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Trickey A, Johnson LF, Bonifacio R, Kiragga A, Howard G, Biraro S, Wagener T, Low A, Vickerman P. Investigating the Associations between Drought, Poverty, High-Risk Sexual Behaviours, and HIV Incidence in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Cross-Sectional Study. AIDS Behav 2024; 28:1752-1765. [PMID: 38374246 PMCID: PMC11069459 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-024-04280-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Climate change is increasing the likelihood of drought in sub-Saharan Africa, where HIV prevalence is high. Drought could increase HIV transmission through various mediating mechanisms; we investigated these associations. We used data on people aged 15-59 from Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment surveys from 2016 in Eswatini, Lesotho, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. Survey data were geospatially linked to precipitation data for 2014-2016, with local droughts defined as cumulative rainfall between 2014 and 2016 being in < 15th percentile of all 2-year periods over 1981-2016. Using multivariable logistic regression, stratified by sex and rural/urban residence, we examined associations between (a) drought and poverty, (b) wealth quintiles and sexual behaviours (transactional, high-risk, and intergenerational sex), (c) sexual behaviours and recently acquiring HIV, and (d) drought and recent HIV. Among 102,081 people, 31.5% resided in areas affected by drought during 2014-2016. Experiencing drought was positively associated with poverty for women and men in rural, but not urban, areas. For each group, increasing wealth was negatively associated with transactional sex. For rural women, intergenerational sex was positively associated with wealth. Women reporting each sexual behaviour had higher odds of recent HIV, with strong associations seen for high-risk sex, and, for urban women, intergenerational sex, with weaker associations among men. Women in rural areas who had been exposed to drought had higher odds of having recently acquired HIV (2.10 [95%CI: 1.17-3.77]), but not women in urban areas, or men. Droughts could potentially increase HIV transmission through increasing poverty and then sexual risk behaviours, particularly among women in rural areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Trickey
- Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
| | - Leigh F Johnson
- Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Agnes Kiragga
- Research Department, Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Guy Howard
- Department of Civil Engineering and Cabot Institute of the Environment, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Samuel Biraro
- ICAP at Columbia University, Nakasero, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Thorsten Wagener
- Institute of Environmental Science and Geography, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Andrea Low
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Peter Vickerman
- Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Behavioural Science and Evaluation at University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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Dehingia N, McDougal L, Silverman JG, Reed E, Urada L, McAuley J, Singh A, Raj A. Climate and Gender: Association Between Droughts and Intimate Partner Violence in India. Am J Epidemiol 2024; 193:636-645. [PMID: 37968380 PMCID: PMC10999644 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwad222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Extreme climate events are related to women's exposure to different forms of violence. We examined the relationship between droughts and physical, sexual, and emotional intimate partner violence (IPV) in India by using 2 different definitions of drought: precipitation-based drought and socioeconomic drought. We analyzed data from 2 rounds of a nationally representative survey, the National Family Health Survey, where married women were asked about their experiences of IPV in the previous year (2015-2016 and 2019-2021; n = 122,696). Precipitation-based drought was estimated using remote sensing data and geographic information system (GIS) mapping, while socioeconomic drought status was collected from government records. Logistic regression models showed precipitation-based drought to increase the risk of experiencing physical IPV and emotional IPV. Similar findings were observed for socioeconomic drought; women residing in areas classified as drought-impacted by the government were more likely to report physical IPV, sexual IPV, and emotional IPV. These findings support the growing body of evidence regarding the relationship between climate change and women's vulnerability, and highlight the need for gender responsive strategies for disaster management and preparedness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nabamallika Dehingia
- Correspondence to Dr. Nabamallika Dehingia, UNICEF, 3 UN Plaza, New York, NY 10017 (e-mail: )
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Somefun O, Banougnin BH, Smith-Greenaway E. The Relationships between Drought Exposure, Fertility Preferences, and Contraceptive Behaviors: A Multicountry Study. Stud Fam Plann 2024; 55:5-21. [PMID: 38414154 DOI: 10.1111/sifp.12258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
The interplay between population dynamics and the environment has long interested demographers. Although studies have explored how climate patterns affect macrolevel population processes, such as mortality and migration, little is known about their impact on individual-level demographic behaviors. This study fills this research gap by examining the linkages between exposure to drought and women's fertility preferences and contraceptive behaviors in sub-Saharan Africa. We analyze data from the Demographic and Health Surveys Program, focusing on 17 countries in East, Southern, and West Africa. We investigate whether women's recent exposure to drought episodes in their community affects their fertility preferences and modern contraceptive use. Generally, the findings show that drought is relevant to understanding women's fertility preferences and behaviors in the vast majority of countries; however, drought exposure has variable impacts. Moreover, whereas in some countries, drought exposure encourages contraceptive behaviors that align with women's preferences, in select countries it is associated with behavior that is misaligned with women's stated preferences. Overall, the study emphasizes the importance of examining climate events as complex forces that have localized meanings for demographic outcomes.
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Burns PA, Mutunga C. Addressing the Impact of Climate Change on Sexual and Reproductive Health Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. GLOBAL HEALTH, SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2024; 12:GHSP-D-23-00374. [PMID: 38365281 PMCID: PMC10906547 DOI: 10.9745/ghsp-d-23-00374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
There is an urgent need to better understand the role of climate change on sexual and reproductive health outcomes, particularly among adolescent girls and young women in low- and middle-income countries. Stakeholders at all levels should apply a rights-based, gendered approach to climate action and adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A Burns
- Department of Population Health Science, John D. Bower School of Population Health, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA.
