Alejandra Aguilar

HSCI 600: Seminar in Health and Human Ecology

Dr. Le
June 13, 2018
Causal Map Exercise

Health/Health care

Economic Processes
Food Availability
Globalization

Technological developments
Easier Travel; faster outbreaks

Infectious Diseases
Trade
Social & Natural Environmental
factors
Global warming
(Climate Change)
Ebola Virus Disease
Cultural & Value Systems

Population
Growth
Political influences

Social determinants of health

 Infectious diseases have increased over the past decade. A primary example of this is, the spread of the Ebola virus disease. A
combination of multiple factors has led to the increase of infectious diseases. One of the primarily influencers of the increase seen
with the Ebola virus disease outbreaks is, globalization. The fast spreading of the Ebola virus in the outbreak of 2014-2015 in West
Africa was and is still a significant public health concern. Globalization is driven and restricted by multiple factors such as; economic
processes, technological developments, political influences, cultural and value systems, and social and natural environmental
factors. Which will allow health to be impacted indirectly or directly. The fast spreading of infectious diseases such as the Ebola virus
disease is made possible by the improved availability to easily travel and other complications that are seen with globalization
include; global warming (climate changes), population growth, trade, food availability, etc. The loopholes that can be included into
this is the fact that certain literature demonstrates that it is not solely a problem that relates back to globalization but the need for
the health care system to prepare to prevent rapid outbreaks. With the Ebola virus disease, very little was known about the disease
and no cure was available. Since globalization does include even factors that impact populations it is important to analyze and
conduct more research. Information that is available regarding the Ebola virus disease is limited as not all cases were reported. The
total number of people infected with the Ebola virus disease can be inaccurate. The misdiagnosed people are a clear example of how
there can be flaws even with infectious disease diagnoses. More exploration or research should be conducted in this area to further
improve and minimize the effects of outbreaks. There are many relationships in my causal map. Globalization is a very complex
issue and so is infectious diseases. In the causal map, I tried to demonstrate how due to it being so complex globalization can be
influenced on many levels and that can be positive or negative. It all overlaps and ties into each at some point whether it is directly
or indirectly. Possible solutions can include more communication between all components, more research, and development of
policies or hospital procedures to prevent rapid outbreaks of infectious diseases.