Health and population

Health and population dynamics are intertwined, embodying an intricate relationship with significant implications on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Health is fundamentally at the center of these 17 global goals, aimed to transform the world by 2030. Specifically, Goal 3 endeavors to "Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages." It acknowledges that health is pivotal to human life quality, social cohesion, and sustainable development. Inextricably linked to this are the complexities of population dynamics, including growth rates, age structure, fertility and mortality rates, and migration patterns.

With the world's population projected to exceed 9.7 billion by 2050, the pressure on health systems will undoubtedly escalate. The demographic transition, with an aging population and an increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases, poses new challenges for health systems globally. Additionally, areas with high fertility rates often overlap with extreme poverty, resulting in heightened health risks, including higher maternal and child mortality rates, malnutrition, and infectious diseases.

Moreover, rapid urbanization and migration present both opportunities and threats to health. While urban areas may provide better access to healthcare, they also harbor risks of disease transmission, air and water pollution, and social determinants of health like inadequate housing and social inequality. Simultaneously, migrants often face disproportionate health risks due to unstable living conditions, exploitation, and limited access to healthcare services.

Achieving the SDGs will necessitate comprehensive approaches that consider the intricate interplay of health and population dynamics. It means strengthening health systems, promoting universal health coverage, and addressing social determinants of health. It also implies crafting policies that recognize demographic realities and foster an environment conducive to sustainable development. Only by understanding and harnessing these dynamics can the world meaningfully progress towards realizing the SDGs, ensuring healthy lives and well-being for all.

This content aligns with Goal 3: Good Health by detailing specialized training techniques that can enhance the quality of life for individuals with visual field loss, thereby improving their ability to navigate their environment and engage in daily activities. By focusing on tailored interventions such as eccentric viewing, visual exploration, and scanning training, the chapter promotes effective rehabilitation strategies that contribute to better health outcomes for those affected by visual impairments. Additionally, it supports Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities by ensuring that individuals with visual field loss have access to adaptive training methods, which can empower them to lead more independent and fulfilling lives, regardless of their socioeconomic status or background.

This Article supports SDGs 3 and 10 by showing that in Austria, Greece, Spain, and the UK, there is a dearth of targeted, tailored cancer prevention programmes for people experiencing homelessness, and concern from health professionals that cancer is not being spotted at early stages in this population.

Handbook of Child and Adolescent Psychology Treatment Modules

Personalized Care in Behavior and Emotion Practical Resources for the Mental Health Professional, 2023, Pages 3-15

This content aligns with Goal 3: Good Health as well as Goal 17: Partnership for the goals by introducing and discussing how modular youth psychotherapies can help treat youth.

Handbook of Child and Adolescent Psychology Treatment Modules, Personalized Care in Behavior and Emotion Practical Resources for the Mental Health Professional, 2023, Pages 19-38

This content aligns with Goal 3: Good Health as well as Goal 17: Partnership for the goals by discussing how modular youth psychotherapies can help treat youth anxiety.
Image of a flower next to a heart shaped rock with the word "Happy" painted on it

International Day of Happiness 2026 with SDG Resources

On March 20th every year, the world comes together to commemorate the International Day of Happiness. The International Day of Happiness 2025 is not just another date on the calendar, but a global movement towards a happier, more inclusive, and resilient world.

The Significance of the International Day of Happiness 2026

This study supports SDGs 3 and 6 by showing that areas with better access to drinking water and sanitation had a lower abundance of antibiotic resistance genes, suggesting that increasing access to water and sanitation could effectively reduce the spread of antibiotic resistance in low-income and middle-income countries
This Article supports SDG 3 by examining cost-effectiveness of implementing the HITSystem, a web-based intervention designed to improve outcomes of infants exposed to HIV, in Kenya. The study finds that HITSystem is among the most cost-effective early infant diagnosis interventions reported to date; the the cost per infant exposed to HIV was US$31·38 and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for life-years saved was $82·72.
This Article supports SDG 3 by showing that international transmission of hepatitis C virus has occurred in recent years among men who have sex with men. This suggests that international coordination will be needed for microelimination in this population.
This Article supports SDG 3 by focusing on pregnant and postpartum women with HIV and assessing the risk factors for adverse postpartum outcomes and examining which factors can be addressed to support breastfeeding in resource-rich settings.
Choropleth map displaying HIV Prevalence spread across Nigeria.
Population-based surveys are expensive and time consuming. By determining state-level seropositivity using national testing service data and a Bayesian linear model, a map of HIV prevalence was generated across the whole of Nigeria. By identifying the areas in which HIV is most prevalent interventions can be targeted. This less resource intense Bayseian method allows for national monitoring of HIV prevalence.

Pages