Which of the following best describes how urbanization affects public health?

Urbanization significantly impacts public health in various ways, leading to both challenges and improvements. The correct answer highlights that urbanization can enhance healthcare access due to the concentration of medical facilities, hospitals, and healthcare professionals in urban areas. This accessibility allows for better prevention and treatment of diseases for many individuals.

At the same time, urbanization can create health challenges, such as increased pollution, overcrowded living conditions, and the spread of communicable diseases. The rapid growth of urban populations often outpaces the development of adequate infrastructure and public health systems, potentially stressing existing resources and services.

This dual nature of urbanization reflects the complexity of its effects on public health; while it can provide greater healthcare access to urban populations, it can simultaneously introduce issues that compromise health outcomes, especially for marginalized communities living in cities.

Other options do not fully capture this complexity. For instance, asserting that urbanization only improves health outcomes overlooks the significant public health challenges created by rapid urban growth. Stating that it reduces access to healthcare facilities does not account for the fact that urban areas often have more healthcare resources available compared to rural areas. Lastly, claiming that urbanization has no effect on health-related issues ignores the substantial evidence of both positive and negative health impacts associated with urban living