- U.S. Agency for International Development, Bureau for Global Health, Office of Population and Reproductive Health, Division of Research, Technology and Utilization, Washington, DC
- American Association for the Advancement of Science, Washington, DC
| | - Clive Mutunga
- BUILD (Building Capacity for Integrated Family Planning & Reproductive Health and Population, Environment and Development Action), The African Institute for Development for Policy, Lilongwe, Malawi
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Logie CH, Toccalino D, MacKenzie F, Hasham A, Narasimhan M, Donkers H, Lorimer N, Malama K. Associations between climate change-related factors and sexual health: A scoping review. Glob Public Health 2024; 19:2299718. [PMID: 38190290 DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2023.2299718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
There is growing attention to the ways in which climate change may affect sexual health, yet key knowledge gaps remain across global contexts and climate issues. In response, we conducted a scoping review to examine the literature on associations between climate change and sexual health. We searched five databases (May 2021, September 2022). We reviewed 3,183 non-duplicate records for inclusion; n = 83 articles met inclusion criteria. Of these articles, n = 30 focused on HIV and other STIs, n = 52 focused on sexual and gender-based violence (GBV), and n = 1 focused on comprehensive sexuality education. Thematic analysis revealed that hurricanes, drought, temperature variation, flooding, and storms may influence HIV outcomes among people with HIV by constraining access to antiretroviral treatment and worsening mental health. Climate change was associated with HIV/STI testing barriers and worsened economic conditions that elevated HIV exposure (e.g. transactional sex). Findings varied regarding associations between GBV with storms and drought, yet most studies examining flooding, extreme temperatures, and bushfires reported positive associations with GBV. Future climate change research can examine understudied sexual health domains and a range of climate-related issues (e.g. heat waves, deforestation) for their relevance to sexual health. Climate-resilient sexual health approaches can integrate extreme weather events into programming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen H Logie
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, Vancouver, Canada
- Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Canada
- United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment, and Health, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Danielle Toccalino
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Frannie MacKenzie
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Aryssa Hasham
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Manjulaa Narasimhan
- Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, includes the UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Holly Donkers
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Nicole Lorimer
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Kalonde Malama
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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Trickey A, Johnson LF, Fung F, Bonifacio R, Iwuji C, Biraro S, Bosomprah S, Chirimuta L, Euvrard J, Fatti G, Fox MP, Von Groote P, Gumulira J, Howard G, Jennings L, Kiragga A, Muula G, Tanser F, Wagener T, Low A, Vickerman P. Associations of inter-annual rainfall decreases with subsequent HIV outcomes for persons with HIV on antiretroviral therapy in Southern Africa: a collaborative analysis of cohort studies. BMC Infect Dis 2023; 23:889. [PMID: 38114912 PMCID: PMC10731689 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-023-08902-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Periods of droughts can lead to decreased food security, and altered behaviours, potentially affecting outcomes on antiretroviral therapy (ART) among persons with HIV (PWH). We investigated whether decreased rainfall is associated with adverse outcomes among PWH on ART in Southern Africa. METHODS Data were combined from 11 clinical cohorts of PWH in Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, participating in the International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS Southern Africa (IeDEA-SA) collaboration. Adult PWH who had started ART prior to 01/06/2016 and were in follow-up in the year prior to 01/06/2016 were included. Two-year rainfall from June 2014 to May 2016 at the location of each HIV centre was summed and ranked against historical 2-year rainfall amounts (1981-2016) to give an empirical relative percentile rainfall estimate. The IeDEA-SA and rainfall data were combined using each HIV centre's latitude/longitude. In individual-level analyses, multivariable Cox or generalized estimating equation regression models (GEEs) assessed associations between decreased rainfall versus historical levels and four separate outcomes (mortality, CD4 counts < 200 cells/mm3, viral loads > 400 copies/mL, and > 12-month gaps in follow-up) in the two years following the rainfall period. GEEs were used to investigate the association between relative rainfall and monthly numbers of unique visitors per HIV centre. RESULTS Among 270,708 PWH across 386 HIV centres (67% female, median age 39 [IQR: 32-46]), lower rainfall than usual was associated with higher mortality (adjusted Hazard Ratio: 1.18 [95%CI: 1.07-1.32] per 10 percentile rainfall rank decrease) and unsuppressed viral loads (adjusted Odds Ratio: 1.05 [1.01-1.09]). Levels of rainfall were not strongly associated with CD4 counts < 200 cell/mm3 or > 12-month gaps in care. HIV centres in areas with less rainfall than usual had lower numbers of PWH visiting them (adjusted Rate Ratio: 0.80 [0.66-0.98] per 10 percentile rainfall rank decrease). CONCLUSIONS Decreased rainfall could negatively impact on HIV treatment behaviours and outcomes. Further research is needed to explore the reasons for these effects. Interventions to mitigate the health impact of severe weather events are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Trickey
- Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
| | - Leigh F Johnson
- Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Fai Fung
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- UK Meteorological Office, Exeter, UK
| | - Rogerio Bonifacio
- Climate and Earth Observation Unit, Research Assessment and Monitoring Division, World Food Programme HQ, Rome, Italy
| | - Collins Iwuji
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Department of Global Health Infection, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
| | - Samuel Biraro
- ICAP at Columbia University, Nakasero, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Samuel Bosomprah
- Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | | | - Jonathan Euvrard
- Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Geoffrey Fatti
- Kheth'Impilo AIDS Free Living, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Matthew P Fox
- Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Global Health and Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Per Von Groote
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Guy Howard
- Department of Civil Engineering and Cabot Institute of the Environment, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Lauren Jennings
- Desmond Tutu Health Foundation, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Agnes Kiragga
