The 12 dimensions of health impacts of war (the 12-D framework)

A novel framework to conceptualise impacts of war on social and environmental determinants of health and public health

Bibliographic Data

ID21879172
AuthorsSaroj Jayasinghe (0000-0003-1460-6073, University of Colombo, corresponding author)
Year2024
Volume9
Issue5
Pagese014749
Publication date2024-05-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueBMJ Global Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2059-7908 • E-ISSN: 2059-7908
PublisherBMJ (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1136/bmjgh-2023-014749
PMID38777392
OpenAlexW4398224728
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited34

Global rates of armed conflicts have shown an alarming increase since 2008. These conflicts have devastating and long-term cumulative impacts on health. The overriding aim in these conflicts is to achieve military or political goals by harming human life, which is the antithesis of the moral underpinnings of the health professions. However, the profession has rarely taken on a global advocacy role to prevent and eliminate conflicts and wars. To assume such a role, the health profession needs to be aware of the extensive and multiple impacts that wars have on population health. To facilitate this discourse, the author proposes a novel framework called ‘The Twelve Dimensions of Health Impacts of War’ (or the 12-D framework). The framework is based on the concepts of social and environmental determinants of population health. It has 12 interconnected ‘dimensions’ beginning with the letter D, capturing the adverse impacts on health (n=5), its social (n=4) and environmental determinants (n=3). For health, the indices are Deaths, Disabilities, Diseases, Dependency and Deformities. For social determinants of health, there are Disparities in socioeconomic status, Displacements of populations, Disruptions to the social fabric and Development reversals. For environmental determinants, there is Destruction of infrastructure, Devastation of the environment and Depletion of natural resources. A relatively simple framework could help researchers and lay public to understand the magnitude and quantify the widespread health, social and environmental impacts of war, comprehensively. Further validation and development of this framework are necessary to establish it as a universal metric for quantifying the horrific impacts of war on the planet and garner support for initiatives to promote global peace

Economic growth · Economics · Environmental health · Global health · Health impact assessment · Political science · Population · Population health · Public health · Social determinants of health · Environmental and Biological Research in Conflict Zones · Global Security and Public Health · Health and Conflict Studies · Medicine · Health Policy

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