Human Ecology

Lecture at the Review Course for Primary

FWACP (Community Health)
University of Ibadan,
Ibadan, Nigeria.
 Lecture aim
To situate the human ecology and
demography within the context of
Community Health
 Objectives
Examine certain terms used in the study of human
ecology and demography in relation to Community
health.
Consider a conceptual framework for studying the
relationship between human ecology and demography.
Measure the interrelationship as they relate to
Community Health, the Child Health and Survival
Project as a case study and
Evaluate population control and population policies and
programs in Nigeria in respect of the health status of the
country.
Terms Used in Human Ecology and Demography

ecology, human ecology, ecosystems and ecological

homoeostasis
population characteristics and dynamics
Health status
 Definition of Terms

Ecology:
relationships among organisms living in a defined space
and their patterns of adoption to their environment
Human Ecology:
i) effects of man-environment interactions
ii) the interrelated, complex interactions that exist between
man and his environment
iii) the etiology or causal evolution of health and disease
(population genetics, physiology and immunological and
nutritional status of the population)
Human ecology of diseases:
ways human behavior (cultural and socio-economic
context) interacts with environmental conditions to protect
or prevent disease among susceptible people.
 Four Main Properties of Ecosystem
The term/property, Monistic i.e., man and environment
are brought together in a single framework
Ecosystems are structured in a more or less orderly,
rational and comprehensible way
Ecosystems functions involve continuous through-put of
matter and energy
Ecosystems are a part of general system
 Conceptual Framework:
The Tripod of the Interrelationship:
Habitat (Environment)
Population
Behavior (Culture).
 Environment/Habitat
Environment/Habitat elements of
physical and biotic environment, i.e.,
i) The Built Environment
ii) Health Services
iii) Physical Environmental Factors
iv) Economic Determinants
 Population characteristics and
health status
demographic characteristics (age structure,
sex, education/literacy, marital status, race,
ethnicity, etc)
population status - the genetics
human biochemical system
Behavior covers activities of man
that affect disease ecology
As human beings create many habitat conditions
Behavior exposes individuals and populations to
some hazards and protects them from others.
People move from one place to another; hence,
diseases spread.
Behavior affects quality of population by
controlling genetics through marriage customs,
nutritional status, which could be through food
customs and customs of deliberate childhood
exposure to immunization.