- Research Division, African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Guy Muula
- Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Frank Tanser
- Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation, School of Data Science and Computational Thinking, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
- School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Thorsten Wagener
- Institute of Environmental Science and Geography, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Andrea Low
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Peter Vickerman
- Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Behavioural Science and Evaluation at University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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Alonso D, Vallès X. A potential transition from a concentrated to a generalized HIV epidemic: the case of Madagascar. Infect Dis Poverty 2023; 12:112. [PMID: 38057918 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-023-01164-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND HIV expansion is controlled by a range of interrelated factors, including the natural history of HIV infection and socio-economical and structural factors. However, how they dynamically interact in particular contexts to drive a transition from concentrated HIV epidemics in vulnerable groups to generalized epidemics is poorly understood. We aim to explore these mechanisms, using Madagascar as a case-study. METHODS We developed a compartmental dynamic model using available data from Madagascar, a country with a contrasting concentrated epidemic, to explore the interaction between these factors with special consideration of commercial and transactional sex as HIV-infection drivers. RESULTS The model predicts sigmoidal-like prevalence curves with turning points within years 2020-2022, and prevalence reaching stabilization by 2033 within 9 to 24% in the studied (10 out of 11) cities, similar to high-prevalence regions in Southern Africa. The late/slow introduction of HIV and circumcision, a widespread traditional practice in Madagascar, could have slowed down HIV propagation, but, given the key interplay between risky behaviors associated to young women and acute infections prevalence, mediated by transactional sex, the protective effect of circumcision is currently insufficient to contain the expansion of the disease in Madagascar. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that Madagascar may be experiencing a silent transition from a concentrated to a generalized HIV epidemic. This case-study model could help to understand how this HIV epidemic transition occurs.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Alonso
- Computational and Theoretical Ecology, Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CEAB-CSI)C, C/Access Cala Francesc, 14, 17300, Blanes, Spain
| | - Xavier Vallès
- International Health Program (PROSICS), North Metropolitan Health Area From Barcelona, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Passatge dels Encants, s/n, 08914, Badalona, Catalonia, Spain.
- Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol, C/Canyet s/n, 08916, Badalona, Spain.
- Fundació Lluita contra les Infeccions, C/Canyet s/n, 08916, Badalona, Spain.
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De Wet-Billings N. Perpetuation of household food insecurity during COVID-19 in South Africa. JOURNAL OF HEALTH, POPULATION, AND NUTRITION 2023; 42:96. [PMID: 37700382 PMCID: PMC10498595 DOI: 10.1186/s41043-023-00441-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perpetual food insecurity has long-term health and development effects on populations. The global pandemic created sub-populations that were newly food insecure, but there exists sub-populations were food insecure, and COVID-19 held that situation. This study seeks to identify the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the perpetually food insecure in South Africa in order to obtain specific evidence of populations to be prioritised in the post-pandemic era. METHODS Secondary data from the South African National Income Dynamics CRAM Survey for rounds (Waves) 1 and 5 are analysed. The study population are those respondents who reported a household member not having enough food to eat in the early stages of the pandemic (1st round) and remained without sufficient food a year later (5th round). The study controls for the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the population but also changes to employment status, social grant access and willingness to be vaccinated. Descriptive and analytical statistical tests are used. RESULTS A total of 26.15% of respondents were food insecure at the start of the pandemic. Of these, 41.09% remained food insecure a year later. The drivers of perpetual food insecurity during the pandemic include unemployment (OR = 2.09; CI 1.335293-3.265678), still being unemployed (OR = 1.86; CI 1.308032-2.636252), seven or more (≥ 7) household members (OR = 1.24; CI 1.1611329-1.610126), those with only a primary education (OR = 1.11; CI 1.5051066-2.434695), participants between the ages of 45 and 64 years old (ORs = 1.03 and 1.20; CIs 1.0171956-1.0171956 and 1.1733304-2.144875, respectively) and women (OR = 1.09; CI 1.0745444-1.406035). CONCLUSIONS South Africa needs to address socioeconomic challenges and inequalities to assist the perpetually food insecure and to ensure that, should there be a pandemic resurgence, or a new pandemic, individuals and households in the country are in a better financial situation and appropriately supported to avoid food insecurity at all costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole De Wet-Billings
- Demography and Population Studies, Schools of Social Sciences and Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
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Topluoglu S, Taylan-Ozkan A, Alp E. Impact of wars and natural disasters on emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1215929. [PMID: 37727613 PMCID: PMC10505936 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1215929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Emerging Infectious Diseases (EIDs) and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases (REIDs) constitute significant health problems and are becoming of major importance. Up to 75% of EIDs and REIDs have zoonotic origin. Several factors such as the destruction of natural habitats leading humans and animals to live in close proximity, ecological changes due to natural disasters, population migration resulting from war or conflict, interruption or decrease in disease prevention programs, and insufficient vector control applications and sanitation are involved in disease emergence and distribution. War and natural disasters have a great impact on the emergence/re-emergence of diseases in the population. According to a World Bank estimation, two billion people are living in poverty and fragility situations. Wars destroy health systems and infrastructure, curtail existing disease control programs, and cause population movement leading to an increase in exposure to health risks and favor the emergence of infectious diseases. A total of 432 catastrophic cases associated with natural disasters were recorded globally in 2021. Natural disasters increase the risk of EID and REID outbreaks by damaging infrastructure and leading to displacement of populations. A Generic National Action Plan covering risk assessment, mechanism for action, determination of roles and responsibilities of each sector, the establishment of a coordination mechanism, etc. should be developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seher Topluoglu
