Analyzing Tuberculosis in Eastham, London: An Urban Health Perspective

This report provides an overview of the urban health issue of Tuberculosis (TB) in Eastham, London, focusing on the determinants and public health implications. The study highlights the increased prevalence of TB in Eastham, a multi-cultural area with a significant migrant population, and identifies poverty, lack of awareness regarding hygiene and sanitation, and immigration as key determinants. The report presents data on the size and population of Eastham, along with mortality rates and TB incident numbers. Public health consequences include reduced life expectancy and economic burdens on individuals and the community. Recommendations include implementing effective health policies, promoting hygiene education, improving sanitation, and ensuring access to healthcare services. The report concludes by emphasizing the need for proactive measures, including vaccination and awareness campaigns, to combat the spread of TB in Eastham.

Urban health

INTRODUCTION
Brief overview of the urban health issue
Urban health issues can be broadly defined as the problems of people who are residing
and employed close together in an incorporated area with common environmental conditions and
similar water supply systems (Anderson and May, 2012). With the increase in urbanization,
urban areas provide wider possibilities for individuals and family members to grow by giving
them better health care services and living environment. However, people living in these areas
face severe health hazards and new challenges every day (Breman and Arita, 2013).
The report lays emphasis on having a brief overview about urban health issue and understanding
why Tuberculosis is an issue in Eastham in East London, London borough of Newham. It is
further followed by identifying the determinants that influence Tuberculosis in Eastham,
London as well as the Public health consequences and implication. The study includes the
presentation and analysis of relevant data along with the ways to eradicate TB prevailing in
Eastham.
RATIONALE OF WHY TUBERCULOSIS IS AN URBAN HEALTH ISSUE
Tuberculosis is an urban health issue because there has been a gradual increase in the United
Kingdom during the last 20 years. It has majorly arisen from ethnic minority communities.
In 2013, there was a presence of 8000 cases of TB in UK. As per statistics more than 5,000
people were affected by TB who was born in the UK (Tuberculosis (TB), 2016). The
treatment of TB in UK further remained as an untouched area. It is further known that there
was a decline in TB cases during the eighties. However, the numbers have climbed up in the
past 20 years. Campaigners and patients have further claimed that nothing much is being
done by the NHS and health care professionals to curb the TB menace (Buchanan, 2015).

Why choose to study the issue in the selected area and full description of the local area
The main reason for selecting the area of Eastham in London for studying tuberculosis is
that there has been a presence of many cases related to tuberculosis here. This area, Eastham has
been regarded as a multi-cultural area where there is a presence of people belonging to South
Asia, Africa, Caribbean and Eastern Europe. They are the ones who have contributed towards the
spread of TB in UK (Dowdle and Hopkins, 2014).
Eastham is a suburb of London and also a part of the London Borough of Newham. It is
spread over 8 miles and has been identified as among st the 35 major centers present in greater
London (Eastham: Local government and public services. 2016). The area has further shone
highest amount of unemployment in Britain as well as the worst cases of child poverty (London's
Poverty Profile. 2016.). A larger ratio of people has been suffering from Tuberculosis due to
poor health and hygiene condition, improper sanitary measures.
COLLECTION OF RELEVANT DATA
The size of the area of Eastham is 8 miles (12.8 km)
Population
Population of Eastham, Newham (London) is approximately 76,186

Observation on related determinants that influence Tuberculosis in Eastham
Prevalence of Tuberculosis in Eastham which is a major health issue of the place is high
due to several factors. These factors significantly affect health concerns of the existing
population. In order to observe determinants, following points can be discussed: Poverty: is one of the major determinants that largely affect the population of Eastham.
Due to unemployment and low paid jobs, people do not have enough money to access
education and other community amenities (Cakir and et.al., 2015). Statistical figures have
further shown that approximately 7 out of 10 children who are part of Eastham come
from low income families. This very fact has made Eastham as being one of the worst
areas in the country with respect to child poverty. Lack of awareness regarding hygiene and sanitation: It has been observed that due to
high poverty, people cannot afford education regarding sanitation and hygiene factors
that leads to increased presence of Tuberculosis in Eastham. Besides this, it has been
Illustration 1: TB case rate by local authority of residence,
Newham, 2013

observed that lack of cleanliness and hygiene at food outlets, restaurants, supermarkets,
community centres and other public places negatively affect the health of residents of
Eastham by infecting them through contagious diseases such as Tuberculosis (Menifield,
2016).
 Immigration: It has been observed that immigrants from different national origins,
especially from Africa, south Asia are a part of Eastham. They have brought with them
the causal agents of Tuberculosis (Bilan, Agakhani and Niafar, 2014). This leads to high
prevalence of TB among the population.
The following images show the mortality rate among men and women in Newham, London
according to the report of Public health England in the year 2014.

