273262 Impact of war on children's health

Monday, October 29, 2012 : 4:30 PM - 4:48 PM

Barry S. Levy, MD, MPH , Adjunct Professor of Public Health, Tufts University School of Medicine, Sherborn, MA
Victor W. Sidel, MD , Professor of Social Medicine, Albert Einstein Medical College, Montifiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, NY
     
War has a profound impact on children's health. Many children die during war as a result of wounds or other injuries, but many more die from diseases resulting from damage to the health-supporting infrastructure, including damage to agriculture and food supply systems, water and sanitation systems, and medical and public health services. Many children suffer serious mental health disorders as a result of war, including posttraumatic stress disorder and depression. Children who are forced or enticed into becoming child soldiers often suffer resultant injuries, diseases, and mental health problems. This presentation will address these issues and what public health workers can do to address them.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Describe the ways in which war adverse affects the health of children. Describe roles that public health workers can play to minimize the adverse impact of war on children, to help to prevent war, and to promote peace.

Keywords: Child Health, War

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am Past-President of APHA and have written and spoken extensively on the topic of war, human rights and public health, including co-editing multiple editions of three books: War and Public Health, Terrorism and Public Health and Social Justice and Public Health, all published by Oxford University Press.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3441.0: War and Public Health: A Lifecourse Perspective