- Provincial Health Directorate of Ankara, Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Health, Ankara, Türkiye
| | - Aysegul Taylan-Ozkan
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Medical Faculty, TOBB University of Economics and Technology, Ankara, Türkiye
| | - Emine Alp
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Medical Faculty, Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University, Ankara, Türkiye
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Iwuji CC, Baisley K, Maoyi ML, Orievulu K, Mazibuko L, Ayeb-Karlsson S, Yapa HM, Hanekom W, Herbst K, Kniveton D. The Impact of Drought on HIV Care in Rural South Africa: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis. ECOHEALTH 2023; 20:178-193. [PMID: 37523018 PMCID: PMC10613144 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-023-01647-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
This analysis investigates the relationship between drought and antiretroviral treatment (ART) adherence and retention in HIV care in the Hlabisa sub-district, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Data on drought and ART adherence and retention were collated for the study period 2010-2019. Drought was quantified using the 3-month Standard Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) and Standard Precipitation Index (SPI) from station data. Adherence, proxied by the Medication Possession Ratio (MPR), and retention data were obtained from the public ART programme database. MPR and retention were calculated from individuals aged 15-59 years who initiated ART between January 2010 and December 2018 and visited clinic through February 2019. Between 01 January 2010 and 31 December 2018, 40,714 individuals started ART in the sub-district and made 1,022,760 ART visits. The SPI showed that 2014-2016 were dry years, with partial recovery after 2016 in the wet years. In the period from 2010 to 2012, mean 6-month MPR increased from 0.85 in July 2010 to a high of 0.92 in December 2012. MPR then decreased steadily through 2013 and 2014 to 0.78 by December 2014. The mean proportion retained in care 6 months after starting ART showed similar trends to MPR, increasing from 86.9% in July 2010 to 91.4% in December 2012. Retention then decreased through 2013, with evidence of a pronounced drop in January 2014 when the odds of retention decreased by 30% (OR = 0.70, CI = 0.53-0.92, P = 0.01) relative to the end of 2013. Adherence and retention in care decreased during the drought years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Collins C Iwuji
- Africa Health Research Institute, Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
- Department of Global Health & Infection, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9PX, UK.
| | - Kathy Baisley
- Africa Health Research Institute, Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Molulaqhooa Linda Maoyi
- DSI-MRC South African Population Research Infrastructure Network (SAPRIN), Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Kingsley Orievulu
- Africa Health Research Institute, Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Department of Global Health & Infection, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9PX, UK
- Centre for Africa-China Studies, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Lusanda Mazibuko
- Africa Health Research Institute, Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Sonja Ayeb-Karlsson
- Department of Global Health & Infection, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9PX, UK
- Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction, University College London, London, UK
- United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security, Bonn, Germany
| | - H Manisha Yapa
- Kirby Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Central Clinical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Willem Hanekom
- Africa Health Research Institute, Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK
| | - Kobus Herbst
- Africa Health Research Institute, Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- DSI-MRC South African Population Research Infrastructure Network (SAPRIN), Johannesburg, South Africa
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Tegene Y, Mengesha S, Toma A, Geleta D, Spigt M. A qualitative study exploring perceptions of people living with HIV using antiretroviral therapy on self-management of healthy nutrition and the related healthcare service in Ethiopia. AIDS Care 2023:1-10. [PMID: 36929734 DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2023.2188160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
In Ethiopia, undernutrition is a quite common health problem among people living with HIV. Unlike in developed countries, nutritional counseling for people living with HIV has not received much attention. This study aimed to explore the perception of people living with HIV on their dietary practice and the existing health care service in Ethiopia. A phenomenological qualitative study was conducted in two hospitals in southern Ethiopia from March to June 2018. A pre-tested interview guide was prepared in English and translated into the Amharic language. The data were collected using key informant interviews, focus group discussions and observations in the ART clinics by six trained nurses. The data were analyzed thematically. Almost all focus group discussion participants mentioned that a healthy diet for ART patients is very important. The majority of the participants mentioned that they were not satisfied with the counseling service given at the ART clinics. Lack of training for health care professionals on nutritional counseling was also reported as a challenge by the nurses themselves. Nutritional counseling given by health care professionals at the ART clinic was poor. Emphasis should be given to the training of healthcare professionals working in ART clinics on nutritional counseling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yadessa Tegene
- School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia
| | - Selamawit Mengesha
- School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia
| | - Alemayehu Toma
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Science, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia
| | - Dereje Geleta
- School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia
| | - Mark Spigt
- School CAPHRI, Department of Family Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.,General Practice Research Unit, Department of Community Medicine, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
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12
