical treatments, the world now faces other challenges including ageing populations and the epidemic crisis of obesity and non-communicable diseases. New emerging infections continue to develop and the growing threats to health due to environmental pollution and climate change increase the need for resilience and sustainability. These threats to health are global in nature, and this Handbook will explore perspectives on current public health issues in South, Southeast and East Asia, informing global as well as regional debate.

Whilst many books cite Western examples of the development of global public health, this Handbook brings together both Western and Eastern scholarship, creating a new global public health perspective suitable to face modern challenges in promoting the population’s health. This Handbook is essential reading not only for students, professionals and scholars of global public health and related fields but is also written to be accessible to those with a general interest in the health of Asia.

part I|112 pages

Historical context and introductory concepts

part |19 pages

Introduction to Part I.1: historical context

chapter 1|16 pages

Historical perspectives in public health

Experiences from Hong Kong

part |92 pages

Introduction to Part I.2: introductory concepts

chapter 3|23 pages

Migration and health

Lessons from China

part II|54 pages

Epidemiology as research methodology and its applications

part |52 pages

Introduction to Part II: epidemiology as research methodology and its applications

chapter 9|15 pages

Epidemiology

From observation to public health action

part III|108 pages

Infectious diseases

part |106 pages

Introduction to Part III: infectious diseases

chapter 13|5 pages

Role of government agencies in controlling disease

Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection as a case study

chapter 14|8 pages

The role of Centres for Disease Control in China

Shanghai as a case study

chapter 16|10 pages

Tuberculosis control in Asia

The case of China

chapter 19|10 pages

Climate change and its impact on the patterns of disease

Malaria in the People's Republic of China as a case study

part IV|142 pages

Environment and sustainability

part |140 pages

Introduction to Part IV: environment and sustainability

chapter 21|11 pages

Case study: Climate and Health Council

Engaging health professions in change

chapter 22|18 pages

Air pollution

The public health challenges

chapter 23|18 pages

Water

The public health challenges

part V|122 pages

Health improvement

part |120 pages

Introduction to Part V: health improvement

chapter 31|9 pages

Community outreach to prevent diabetes in Hong Kong

Diabetes Hongkong as a case study

chapter 34|14 pages

Controlling the tobacco epidemic

Lessons from Hong Kong

chapter 35|10 pages

Public health law case study

Plain packaging of tobacco products

chapter 36|17 pages

Screening for cancer

Colorectal cancer and breast cancer in Hong Kong as case studies

part VI|169 pages

Health services

part |167 pages

Introduction to Part VI: health services

chapter 38|8 pages

Non-governmental organizations and health

A case study on Save the Children, China

chapter 42|14 pages

Health systems in Asia

Achievements and challenges

chapter 44|27 pages

The challenge of managing health human resources

A case study on the Philippines

part VII|9 pages

Future challenges