Illustration 2: Mortality rate among women
(Source: Public Health England, 2014)

Public health consequences and implications of Tuberculosis in Eastham
There are several implications of Tuberculosis that severely affect the population of Eastham.
This disease is not only adversely affects the health of individuals, but also impact the societies
and economies. These implications can be elaborated in the following passage:
It can be analyzed that Tuberculosis have taken a toll on an individual’s health. It has led to
reduced life expectancy among the population. Statistical data indicate that the main causes of
death in this area are TB. Factors that are responsible for the increased rate of infectious diseases
are poor housing facilities, poverty as well as lack of awareness regarding hygiene, cleanliness
and immigration (Karande, Vaideeswar and Muranjan, 2015). It can be inferred from the
collected data that the majority of population in Eastham is unemployed and poor. This states
that they do not have access to education and other amenities due to financial constraints. In
addition to immigration, this is also one of the main factors that elevate risk of TB. It can be
interpreted that immigrants from other national origins bring with them harmful microbes of TB,
which consequently lead to the epidemic infections.
Impact of infectious diseases in the general populations, individuals and health services in
Newham
Impact of TB is very adverse and immense on the general population of Eastham. It can
be analyzed that individuals are at major risk for development of Tuberculosis. This is due to the
fact that there is a lack of basic sanitation and cleanliness, sense at public places such as
restaurants, food outlets, community centers and supermarkets. At these common places,
probability of getting infections is higher as a large number of people comes in contact with each
other. Thus, it can be analyzed that rate of transferring pathogenic microbes is very high at public
places. Moreover, it is further a known fact that TB is a very contagious disease and spreads
rapidly after a person has been exposed to someone with the disease.

Other than physical impact, TB also takes toll on the economic aspect of the unities of
Newham. The epidemic of TB is interpreted as a major burden on economy which aggravate the
process of economic decay which further worsen growth scenario of Eastham (Bothamley and
et.al., 2011). It can be analyzed that due to poverty, individuals cannot afford expensive health
care treatments which leads to fatal consequences. Further, it can be interpreted that lack of
access to effective health care practices has the potential of reducing the risk of life expectancy
of the affected population of Eastham.
The above given table illustrates the number of TB incidents that were reported in
London and Newham in the year 2013. The data was evaluated on the basis of rate per 100,000
in a population.
Demographic characteristics: According to the statistical data of year 2013 it was reported that
a major TB patients were found to be males wit an overall percentage of 58%. It continued to be
higher in next two years 42 per 100,000 vs. 29 per 100,000 females were estimated to be patients
of TB. It was noticed tat Tuberculosis was more common in individuals with age group of 29-39
years.
RECOMMENDATIONS
In order to improve the health ad well being of residents of Newham (London) it is very
important to take concrete measures. The local authorities of the are need to frame and
implement effective health policies to promote health and well being of population of Newham.
It is very important to educate people regarding use of proper cleanliness methods in order to
reduce the risk of food contamination. In addition to this individuals of Neham can be made
Illustration 3: Number of TB incidents in London and Newham in 2013

aware of different infectious diseases and methods of prevention such as washing of hands
before food preparation and consumption. Another way for controlling infectious diseases also
by constructing efficient water supply system, network of standpipes and family toilets the poor
sanitary conditions can be facilitated (Abubakar and et.al., 2011). By ensuring adequate and
reliable health care services to the people in Newham, London risk of different hazardous
disease can be minimized. In order to reduce the risk of TB, local care organizations need to get
children vaccinated with Bacille Calmette Guerin (BCG) vaccine to reduce the risk of severe
tuberculosis among children. Besides this, people can be made aware of protective measures
which need to be taken while contacting a TB infected patients.
CONCLUSION
This report is useful in understanding the increased risk of Tuberculosis predominant in
Eastham, UK in the recent years. Main reason which contributed in increasing the risk of TB is
the presence of migrant population from the Carribean, Africa and South Asia in Eastham.
Various strategies such as maintaining proper hygiene and constructing adequate sewage
pipelines as well as toilets for outflow can enhance and improve sanitation facilities. Active and
passive immunization, vaccinations against the parasites and proper therapeutic treatment for TB
are some methods to prevent the disease from spreading.

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