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Ezeruigbo CF, Ezeoha A. Climate change and the burden of healthcare financing in African households. Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med 2023; 15:e1-e3. [PMID: 36744450 PMCID: PMC9900300 DOI: 10.4102/phcfm.v15i1.3743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Climate change is a mounting pressure on private health financing in Africa - directly because of increased disease prevalence and indirectly because of its negative impact on household income. The sources and consequences of the pressure constitute an important area of policy discourse, especially as it relates to issues of poverty and inequality. Relying on a panel dataset involving 49 African countries and the period 2000-2019, as well as a random effect regression analysis, this report shows that climate change has a positive and significant impact on the level of out-of-pocket health expenditure (OPHE) in Africa, and an increase in the level of greenhouse (CO2) emissions by 1% could bring about a 0.423% increase in the level of OPHE. Indirectly, the results show that, compared with the regional average, countries that have higher government health expenditure levels, above 1.7% regional average, and face higher climate change risk may likely record an increase in OPHE. Alternatively, countries with higher per capita income (above the regional annual average of $2300.00) are likely to record a drop in OPHE. Countries with lower climate change risk and a lower than the regional average age dependency (above the regional average of 80.4%) are also likely to record a drop in OPHE. It follows that there is a need for policy alignment, especially with regard to how climate change influences primary health care funding models in Africa.Contribution: The results of this research offer policymakers in-depth knowledge of how climate change erodes healthcare financing capacity of government and shifts the burden to households. This raises concerns on the quality of accessible healthcare and the link with poverty and inequality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chinwe F. Ezeruigbo
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria
| | - Abel Ezeoha
- Department of Banking and Finance, Faculty of Management Sciences, Alex-Ekwueme Federal University, Abakaliki, Nigeria
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13
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Treibich C, Bell E, Lépine A, Blanc E. From a drought to HIV: An analysis of the effect of droughts on transactional sex and sexually transmitted infections in Malawi. SSM Popul Health 2022; 19:101221. [PMID: 36164494 PMCID: PMC9508466 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2022.101221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Each year there are over 300 natural disasters globally with millions of victims that cost economic losses near USD$100 billion. In the context of climate change, an emerging literature linking extreme weather events to HIV infections suggests that efforts to control the HIV epidemic could be under threat. We used Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data collected during the 2015-2016 harsh drought that affected several areas of Malawi to provide new evidence on the effect of an unanticipated economic shock on sexual behaviours of young women and men. We find that amongst women employed in agriculture, a six-months drought doubles their likelihood of engaging in transactional sex compared to women who were not affected by the drought and increases their likelihood of having a sexually transmitted infections (STI) by 48% in the past twelve months. Amongst men employed outside of agriculture, drought increases by 50% the likelihood of having a relationship with a woman engaged in transactional sex. These results suggest that women in agriculture experiencing economic shocks as a result of drought use transactional sex with unaffected men, i.e. men employed outside agriculture, as a coping mechanism, exposing themselves to the risk of contracting HIV. The effect was especially observed among non-educated women. A single drought in the last five years increases HIV prevalence in Malawi by around 15% amongst men and women. Overall, the results confirm that weather shocks are important drivers of risky sexual behaviours of young women relying on agriculture in Africa. Further research is needed to investigate the most adequate formal shock-coping strategies to be implemented in order to limit the negative consequences of natural disasters on HIV acquisition and transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carole Treibich
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, INRAE, Grenoble INP, GAEL, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | | | - Aurélia Lépine
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, UK
| | - Elodie Blanc
- MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Motu Economic and Public Policy Research, United States
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14
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Hanif S, Lateef M, Hussain K, Hyder S, Usman B, Zaman K, Asif M. Controlling air pollution by lowering methane emissions, conserving natural resources, and slowing urbanization in a panel of selected Asian economies. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0271387. [PMID: 35984821 PMCID: PMC9390938 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The destruction of the earth’s ecosystems is the most pressing issue globally. Carbon emissions account for nearly half of global air pollution. Methane is the primary source of ground-level ozone and a significant source of greenhouse gases (GHGs), with greater warming potential than carbon dioxide emissions. The study examines the impact of the different methane emissions (released by agriculture, energy, and industrial sectors), urbanization, natural resource depletion, and livestock production on carbon emissions in the panel of selected Asian countries for the period of 1971 to 2020. The results show that energy associated methane emissions, livestock production, natural resource depletion, and urbanization are the main detrimental factors of environmental degradation across countries. The causality estimates show the unidirectional relationship running from livestock production and agriculture methane emissions to carbon emissions, from total methane emissions and carbon emissions to urbanization and from urbanization to energy methane emissions and livestock production. The forecasting estimates suggest that total methane emissions, natural resource depletion, and urbanization will likely increase carbon emissions over the next ten years. The study concludes that the energy sector should adopt renewable energy sources in its production process to minimize carbon emissions. Urbanization and excessive resource exploitation must be curtailed to attain carbon neutrality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadoon Hanif
- Department of Economics, The University of Haripur, Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Majid Lateef
- College of International Education, Baise University, Baise, Guangxi, China
| | - Kamil Hussain
- Department of Management Sciences, University of Wah, Wah Cantt, Pakistan
| | - Shabir Hyder
- Department of Management Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Bushra Usman
- School of Management, Forman Christian College (A Chartered University), Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Khalid Zaman
- Department of Economics, The University of Haripur, Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
- * E-mail:
| | - Muhammad Asif
- Department of Business Administration, Air University, Multan, Pakistan
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15
