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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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Purcell L, O'Regan AC, McGookin C, Nyhan MM. Modelling & Spatial Mapping of Residential-Sector Emissions for Sub-National & Urban Areas. MethodsX 2024; 12:102617. [PMID: 38425497 PMCID: PMC10901902 DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2024.102617] [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: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The residential sector accounts for 33% of energy-related Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions globally and must undergo rapid emissions reductions in order to support broader society-wide sustainability and net-zero transitions. Additionally, urban areas account for approximately 70% of global GHG emissions. To provide a baseline for urban climate action plans and mitigation strategies, sub-national municipalities must quantify their sectoral baseline emissions in detail and develop strategies for reducing emissions relative to these baselines. Therefore, it is important to establish clear methodologies for computing these baselines in accordance with the best available science. This paper establishes a novel methodology for developing a residential sector emissions model using a data-driven and spatial mapping approach. This would form an important component of future multi-sectoral baseline emissions inventories. •The residential sector emissions model combines publicly available census and building energy performance datasets in order to model and visualize the distribution of energy demand and resultant emissions across an urban study domain in Ireland.•The methodology presented was developed in line with the approaches and requirements of the Global Covenant of Mayors and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.•It is envisioned that this residential sector emissions model methodology could be applied in any urban area worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lily Purcell
- School of Engineering & Architecture, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- MaREI, the SFI Research Centre for Energy, Climate & Marine, University College Cork, Ringaskiddy, Cork, P43 C573, Ireland
- Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Lee Rd, Sunday's Well, Cork, T23 XE10, Ireland
| | - Anna C. O'Regan
- School of Engineering & Architecture, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- MaREI, the SFI Research Centre for Energy, Climate & Marine, University College Cork, Ringaskiddy, Cork, P43 C573, Ireland
- Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Lee Rd, Sunday's Well, Cork, T23 XE10, Ireland
| | - Connor McGookin
- School of Engineering & Architecture, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- MaREI, the SFI Research Centre for Energy, Climate & Marine, University College Cork, Ringaskiddy, Cork, P43 C573, Ireland
- Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Lee Rd, Sunday's Well, Cork, T23 XE10, Ireland
- Delta E+ Research Group, Sustainable Energy Engineering, Simon Fraser University, Canada
| | - Marguerite M. Nyhan
- School of Engineering & Architecture, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- MaREI, the SFI Research Centre for Energy, Climate & Marine, University College Cork, Ringaskiddy, Cork, P43 C573, Ireland
- Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Lee Rd, Sunday's Well, Cork, T23 XE10, Ireland
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Patwary MM, Bardhan M, Haque MA, Moniruzzaman S, Gustavsson J, Khan MMH, Koivisto J, Salwa M, Mashreky SR, Rahman AKMF, Tasnim A, Islam MR, Alam MA, Hasan M, Harun MAYA, Nyberg L, Islam MA. Impact of extreme weather events on mental health in South and Southeast Asia: A two decades of systematic review of observational studies. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 250:118436. [PMID: 38354890 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118436] [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: 12/25/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Extreme weather events in South and Southeast Asia exert profound psychosocial impacts, amplifying the prevalence of mental illness. Despite their substantial consequences, there is a dearth of research and representation in the current literature. We conducted a systematic review of observational studies published between January 1, 2000, and January 20, 2024, to examine the impact of extreme weather events on the mental health of the South and Southeast Asian population. Quality assessment of the included studies was conducted using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) quality appraisal checklist. The search retrieved 70 studies that met the inclusion criteria and were included in our review. Most were from India (n = 22), and most used a cross-sectional study design (n = 55). Poor mental health outcomes were associated with six types of extreme weather events: floods, storm surges, typhoons, cyclones, extreme heat, and riverbank erosion. Most studies (n = 41) reported short-term outcome measurements. Findings included outcomes with predictable symptomatology, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, general psychological distress, emotional distress and suicide. Limited studies on long-term effects showed higher mental disorders after floods and typhoons, while cyclone-exposed individuals had more short-term distress. Notably, the review identified over 50 risk factors influencing mental health outcomes, categorized into six classes: demographic, economic, health, disaster exposure, psychological, and community factors. However, the quantitative evidence linking extreme weather events to mental health was limited due to a lack of longitudinal data, lack of control groups, and the absence of objective exposure measurements. The review found some compelling evidence linking extreme weather events to adverse mental health in the South and Southeast Asia region. Future research should focus on longitudinal study design to identify the specific stressors and climatic factors influencing the relationship between climate extremes and mental health in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mondira Bardhan
- Environmental Science Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, 9208, Bangladesh; Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, Clemson University, USA
| | - Md Atiqul Haque
- Department of Public Health and Informatics, Bangabandhu Shiekh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Center for Societal Risk Research (CSR), Karlstad University, Sweden.
| | - Syed Moniruzzaman
- Department of Political, Historical and Cultural Studies, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden; Center for Societal Risk Research (CSR), Karlstad University, Sweden.
