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Zavala MD, Cejas C, Rubinstein A, Lopez A. Gender Inequities in the Impact of Climate Change on Health: A Scoping Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 21:1093. [PMID: 39200702 PMCID: PMC11353975 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21081093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2024] [Revised: 08/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/02/2024]
Abstract
In the 21st century, climate change has emerged as a critical global public health challenge. Women experience the most severe impacts of climate change, intensifying pre-existing gender inequalities. This scoping review aims to explore the intersection of climate change, health, and gender, considering the social determinants of health. The methods for this review follow the Arksey and O'Malley framework for a scoping review and the PRISMA-ScR checklist. The review, covering January 2019 to February 2024, included PubMed, LILACS, and SciELO databases. We identified 71 studies with 19 meeting the inclusion criteria. The results revealed the differential effects of climate change on health according to gender in areas such as mental health, reproductive health, gender-based violence, occupational health, and health issues associated with heat and air pollution. Our findings also elucidated how socio-economic and gender inequities intersect, exacerbating the risk of experiencing these effects. In conclusion, the study highlights a clear need for gender-sensitive climate policies and interventions to address these disparities and protect vulnerable populations from the health impacts of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melina Denise Zavala
- Center for Implementation and Innovation in Health Policies, Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy, Buenos Aires C1414CPV, Argentina; (C.C.); (A.R.); (A.L.)
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Goudet JM, Binte Arif F, Owais H, Uddin Ahmed H, Ridde V. Climate change and women's mental health in two vulnerable communities of Bangladesh: An ethnographic study. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 4:e0002080. [PMID: 38935627 PMCID: PMC11210765 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Climate change is one of the most significant challenges humanity faces in the 21st century, with its health impacts being profoundly felt in the most vulnerable countries. However, the mental health impacts of climate change, particularly concerning social inequality and gender dynamics, are less documented in the Global South. This paper focuses on the impact of climate change on women's mental health in two vulnerable communities in Bangladesh. This study employed qualitative methods, including, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions (FGDs). The communities were selected based on their vulnerability to climate change. A total of 80 participants were selected using snowball sampling, and 55 interviews and 6 FGDs were conducted. Women are particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts on mental health due to their gender roles and responsibilities. Responsible for taking care of their families, they have to face additional challenges due to climate change impacts, such as increased workload, food insecurity, and social insecurity when their husband migrates to the cities for jobs. Women also face social and cultural barriers, which exacerbate their vulnerability to climate change impacts on mental health. Socioeconomic and environmental determinants appear to be embedded and lead to psychological suffering in relation to social roles and gender norms. Interventions should be designed to address the specific needs and challenges faced by women in these communities. Policymakers should take a gender-sensitive approach to address the mental health impacts of climate change in these communities. This study contributes to the growing body of research on the gendered impacts of climate change with a trajectory approach and provides insights for future research in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Faria Binte Arif
- BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Hasan Owais
- BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Valéry Ridde
- Ceped, Université Paris Cité, Inserm, IRD, Paris, France
- Institut de Santé et Développement, Université Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, Sénégal
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Culbreth RE, Nielsen KE, Mobley K, Palmier J, Bukuluki P, Swahn MH. Life Satisfaction Factors, Stress, and Depressive Symptoms among Young Women Living in Urban Kampala: Findings from the TOPOWA Project Pilot Studies. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 21:184. [PMID: 38397675 PMCID: PMC10887819 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21020184] [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: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Young women living in Kampala, Uganda, often face adversities related to Social Determinants of Mental Health (SDoMH) including poverty, food scarcity, environmental stressors such as high levels of community violence, and lack of adequate healthcare access. Two consecutive pilot studies were conducted to assess the feasibility and acceptability of survey questions, wearable fitness trackers, and daily diaries before launching a larger prospective cohort study. Preliminary associations between SDoMH factors with depressive symptoms, stress levels, and life satisfaction were examined among the total sample of 60 women across two pilot studies. A total of 32.2% of respondents (out of n = 59) reported being depressed most or all of the time in the past 30 days. Frequent depressive symptoms correlated with food insecurity (χ2 = 5.38, df = 1, p = 0.02). Higher stress levels were significantly associated with lower overall life satisfaction scores (t = 2.74, df = 6.20, p = 0.03). Additionally, frequent depressive symptoms were associated with lower satisfaction scores in the living conditions and lifestyle domain (t = 2.22, df = 36.18, p = 0.03). However, overall life satisfaction scores and other domains (social relationships and personal independence) were not statistically associated with frequent depressive symptoms. Identifying the most impactful SDoMH factors among young women in Kampala can inform targeted approaches to improve mental health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel E. Culbreth
- American College of Medical Toxicology, 10645 N. Tatum Blvd, Phoenix, AZ 85028, USA;
| | - Karen E. Nielsen
- School of Public Health, Georgia State University, 140 Decatur Street, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA;
| | - Kate Mobley
- School of Data Science and Analytics, College of Computing and Software Engineering, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA 30144, USA;
| | - Jane Palmier
- Wellstar College of Health and Human Services, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA 30144, USA;
| | - Paul Bukuluki
- School of Social Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda;
| | - Monica H. Swahn
- Wellstar College of Health and Human Services, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA 30144, USA;