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Khalifa A, Findley S, Gummerson E, Mantell JE, Hakim AJ, Philip NM, Ginindza C, Hassani AS, Hong SY, Jalloh MF, Kirungi WL, Maile L, Mgomella GS, Miller LA, Minchella P, Mutenda N, Njau P, Schwitters A, Ward J, Low A. Associations Between Mobility, Food Insecurity, and Transactional Sex Among Women in Cohabitating Partnerships: An Analysis From 6 African Countries 2016-2017. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2022; 90:388-398. [PMID: 35389376 PMCID: PMC9909688 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000002995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mobile women are at risk of HIV infection in sub-Saharan Africa, although we lack evidence for HIV risk among women in mobile partnerships, especially in the context of household food insecurity, a growing concern in the region. SETTING Women aged 15-59 years with a cohabitating male partner who participated in population-based HIV impact assessment surveys in Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. METHODS We evaluated the association between women's and their partner's mobility (being away from home for more than 1 month or staying elsewhere) and transactional sex (selling sex or receiving money or goods in exchange for sex). We examined associations for effect measure modification by food insecurity level in the household in the past month. We used survey-weighted logistic regression, pooled and by country, adjusting for individual, partner, and household-level variables. RESULTS Among women with a cohabitating male partner, 8.0% reported transactional sex, ranging from 2.7% in Lesotho to 13.4% in Uganda. Women's mobility [aOR 1.35 (95% CI: 1.08 to 1.68)], but not their partner's mobility [aOR 0.91 (0.74-1.12)], was associated with transactional sex. Food insecurity was associated with transactional sex independent of mobility [aOR 1.29 (1.10-1.52)]. Among those who were food insecure, mobility was not associated with increased odds of transactional sex. CONCLUSION Food insecurity and women's mobility each increased the odds of transactional sex. Because transactional sex is associated with HIV risk, prevention programs can address the needs of mobile and food-insecure women, including those in cohabitating relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleya Khalifa
- ICAP at Columbia University, New York USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York USA
| | - Sally Findley
- Population & Family Health Department, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York USA
| | | | - Joanne E. Mantell
- HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
| | - Avi J. Hakim
- Division of Global HIV and TB, Center for Global Health, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA
| | | | | | - Ahmed Saadani Hassani
- Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA
| | - Steven Y. Hong
- Division of Global HIV and TB, Center for Global Health, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Prosper Njau
- National AIDS Control Programme, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | | | - Jennifer Ward
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Andrea Low
- ICAP at Columbia University, New York USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York USA
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16
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Coping Strategies for Household Food Insecurity, and Perceived Health in an Urban Community in Southern Mozambique: A Qualitative Study. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14148710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
In low- and middle-income countries, food insecurity (FI) is a living reality for many households, particularly among the most vulnerable groups. The burden of household FI in Mozambique and how FI and coping strategies relate to perceived health are unknown. This study investigated the lived experiences and coping strategies of food-insecure households, along with their perceived health. Altogether, 16 in-depth interviews were performed, audio-recorded, and transcribed verbatim. A qualitative content analysis was carried out and five themes emerged: lived experiences of FI, coping strategies used in situations of FI, food choices, climate change and food security, and FI and perceived health. A wide range of lived experiences and coping strategies were reported, including cooking whatever is available, skipping meals, receiving money or food from friends and relatives, eating unsafe and low-quality foods, taking on additional work, cooking least-preferred foods, and having a monotonous and less-nutritious diet. Furthermore, the participants reported emotional distress, anxiety and depression, substance use, and other negative health outcomes. Some had diagnoses of hypertension, diabetes or HIV/AIDS. The findings suggest the need for employment creation and women’s empowerment, as well as the implementation of appropriate policies and programmes to alleviate household FI.
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17
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Low A, Gummerson E, Schwitters A, Bonifacio R, Teferi M, Mutenda N, Ayton S, Juma J, Ahpoe C, Ginindza C, Patel H, Biraro S, Sachathep K, Hakim AJ, Barradas D, Hassani AS, Kirungi W, Jackson K, Goeke L, Philips N, Mulenga L, Ward J, Hong S, Rutherford G, Findley S. Food insecurity and the risk of HIV acquisition: findings from population-based surveys in six sub-Saharan African countries (2016-2017). BMJ Open 2022; 12:e058704. [PMID: 35820770 PMCID: PMC9277378 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-058704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the potential bidirectional relationship between food insecurity and HIV infection in sub-Saharan Africa. DESIGN Nationally representative HIV impact assessment household-based surveys. SETTING Zambia, Eswatini, Lesotho, Uganda and Tanzania and Namibia. PARTICIPANTS 112 955 survey participants aged 15-59 years with HIV and recency test results. MEASURES Recent HIV infection (within 6 months) classified using the HIV-1 limited antigen avidity assay, in participants with an unsuppressed viral load (>1000 copies/mL) and no detectable antiretrovirals; severe food insecurity (SFI) defined as having no food in the house ≥three times in the past month. RESULTS Overall, 10.3% of participants lived in households reporting SFI. SFI was most common in urban, woman-headed households, and in people with chronic HIV infection. Among women, SFI was associated with a twofold increase in risk of recent HIV infection (adjusted relative risk (aRR) 2.08, 95% CI 1.09 to 3.97). SFI was also associated with transactional sex (aRR 1.28, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.41), a history of forced sex (aRR 1.36, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.66) and condom-less sex with a partner of unknown or positive HIV status (aRR 1.08, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.14) in all women, and intergenerational sex (partner ≥10 years older) in women aged 15-24 years (aRR 1.23, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.46). Recent receipt of food support was protective against HIV acquisition (aRR 0.36, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.88). CONCLUSION SFI increased risk for HIV acquisition in women by twofold. Heightened food insecurity during climactic extremes could imperil HIV epidemic control, and food support to women with SFI during these events could reduce HIV transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Low
- ICAP at Columbia, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Elizabeth Gummerson
- ICAP at Columbia, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York, USA
- Bill and Melinda Gates Institute for Population and Reproductive Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Amee Schwitters
