Health, biodiversity, and natural resource use on the Amazon frontier: an ecosystem approach
This study aims to improve the health of rural Amazonian communities through the development and application of a participatory ecosystem approach to human health assessment. In the study area marked seasonal fluctuations dictate food availability, water quality and disease outbreak. Determining the...
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Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz
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doaj-df46bba150414c85b55ff66d1a0370702020-11-25T03:50:02ZengEscola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Fundação Oswaldo CruzCadernos de Saúde Pública0102-311X1678-446417supplS181S191S0102-311X2001000700028Health, biodiversity, and natural resource use on the Amazon frontier: an ecosystem approachTamsyn P. Murray0José Sánchez-Choy1Eco-Regional CentreEco-Regional CentreThis study aims to improve the health of rural Amazonian communities through the development and application of a participatory ecosystem approach to human health assessment. In the study area marked seasonal fluctuations dictate food availability, water quality and disease outbreak. Determining the causal linkages between ecosystem variables, resource use and health required a variety of forms of inquiry at multiple scales with local participation. Landscape spatial mapping of resource use demonstrated the diversity of the ecological resources upon which communities depend. Household surveys detailed family and individual consumption and production patterns. Anthropometric measurements, parasite loading, water quality and anemia levels were used as indicators of health status. This was complemented with an ethnographic and participatory health assessment that provided the foundation for developing community action plans addressing health issues. Discussion is focused on three attributes of an ecosystem approach; (a) methodological pluralism, (b) cross-scale interactions and (c) participatory action research.http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0102-311X2001000700028&lng=en&tlng=enhuman ecologyamazonian ecosystemrural healthanthropometrynutrition |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Tamsyn P. Murray José Sánchez-Choy |
spellingShingle |
Tamsyn P. Murray José Sánchez-Choy Health, biodiversity, and natural resource use on the Amazon frontier: an ecosystem approach Cadernos de Saúde Pública human ecology amazonian ecosystem rural health anthropometry nutrition |
author_facet |
Tamsyn P. Murray José Sánchez-Choy |
author_sort |
Tamsyn P. Murray |
title |
Health, biodiversity, and natural resource use on the Amazon frontier: an ecosystem approach |
title_short |
Health, biodiversity, and natural resource use on the Amazon frontier: an ecosystem approach |
title_full |
Health, biodiversity, and natural resource use on the Amazon frontier: an ecosystem approach |
title_fullStr |
Health, biodiversity, and natural resource use on the Amazon frontier: an ecosystem approach |
title_full_unstemmed |
Health, biodiversity, and natural resource use on the Amazon frontier: an ecosystem approach |
title_sort |
health, biodiversity, and natural resource use on the amazon frontier: an ecosystem approach |
publisher |
Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz |
series |
Cadernos de Saúde Pública |
issn |
0102-311X 1678-4464 |
description |
This study aims to improve the health of rural Amazonian communities through the development and application of a participatory ecosystem approach to human health assessment. In the study area marked seasonal fluctuations dictate food availability, water quality and disease outbreak. Determining the causal linkages between ecosystem variables, resource use and health required a variety of forms of inquiry at multiple scales with local participation. Landscape spatial mapping of resource use demonstrated the diversity of the ecological resources upon which communities depend. Household surveys detailed family and individual consumption and production patterns. Anthropometric measurements, parasite loading, water quality and anemia levels were used as indicators of health status. This was complemented with an ethnographic and participatory health assessment that provided the foundation for developing community action plans addressing health issues. Discussion is focused on three attributes of an ecosystem approach; (a) methodological pluralism, (b) cross-scale interactions and (c) participatory action research. |
topic |
human ecology amazonian ecosystem rural health anthropometry nutrition |
url |
http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0102-311X2001000700028&lng=en&tlng=en |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT tamsynpmurray healthbiodiversityandnaturalresourceuseontheamazonfrontieranecosystemapproach AT josesanchezchoy healthbiodiversityandnaturalresourceuseontheamazonfrontieranecosystemapproach |
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