POPULATION EXPLOSION AND IMPACT ON

HEALTH

Mrs Chaitali K Patel

Assist Professor
SSRCN

INTRODUCTION: antimicrobial resistance may prove to

The meaning of population is” The whole of be an unforeseen problem for diseases,
people or inhabitants in a country or region”. like –Dengue, Cholera, Malaria, and
The meaning of population explosion is “A Tuberculosis
sudden, large increase  Cholera is practically extinct in the
in the size and developing world and tuberculosis is
numbers of confined to some parts of the world,
population” dengue and malaria continue to be a
India recorded a major cause of high mortality and
population morbidity among people across the
of 127,42,39,769 - which constitutes 17.25% of globe.
the global population. At this rate, India is  Population growth results in poor or
expected to become the most populated country polluted water supply and simply filtering
by 2050. Many people are already aware of the drinking water may not be the solution to
social and environmental problems caused due the problem. The viruses pass on at a faster
to overpopulation, but only a few are aware of rate in places where population density is
its adverse effects on health. high, thus enabling deadly mutations to
This is extremely concerning as continue and making water resources
population explosion has an array of negative unsafe for
impacts. It increases the pollution level, causes consumption
habitat loss, and contributes to global warming. and
Not only this, but overpopulation has adverse utilization.
effects on health too. 2. Disease
EFFECT OF OVERPOPULATION spread
ON HEALTH: through contaminated water:
1. Infectious disease :  An estimated 2 billion people across
the globe fall sick every year by
 The population growth, easier it is for
drinking contaminated water. This may
infections to spread. Overpopulation
lead to the spread of water-borne
leads to environmental changes and
diseases, such as typhoid, dysentery,
urban crowding, which in turn, results
cholera, polio, and diarrhea.
in the emergence and transmission of
Contaminated drinking water causes
several infectious diseases. The rise in
 approximately 4, 85,000 diarrhea protects us from the harmful ultraviolet
deaths each year. (UV) rays of the sun causing skin
3. Disease spread through Air Pollution problems such as skin cancers and
: premature aging of the skin.
 Overpopulation also contributes to  UV rays also result in a host of eye-
excessive air pollution, which again, is related problems such as cataract
at the root of several respiratory and blindness. Most of all, it weakens
conditions. More people availing the human immune system
various means of public transportation, Various other illnesses:
there is a growing concern about the  The number of people migrating to the
health impacts caused due to the cities for jobs and prosperity increases
pollution and traffic on the roads. daily Concentrated energy use leads to
 Children and elderly are the ones most greater air pollution with significant
likely to bear the brunt of the toxic air impact on human health, and automobile
contents. Currently, decreased air exhaust produces elevated lead levels in
quality is a major reason why the the urban air.
majority of India’s population is  Large volumes of uncollected waste
suffering from respiratory health create multiple health hazards
issues, such as –Chronic bronchitis like cancer, neurological disease, and
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary congenital malformation etc.
Disease, Cystic fibrosis, Asthma,
Emphysema, Pleural effusion, OTHER EFFECTS OF
Pneumonia and Lung cancer OVERPOPULATION ON
4. sexually transmitted diseases
HEALTH:
 The growing population density in
slums may ease the spread of sexually
transmitted diseases, like Food
shortages
HIV/AIDS, Chlamydia, Lack of
and
starvation Easily
family spread
gonorrhea, HPV etc. planing disease
 The majority of people living in such Water
Fertility
areas do not have the resources or treatment
supply
contamina
technology
access to proper healthcare facilities, tion

safe contraceptives etc. urban

Advance Environme
migration also increases a person’s d
medicine
ntal
Damage
vulnerability to STDs. Decline in
death rate Unemploy
5. Disease spread through (infant ment
Mortality)
environmental problems:
 Increased pollution has also led to a
depletion of ozone layer. The ozone WHAT IS THE SOLUTION OF
layer of the atmosphere no longer OVERPOPULATION?
 Awareness about family planning
 Education about overpopulation
 Enacting birth control measures and
regulations
 Providing universal access to birth
control devices
REFERENCE:
1. B T Basavanthappa , “ TEXTBOOK OF
COMMUNITY HEALTH
NURSING”6 edition , published by
th
Jaypee brothers Pvt,new Delhi , 2020
p.g. 204 , 205
2. https://www.dnaindia.com/health/report-
impact-of-overpopulation-on-health-in-
india-2104216
3. https://www.india.com/lifestyle/world-
population-day-2020-impact-of-
population-explosion-on-health-in-india-
4079648/
4. https://www.mphonline.org/
overpopulation-public-health/