- Strategic Information, Division of Global HIV and Tuberculosis, Ctr Dis Control, Maseru, Lesotho
| | | | - Mekleet Teferi
- ICAP at Columbia, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Nicholus Mutenda
- Directorate for Special Programs, Namibia Ministry of Health and Social Services, Windhoek, Namibia
| | - Sarah Ayton
- ICAP at Columbia, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - James Juma
- The Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, National AIDS Control Program, Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Claudia Ahpoe
- Needs Assessment and Analysis, World Food Programme, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Hetal Patel
- Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Samuel Biraro
- ICAP at Columbia, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Karam Sachathep
- ICAP at Columbia, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Avi J Hakim
- Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Danielle Barradas
- Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Ahmed Saadani Hassani
- Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Lusaka, Zambia
| | | | - Keisha Jackson
- Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Leah Goeke
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Neena Philips
- ICAP at Columbia, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Lloyd Mulenga
- Zambia Ministry of Health, Lusaka, Zambia
- School of Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Jennifer Ward
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Steven Hong
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Windhoek, Namibia
| | - George Rutherford
- Institute for Global Health Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Sally Findley
- Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
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18
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Guinto RR, Cahatol JJF, Lazaro KYMS, Salazar AFNC. Pathways linking climate change and HIV/AIDS: An updated conceptual framework and implications for the Philippines. THE JOURNAL OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND HEALTH 2022; 6:100106. [PMID: 35945919 PMCID: PMC9352190 DOI: 10.1016/j.joclim.2021.100106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
As we commemorate the 40th anniversary of the discovery of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) while fighting the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, another global crisis - climate change - is threatening the progress achieved so far in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. The climate emergency is anticipated to generate dire health consequences worldwide in the coming decades. While the pathways that link climate change and different disease areas are better understood, the connection between climate change and HIV/AIDS is still yet to be recognized both in research and practice. In this review, we update one of the frameworks on the HIV-climate nexus described in earlier literature. Four major pathways have been identified: extreme weather events; sea level rise; changes in precipitation and temperature; and increased air pollution. These pathways impact the spectrum of HIV/AIDS-related outcomes through changes in social systems, healthcare disruption, and other climate-sensitive diseases, influenced by the social determinants of health. We also reflect on the significance of this updated framework for the Philippines, a country that is both highly vulnerable to the climate crisis and facing a rising HIV/AIDS epidemic. The framework can aid countries like the Philippines in filling gaps in research, policy, and program design to mount climate-adaptive HIV/AIDS responses. The HIV/AIDS and climate justice movements must also join forces in calling for accelerated worldwide decline in greenhouse gas emissions from all sectors to stabilize the global climate - this will benefit not just people affected by HIV/AIDS but everyone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renzo R Guinto
- St. Luke's Medical Center College of Medicine-William H. Quasha Memorial, Quezon City, Philippines
- Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, Sunway University, Selangor, Malaysia
- PH Lab, Manila, Philippines
- Planetary Health Philippines, Manila, Philippines
| | - Joshua Joel F Cahatol
- St. Luke's Medical Center College of Medicine-William H. Quasha Memorial, Quezon City, Philippines
| | - Kris Yvan Mari S Lazaro
- St. Luke's Medical Center College of Medicine-William H. Quasha Memorial, Quezon City, Philippines
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Orievulu KS, Ayeb-Karlsson S, Ngema S, Baisley K, Tanser F, Ngwenya N, Seeley J, Hanekom W, Herbst K, Kniveton D, Iwuji CC. Exploring linkages between drought and HIV treatment adherence in Africa: a systematic review. Lancet Planet Health 2022; 6:e359-e370. [PMID: 35397224 PMCID: PMC7612934 DOI: 10.1016/s2542-5196(22)00016-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is directly and indirectly linked to human health, including through access to treatment and care. Our systematic review presents a systems understanding of the nexus between drought and antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence in HIV-positive individuals in the African setting. Narrative synthesis of 111 studies retrieved from Web of Science, PubMed/MEDLINE, and PsycINFO suggests that livelihoods and economic conditions, comorbidities and ART regimens, human mobility, and psychobehavioural dispositions and support systems interact in complex ways in the drought-ART adherence nexus in Africa. Economic and livelihood-related challenges appear to impose the strongest impact on human interactions, actions, and systems that culminate in non-adherence. Indeed, the complex pathways identified by our systems approach emphasise the need for more integrated research approaches to understanding this phenomenon and developing interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kingsley Stephen Orievulu
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Centre for Africa-China Studies, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Global Health and Infection, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
| | - Sonja Ayeb-Karlsson
- Department of Global Health and Infection, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK; United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security, Bonn, Germany; Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction, University College London, London, UK; School of Global Studies, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
| | - Sthembile Ngema
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Kathy Baisley
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Frank Tanser
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Lincoln Institute for Health, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK
| | - Nothando Ngwenya
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Janet Seeley
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Global Health and Development Department, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Willem Hanekom
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK
| | - Kobus Herbst
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; DSI-MRC South African Population Research Infrastructure Network, Durban, South Africa
| | | | - Collins C Iwuji
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Department of Global Health and Infection, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK.