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Munala L, Allen EM, Frederick AJ, Ngũnjiri A. Climate Change, Extreme Weather, and Intimate Partner Violence in East African Agrarian-Based Economies. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:7124. [PMID: 38063554 PMCID: PMC10706456 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20237124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Severe weather events can be a catalyst for intimate partner violence, particularly in agricultural settings. This research explores the association between weather and violence in parts of East Africa that rely on subsistence farming. We used IPUMS-DHS data from Uganda in 2006, Zimbabwe in 2010, and Mozambique in 2011 for intimate partner violence frequency and EM-DAT data to identify weather events by region in the year of and year prior to IPUMS-DHS data collection. This work is grounded in a conceptual framework that illustrates the mechanisms through which violence increases. We used logistic regression to estimate the odds of reporting violence in regions with severe weather events. The odds of reporting violence were 25% greater in regions with severe weather compared to regions without in Uganda (OR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.11-1.41), 38% greater in Zimbabwe (OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.13-1.70), and 91% greater in Mozambique (OR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.64-2.23). Our results add to the growing body of evidence showing that extreme weather can increase women's and girls' vulnerability to violence. Moreover, this analysis demonstrates that climate justice and intimate partner violence must be addressed together.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leso Munala
- Public Health Department, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN 55105, USA;
| | - Elizabeth M. Allen
- Public Health Department, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN 55105, USA;
| | - Andrew J. Frederick
- Public Health Department, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN 55105, USA;
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Vafeiadou A, Banissy MJ, Banissy JF, Higgins JP, Howard G. The influence of climate change on mental health in populations of the western Pacific region: An umbrella scoping review. Heliyon 2023; 9:e21457. [PMID: 38053883 PMCID: PMC10694052 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21457] [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: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The Western Pacific Region (WPR) is on the front line of climate change challenges. Understanding how these challenges affect the WPR populations' mental health is essential to design effective prevention and care policies. Thus, the present study conducted an umbrella scoping review that examined the influence of climate change on mental health in the WPR, using review articles as a source of information. Ten review articles were selected according to eligibility criteria, and the findings were synthesized according to the socio-economic status of the countries identified: Australia, the Republic of Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam, the Pacific Islands (broadly), and China. The findings revealed that each country and sub-region has its own unique profile of climate change-related challenges and vulnerable populations, highlighting the need for specific approaches to mental health care. Specifically, the influence of climate-related challenges differed according to populations' region (e.g., rural populations), demographic characteristics (e.g., age and gender), culture (e.g., traditional tights to land), and employment (e.g., farmers and fishers). The most frequently reported mental health outcomes in response to climate change-related challenges such as droughts, floods, storms, tornadoes, typhoons, and climate-related migration were the decline in mental well-being and the increase in post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. In addition, using the GRADE framework for assessing the certainty of the findings, we identified that the number of articles discussing associations between a given climate change challenge and a mental health outcome was overall limited. Based on our findings and findings on a global scale, we identified several key research gaps in WPR and provided recommendations for future research and policy strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael J. Banissy
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, UK
- School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | | | - Julian P.T. Higgins
- Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Guy Howard
- Cabot Institute, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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Hartinger SM, Yglesias-González M, Blanco-Villafuerte L, Palmeiro-Silva YK, Lescano AG, Stewart-Ibarra A, Rojas-Rueda D, Melo O, Takahashi B, Buss D, Callaghan M, Chesini F, Flores EC, Gil Posse C, Gouveia N, Jankin S, Miranda-Chacon Z, Mohajeri N, Helo J, Ortiz L, Pantoja C, Salas MF, Santiago R, Sergeeva M, Souza de Camargo T, Valdés-Velásquez A, Walawender M, Romanello M. The 2022 South America report of The Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: trust the science. Now that we know, we must act. LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. AMERICAS 2023; 20:100470. [PMID: 37125022 PMCID: PMC10122119 DOI: 10.1016/j.lana.2023.100470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Stella M. Hartinger
- Centro Latino Americano de Excelencia en Cambio Climático y Salud, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
- Corresponding author. Av. Honorio Delgado 430, San Martín de Porres, 15102, Lima, Peru.
| | - Marisol Yglesias-González
- Centro Latino Americano de Excelencia en Cambio Climático y Salud, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Luciana Blanco-Villafuerte
- Centro Latino Americano de Excelencia en Cambio Climático y Salud, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Yasna K. Palmeiro-Silva
- Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- University College London, London, UK
| | - Andres G. Lescano
- Centro Latino Americano de Excelencia en Cambio Climático y Salud, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | | | | | - Oscar Melo
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Cambio Global, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Daniel Buss
- Pan American Health Organization, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Max Callaghan
- Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Elaine C. Flores
- Centro Latino Americano de Excelencia en Cambio Climático y Salud, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
- Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, LSHTM, London, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Chrissie Pantoja
- Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Universidad del Pacífico, Lima, Peru
| | | | - Raquel Santiago
- Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiás, Brazil
| | | | | | - Armando Valdés-Velásquez
- Centro Latino Americano de Excelencia en Cambio Climático y Salud, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
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The clinical implications of climate change for mental health. Nat Hum Behav 2022; 6:1474-1481. [DOI: 10.1038/s41562-022-01477-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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