Towards a Critical Approach to Ecohealth Research, Theory and Practice

Abstract

Purpose

Ecosystem-based approaches to human health, also known as Ecohealth approaches, fall in an emerging field of study that focuses on understanding how social, political and economic factors shape people–environment interactions and consequently influence human health. The approach integrates scientific and local perspectives to develop interventions aimed at improving human health through sustainable ecosystem management.

Three principles are central to traditional ecohealth approaches: (1) transdisciplinarity which integrates the expertise of professionals from the natural, health and social sciences with those of other stakeholders; (2) community participation; and (3) social equity and gender relations.

However, the extent to which these concepts benefit from rigorous theoretical analysis is still very limited. As an emerging field of study, the use of poststructuralist, feminist, postcolonial, and political ecology perspectives is still limited. This chapter illustrates the application of critical theory to the conceptual and methodological tools used in ecohealth research and practice.

Approach

Critical theory is used to examine people–environment interactions, transdisciplinarity, community participation, and social equity and gender relations. The discussion is informed by an ecohealth project conducted in the Upper West region of Ghana.

Research implications

As an emerging field of study, ecohealth is yet to benefit from rigorous critical theoretical frameworks that are used to examine health and environment issues in other subdisciplines. This chapter illustrates the application of these perspectives to ecohealth.

Originality/value

This is the first chapter that outlines a critically informed approach to ecohealth research and practice.

Citation

Dakubo, C. (2013), "Towards a Critical Approach to Ecohealth Research, Theory and Practice", Ecological Health: Society, Ecology and Health (Advances in Medical Sociology, Vol. 15), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 23-43. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1057-6290(2013)0000015005