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20
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Orievulu K, Ayeb-Karlsson S, Ngwenya N, Ngema S, McGregor H, Adeagbo O, Siedner MJ, Hanekom W, Kniveton D, Seeley J, Iwuji C. Economic, social and demographic impacts of drought on treatment adherence among people living with HIV in rural South Africa: A qualitative analysis. CLIMATE RISK MANAGEMENT 2022; 36:100423. [PMID: 36923966 PMCID: PMC7614312 DOI: 10.1016/j.crm.2022.100423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The 2015 El Niño-triggered drought in Southern Africa caused widespread economic and livelihood disruption in South Africa, imposing multiple physical and health challenges for rural populations including people living with HIV (PLHIV). We examined the economic, social and demographic impacts of drought drawing on 27 in-depth interviews in two cohorts of PLHIV in Hlabisa, uMkhanyakude district, KwaZulu-Natal. Thematic analysis revealed how drought-enforced soil water depletion, dried-up rivers, and dams culminated in a continuum of events such as loss of livestock, reduced agricultural production, and insufficient access to water and food which was understood to indirectly have a negative impact on HIV treatment adherence. This was mediated through disruptions in incomes, livelihoods and food systems, increased risk to general health, forced mobility and exacerbation of contextual vulnerabilities linked to poverty and unemployment. The systems approach, drawn from interview themes, hypothesises the complex pathways of plausible networks of impacts from drought through varying socioeconomic factors, exacerbating longstanding contextual precarity, and ultimately challenging HIV care utilisation. Understanding the multidimensional relationships between climate change, especially drought, and poor HIV care outcomes through the prism of contextual vulnerabilities is vital for shaping policy interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kingsley Orievulu
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Department of Global Health and Infection, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
- Centre for Africa-China Studies, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK
| | - Sonja Ayeb-Karlsson
- Department of Global Health and Infection, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
- United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security, Bonn, Germany
- Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Sthembile Ngema
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | | | - Oluwafemi Adeagbo
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Department of Health Promotion, Education & Behaviour, University of South Carolina, USA
- Department of Sociology, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Mark J. Siedner
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Willem Hanekom
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Janet Seeley
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Global Health and Development Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Collins Iwuji
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Department of Global Health and Infection, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
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21
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Logie CH, Toccalino D, Reed AC, Malama K, Newman PA, Weiser S, Harris O, Berry I, Adedimeji A. Exploring linkages between climate change and sexual health: a scoping review protocol. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e054720. [PMID: 34663670 PMCID: PMC8524293 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The effects of climate change and associated extreme weather events (EWEs) present substantial threats to well-being. EWEs hold the potential to harm sexual health through pathways including elevated exposure to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), disrupted healthcare access, and increased sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). The WHO defines four components of sexual health: comprehensive sexuality education; HIV and STI prevention and care; SGBV prevention and care; and psychosexual counselling. Yet, knowledge gaps remain regarding climate change and its associations with these sexual health domains. This scoping review will therefore explore the linkages between climate change and sexual health. METHODS AND ANALYSIS Five electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, CINAHL) will be searched using text words and subject headings (eg, Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), Emtree) related to sexual health and climate change from the inception of each database to May 2021. Grey literature and unpublished reports will be searched using a comprehensive search strategy, including from the WHO, World Bank eLibrary, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The scoping review will consider studies that explore: (a) climate change and EWEs including droughts, heat waves, wildfires, dust storms, hurricanes, flooding rains, coastal flooding and storm surges; alongside (b) sexual health, including: comprehensive sexual health education, sexual health counselling, and HIV/STI acquisition, prevention and/or care, and/or SGBV, including intimate partner violence, sexual assault and rape. Searches will not be limited by language, publication year or geographical location. We will consider quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods and review articles for inclusion. We will conduct thematic analysis of findings. Data will be presented in narrative and tabular forms. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION There are no formal ethics requirements as we are not collecting primary data. Results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and shared at international conferences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen H Logie
- Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Danielle Toccalino
- Rehabilitation Science Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anna Cooper Reed
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kalonde Malama
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Peter A Newman
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sheri Weiser
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Orlando Harris
- Department of Community Health Systems, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Isha Berry
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Adebola Adedimeji
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
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22
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Rosen JG, Mulenga D, Phiri L, Okpara N, Brander C, Chelwa N, Mbizvo MT. "Burnt by the scorching sun": climate-induced livelihood transformations, reproductive health, and fertility trajectories in drought-affected communities of Zambia. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:1501. [PMID: 34344335 PMCID: PMC8335992 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-11560-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Climate-induced disruptions like drought can destabilize household and community livelihoods, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This qualitative study explores the impact of severe and prolonged droughts on gendered livelihood transitions, women’s social and financial wellbeing, and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes in two Zambian provinces. Methods In September 2020, in-depth interviews (n = 20) and focus group discussions (n = 16) with 165 adult women and men in five drought-affected districts, as well as key informant interviews (n = 16) with civic leaders and healthcare providers, were conducted. A team-based thematic analysis approach, guided by the Framework Method, was used to code transcript text segments, facilitating identification and interpretation of salient thematic patterns. Results Across districts, participants emphasized the toll drought had taken on their livelihoods and communities, leaving farming households with reduced income and food, with many turning to alternative income sources. Female-headed households were perceived as particularly vulnerable to drought, as women’s breadwinning and caregiving responsibilities increased, especially in households where women’s partners out-migrated in search of employment prospects. As household incomes declined, women and girls’ vulnerabilities increased: young children increasingly entered the workforce, and young girls were married when families could not afford school fees and struggled to support them financially. With less income due to drought, many participants could not afford travel to health facilities or would resort to purchasing health commodities, including family planning, from private retail pharmacies when unavailable from government facilities. Most participants described changes in fertility intentions motivated by drought: women, in particular, expressed desires for smaller families, fearing drought would constrain their capacity to support larger families. While participants cited some ongoing activities in their communities to support climate change adaptation, most acknowledged current interventions were insufficient. Conclusions Drought highlighted persistent and unaddressed vulnerabilities in women, increasing demand for health services while shrinking household resources to access those services. Policy solutions are proposed to mitigate drought-induced challenges meaningfully and sustainably, and foster climate resilience.
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