Health culture and the spread of epidemiological diseases in the desert environment

Abstract

The environment is the medium in which man lives and exercises his activity and obtains the essential elements of his life including food, health, shelter and other various needs. On this basis, the environment is not merely isolated physical or natural elements. Rather, it is a set of material, social, and cultural resources through which man seeks to satisfy his biological needs as well as aiding him in creating a pattern of relations throughout his interaction with others. Moreover, he can simply develop and secure his future and that of his successor. In this vein, Parsons explains, "the natural environment is at a lower level of organic patterns, and it is the source of all the energy required by human life." Health and disease are a cornerstone of human interaction with their environment, where their activity is closely related to these factors. Essentially, health and disease are measures of the degree to which human groups can adapt to their environments in the presence of available biological, physical or cultural elements. The desert environment was one of the environments known for its harsh climate and nature.