Geographical Health Education for knowing and preventing risk factors

In this contribution the importance of a geographical health education perspective is underlined, and the need to promote a widespread and shared awareness of this topic has led to the introduction of a new type of feature focused to the related aspects with this number of J-READING. In particular, in the present work, first of all the potential added value of harmonious and coordinated health education actions is underlined, aimed at translating the findings of scientific research for social usefulness, also focussing the attention on the need to avoid incorrect behaviour which can put people at risk of specific diseases and disorders. Secondly, a reflection is provided about the leading causes of death and risk factors, highlighting the differences among geographical areas and countries on the basis of a number of indicators which continue to show considerable inequalities and reveal facets and problematic conditions of many contexts with development delay, above all in Sub-Saharan Africa. The imbalances in basic maternal and children health services continue to be burdensome and the system too feeble to face communicable diseases, often easily preventable and treatable, even if some encouraging achievements have been recorded in the last years. Thirdly, the attention is dedicated to the health risk factors and noncommunicable diseases in the developed countries and a focus is provided on the European countries. The use of tobacco, the abuse of alcohol, an unbalanced diet and physical inactivity (which together contribute to overweight and obesity) here are remarkable risk factors for chronic diseases, but their incidence could be easily reduced by encouraging and supporting at school and at educational level adequate programmes, “best buys” and supplementary interventions for assuming better behaviour. Some perspectives for geographical health education are finally discussed considering the potentialities of geotechnologies, WebGIS and open source GIS, specific app and services, story maps and digital storytelling.