Globalization, the cross boundary movement of capital, culture, society, and health issues, pushed transformations in technologies and practices in different spatial and temporal scales. However, to understand globalized world... [ view full abstract ]
Globalization, the cross boundary movement of capital, culture, society, and health issues, pushed transformations in technologies and practices in different spatial and temporal scales. However, to understand globalized world it is necessary to study transforming forces in different places, as they act in diverse ways in diverse geographic contexts. The research aims to analyze the impact of globalization on health of a riverine town, Ponta de Pedras, in the Amazon River estuary, Marajó Island, Brazil. The municipality has 29,000 inhabitants (2014), area of 3,500 Km2, and HDI 0.56. Economy is based on extraction of natural products: açai, hearts of palm and fishes. Outside communication is only possible by motorboat. Methods: to evaluate integration in the globalization process, the following methods were adopted: Field observation, questionnaire to a sample of families in different urban sectors, research in data bases from census, local government, and Ministry of Health Notification System. Data collected included: use of computers, internet access, personal cell phone, television watching habits, processed food consumption. Regarding health data, mortality causes and notified diseases were gathered. Preliminary results: Main food resources extracted, açai and hearts of palm, became fashionable global products and are being largely exported having as consequence a shift in the food intake of population to processed food. Communication technology is very widespread mainly among young people. The first main causes of death are heart diseases, followed by leukemia, strokes, homicide by fire guns, respiratory failure, pneumonia and cancer. Diseases notified to Ministry of Health from 2012 to 2014 were: toxoplasmosis; acute Chagas disease; rabies; accidents with snakes, spiders and scorpions; Dengue fever; leishmania; Hansen disease. Conclusions: Despite spatial isolation and low level of development, a profound shift in the way of life and in health conditions is under way related to the globalization process, and to environmental disruption.
III. Urban Environments: what specificities? 3.1 Urban Environments as places of demograph , IV. Urbanism, Health and Wellbeing 4.1 Built environment 4.2 Pollution: air, noise, etc
