Health and population

Health and population dynamics are intertwined, embodying an intricate relationship with significant implications on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Health is fundamentally at the center of these 17 global goals, aimed to transform the world by 2030. Specifically, Goal 3 endeavors to "Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages." It acknowledges that health is pivotal to human life quality, social cohesion, and sustainable development. Inextricably linked to this are the complexities of population dynamics, including growth rates, age structure, fertility and mortality rates, and migration patterns.

With the world's population projected to exceed 9.7 billion by 2050, the pressure on health systems will undoubtedly escalate. The demographic transition, with an aging population and an increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases, poses new challenges for health systems globally. Additionally, areas with high fertility rates often overlap with extreme poverty, resulting in heightened health risks, including higher maternal and child mortality rates, malnutrition, and infectious diseases.

Moreover, rapid urbanization and migration present both opportunities and threats to health. While urban areas may provide better access to healthcare, they also harbor risks of disease transmission, air and water pollution, and social determinants of health like inadequate housing and social inequality. Simultaneously, migrants often face disproportionate health risks due to unstable living conditions, exploitation, and limited access to healthcare services.

Achieving the SDGs will necessitate comprehensive approaches that consider the intricate interplay of health and population dynamics. It means strengthening health systems, promoting universal health coverage, and addressing social determinants of health. It also implies crafting policies that recognize demographic realities and foster an environment conducive to sustainable development. Only by understanding and harnessing these dynamics can the world meaningfully progress towards realizing the SDGs, ensuring healthy lives and well-being for all.

To understand how best to help patients and improve health during an epidemic it is necessary to have good modelling techniques and protocols.
This article supports SDG 3 by showing that using an interactive mHealth application can reduce dementia risk factors in populations who are underserved and at increased risk.
This Article supports SDG3 by evaluating sex and gender disparities in terms of risk factors, treatment uptake/completion, and virological outcomes for hepatitis C, finding differences between men and women in, for example, exposure to different risk factors and likelihood of commencing treatment. More attention is needed in research to these disparities and how they could be addressed
This Article supports SDG 3 by demonstrating the effectiveness of assisted partner services in Kenya to test the partners of people who inject drugs for HIV and hepatitis C, and support linkage to and engagement in care among those who are positive for either infection.
This article supports SDG 3 by developing noninvasive tools for predicting liver fibrosis in autoimmune hepatitis patients.
Interesting study on examining the potential molecular mechanism of YGJ using network pharmacology to investigate how Traditional Chinese Medicine disease treatment offers numerous benefits when treating chronic hepatitis.
Nearly 2.4% of global deaths in 2019 were attributed to cirrhosis, which has increased since 2017. Liver transplantation (LT) is accepted as a lifesaving therapy for patients with complications of cirrhosis or hepatocellular cancer, but there are several barriers toward equitable access. This article outlines ways to reduce the disparities
This Article supports SDG3 by investigating the barriers to receiving childhood hepatitis B vaccines in Laos. The findings suggest that socioeconomic factors play a substantial role in the variation in vaccine coverage, particularly household income and education.
Cancer disproportionately impacts Black patients in incidence and mortality. Accordingly, optimal anticancer pharmacotherapy is critical to improving outcomes in this population, however, Black patients are less likely to receive anticancer pharmacotherapy.
This Comment supports SGDs 3 and 10 by discussing how the use of cashless payment systems in India can help to promote equitable access to health care and improve patient experiences, and well as examining some barriers to adoption.

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