This book uses spatial and epidemiological analysis to understand public health challenges in India. In twenty-first century, India is undergoing through an epidemiological transition marked by rapid rise of non-communicable diseases, declining prevalence of communicable diseases, as well as growing burden of mental health disorders, life style diseases, and emerging environmental health risks and climate change sensitive illness. Adopting a geographical perspective, this book examines how sociodemographic factors, residential setting, geographical space, environmental stress, pollution, climate crises and shape disease patterns, and persisting inequalities across diverse regions and population groups in India.

This book is organised into four thematic parts. The first part explores India’s epidemiological transition and persistent health inequalities across geographical regions and social groups. The second investigates the impacts of climate change and environmental stressors on physical and mental health outcomes. The third analyses the socioeconomic and demographic determinants of lifestyle-related diseases and mental health disorders. The final section highlights innovative public health interventions, technological advancements, and policy responses aimed at reducing disease burdens and health disparities.

Dr. Pritam Ghosh is an Assistant Professor and HOD at the Department of Geography, Hijli College, affiliated with Vidyasagar University, West Bengal, India and a Human Geographer with a Doctoral Degree from the University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India. His area of interest covers Medical and Health Geography, Epidemiology, Public Health. As a dedicated researcher specializing in Health Geography and Social Sciences, his work is centred around investigating the geospatial, sociocultural, and environmental dimensions of public health. His research critically examines issues like childhood malnutrition, infant feeding practices, access to water, sanitation, and hygiene, and the role of allied public policies in India. He also contributes to emerging discourses on climate change and health, particularly in South Asia. With several peer-reviewed international journal articles and book chapters to his name, Dr. Ghosh is a prolific scholar and thought leader in his field. He currently serves as an Academic Editor for PLOS ONE, Discover Social Science and Health Journal and reviews for more than 35 international journals spanning geography, public health, and the social sciences. He is also the editor of four upcoming Scopus-indexed books on health geography, under contract with a leading international publisher.

Dr Sanjit Sarkar is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography at the Central University of Karnataka, India, where he teaches quantitative techniques, demography, and settlement geography. His research interests are in public health, food and nutrition security, malnutrition, adolescent health, migration, and urbanization. Dr Sarkar is trained in demographic research and received his Doctoral degree (PhD) in Population Studies from the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai. He has contributed significantly to research, including thirty articles in reputed national and international journals, seven chapters in edited books, and three policy documents. He receives the Prof. C. Chandrasekharan Young Scientist Award, the Prof. K.N.M Raju Youth Best Paper Award, and the Prof. K.B Pathak Award for his research excellence and contribution. To date, he has delivered his talk on more than twenty-five national and international platforms. Dr Sarkar has been serving as a guest reviewer for many journals under Springer, Elsevier, PLOS One, Taylor & Francis, etc. Dr Sarkar has more than fifteen years of research and eight years of teaching experience. He has also worked with national and international organizations, such as the Public Health Foundation of India and the World Food Programme in various capacities.

Dr. Aditya Singh, PhD, an Assistant Professor at Banaras Hindu University's Department of Geography since 2019, holds a doctoral degree in Health Sciences from the School of Health and Care Professions, University of Portsmouth, United Kingdom, and an MPhil in Population Studies from the International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, India. He is also an External Research Collaborator of the GIRL Centre, Population Council, New York, USA. Specializing in the geography of health and healthcare, he focuses on social determinants of health, disease burden, and health inequity. With over 50 peer-reviewed journal articles and an edited book to his credit, Dr. Singh has made significant contributions to the fields of public health and health geography in India. He has held research positions at reputed institutions such as Public Health Foundation of India and Oxford Policy Management. He also serves as an academic editor for several esteemed journals such as BMC Public Health, PLOS, PLOS Global Public Health, Frontiers in Public Health, Scientific Reports, and Discover Applied Sciences. He is a member of esteemed professional associations such as the International Union for Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP), Association of American Geographers (AAG), and National Geographical Society of India. He has visited seven countries, namely Italy, France, United Arab Emirates, the United States, Brazil, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, for various academic and research-related activities.