A sound description of the environmental health problem of water scarcity is the extreme necessity of those populations in developing countries who lack portable water. In a nutshell, it is a way of sympathizing to those individuals with few to lack of drinkable or usable water to drink. Some communities may use any water to drink. Additionally, certain populations in the developing countries, who may happen to live in remote regions, lack water; thereby using even water from any source for survival. Sadly, guinea worm infections may come into contact with these individuals/populations. From community level to Ecological Model (EM), the influence of guinea worm may spread throughout such a community while infecting every level of their well-being. EM of health behavior emphasize the environmental and policy contexts of behavior, while incorporating social and psychological influences. EM are believed to provide comprehensive frameworks for understanding the multiple and interacting determinants of health behaviors. Additionally, the ecological model of health considers the social and physical environment determinants that affect health, and how we respond to those determinants. (Fieding, Teutsch, & Breslow, 2010). Furthermore, EC can help with organizing thinking, establishing interventions, and measuring effectiveness. Fielding, Teutsch & Breslow (2010), explores list of determinants guiding the work of EM. Among these determinants are biological factors, individual behaviors, social, family and community networks, social and environmental conditions and policies. The EM is often referred to as the social-ecological model. The concept of EM is based on the belief that no single factor is the cause of health issues and population health, but a variety of social and physical determinants are root causes of population health (Ruderman, 2013). The application of a system approach to eradicate guinea worm is to define a common technique or a system that interrelates to specific consequences, parts, and outputs (The Institute for Systemic Leadership, n.d.). However, not all specific parts of such a system can work in a defined approach and if not accurately predicted, it will fail (Sarriot et al., 2008). Therefore, there can be variations in a systematic method whereby its application may not display a fit-all-approach and can be predictable (The Institute for Systemic Leadership, n.d.). Guinea worm is a parasitic infection occurring in parts of Africa without access to safe water. Dracunculiasis is an infection caused by a parasite called the Guinea worm. A person becomes infected when they drink contaminated water. This disease has been eliminated in most parts of the world, but still exists in Chad, Ethiopia, Mali, and South Sudan. For example, one of the only ways to prevent the infection of guinea worm is to drink water that is free from contaminated bacteria or underground sources or prevents contaminated persons from infecting filtered or clean water sources (Ballantyne, 2008). Consequently, if the water is scarce, safe water will not be available. If safe water is not available, then any water can be used. If proper education is not provided to the residents or water filters are not supplied sufficiently, the system approach will fail. If all parts are given and outputs are provided but residents do not intentionally or unintentionally follow the system due to their culture or religious belief, the system will fail. According to Fielding, Teutsch & Breslow (2010), the social and physical environmental elements that comprise the EM are among the following: biologic factors (such as genetics), individual behaviors (diets, tobacco use), social, family and community networks (social capital, schools), living and working conditions. The overall social, economic, political, and cultural forces spanning from a global aspect to national, state, and local levels should on concerns, such as climate control, medical care systems, environmental and air pollution, and social and physical influence on health.
Ballantyne, C. (2008). What is Guinea Worm Disease? Scientific American. Retrieved from http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-is-guinea-worm-disease/
Fielding, I. E., Teutsch, S., & Breslow, L. (2010). A framework for public health in the United States. Public Health Review, 32, 174-189.
Ruderman, M. (2013,). An introduction to the Ecological Model in Public Health. Retrieved from http://www.jsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/womens-childerns-health-policy-center/eco-model/eco-model.html
The Institute for Systemic Leadership (n.d.). Basic principles of systems thinking as applied to management and leadership. Retrieved from http://www.systemicleadershipinstitute.org/systemic-leadership/theories/basic-principles-of-systems-thinking-as-applied-to-management-and-leadership-2/
Sarriot, E. G., Kouletio, M., Jahan, D. S., Rasul, I., & Musha, A. (2014). Advancing the application of systems thinking in health: Sustainability evaluation as learning and sense-making in a complex urban health system in northern Bangladesh. Health Research Policy and Systems, 12, 45. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1478-4505-12-45