| | - Johanna Gustavsson
- Department of Political, Historical and Cultural Studies, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden; Center for Societal Risk Research (CSR), Karlstad University, Sweden
| | - Md Maruf Haque Khan
- Department of Public Health and Informatics, Bangabandhu Shiekh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Jenni Koivisto
- Department of Political, Historical and Cultural Studies, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden; Center for Societal Risk Research (CSR), Karlstad University, Sweden; Centre of Natural Hazards and Disaster Science (CNDS), c/o Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, UPPSALA, Sweden
| | - Marium Salwa
- Department of Public Health and Informatics, Bangabandhu Shiekh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Saidur Rahman Mashreky
- Centre for Injury Prevention and Research, (CIPRB), Bangladesh; Department of Public Health, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - A K M Fazlur Rahman
- Center for Societal Risk Research (CSR), Karlstad University, Sweden; Centre for Injury Prevention and Research, (CIPRB), Bangladesh
| | - Anika Tasnim
- Department of Public Health and Informatics, Bangabandhu Shiekh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md Redwanul Islam
- Department of Public Health and Informatics, Bangabandhu Shiekh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md Ashraful Alam
- Department of Computational Diagnostic Radiology and Preventive, Medicine, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mahadi Hasan
- Environmental Science Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, 9208, Bangladesh
| | | | - Lars Nyberg
- Department of Political, Historical and Cultural Studies, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden; Center for Societal Risk Research (CSR), Karlstad University, Sweden; Centre of Natural Hazards and Disaster Science (CNDS), c/o Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, UPPSALA, Sweden
| | - Md Atikul Islam
- Environmental Science Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, 9208, Bangladesh; Center for Societal Risk Research (CSR), Karlstad University, Sweden.
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Tota M, Karska J, Kowalski S, Piątek N, Pszczołowska M, Mazur K, Piotrowski P. Environmental pollution and extreme weather conditions: insights into the effect on mental health. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1389051. [PMID: 38863619 PMCID: PMC11165707 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1389051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Environmental pollution exposures, including air, soil, water, light, and noise pollution, are critical issues that may implicate adverse mental health outcomes. Extreme weather conditions, such as hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and droughts, may also cause long-term severe concerns. However, the knowledge about possible psychiatric disorders associated with these exposures is currently not well disseminated. In this review, we aim to summarize the current knowledge on the impact of environmental pollution and extreme weather conditions on mental health, focusing on anxiety spectrum disorders, autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, and depression. In air pollution studies, increased concentrations of PM2.5, NO2, and SO2 were the most strongly associated with the exacerbation of anxiety, schizophrenia, and depression symptoms. We provide an overview of the suggested underlying pathomechanisms involved. We highlight that the pathogenesis of environmental pollution-related diseases is multifactorial, including increased oxidative stress, systematic inflammation, disruption of the blood-brain barrier, and epigenetic dysregulation. Light pollution and noise pollution were correlated with an increased risk of neurodegenerative disorders, particularly Alzheimer's disease. Moreover, the impact of soil and water pollution is discussed. Such compounds as crude oil, heavy metals, natural gas, agro-chemicals (pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers), polycyclic or polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), solvents, lead (Pb), and asbestos were associated with detrimental impact on mental health. Extreme weather conditions were linked to depression and anxiety spectrum disorders, namely PTSD. Several policy recommendations and awareness campaigns should be implemented, advocating for the advancement of high-quality urbanization, the mitigation of environmental pollution, and, consequently, the enhancement of residents' mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maciej Tota
- Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Julia Karska
- Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Szymon Kowalski
- Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Natalia Piątek
- Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | | | - Katarzyna Mazur
- Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Patryk Piotrowski
- Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
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Rice K, Usher KJ. The weather as a determinant of farmer's mental health: A dependent, interacting, cumulative and escalating model (DICE) of the effects of extreme weather events. Int J Ment Health Nurs 2024. [PMID: 38572981 DOI: 10.1111/inm.13328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
This perspective paper presents a conceptual, theoretical framework of the weather as a determinant of mental health for farmers. This model proposes that the effects of extreme weather events have interacting and cumulative effects for farmers, who are dependent on the land.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kylie Rice
- School of Psychology, University of new England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kim J Usher
- School of Health, University of new England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia
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Bass DH, Ghamasaee P, Bigford GE, Wakefield M, Duthely LM, Samano D. Assessing Regional Weather's Impact on Spinal Cord Injury Survivors, Caregivers, and General Public in Miami, Florida. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 21:382. [PMID: 38673294 PMCID: PMC11050493 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21040382] [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: 02/17/2024] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
(1) Background: Climate change is increasing the already frequent diverse extreme weather events (EWE) across geographic locations, directly and indirectly impacting human health. However, current ongoing research fails to address the magnitude of these indirect impacts, including healthcare access. Vulnerable populations such as persons with spinal cord injury (pSCI) face added physiologic burden such as thermoregulation or mobility challenges like closure of public transportation. Our exploratory research assessed commute and transport to healthcare facilities as well as the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors (KAB) of pSCI regarding EWE and climate change when compared to pSCI caregivers (CG) and the general public (GP). (2) Methods: A KAB survey was employed to conduct a cross-sectional assessment of pSCI, CG, and GP in Miami from October through November 2019 using snowball sampling. Descriptive and logistic regression statistical analyses were used. (3) Results: Of 65 eligible survey respondents, 27 (41.5%) were pSCI, 11 (17%) CG, and 27 (41.5%) GP. Overall, pSCI reported EWE, particularly flooding and heavy rain, affecting their daily activities including healthcare appointments, more frequently than CG or GP. The overall models for logistic regression looking at commute to and attendance of healthcare appointments were statistically significant. pSCI self-report being less vulnerable than others, and a large proportion of each group was not fully convinced climate change is happening. (4) Conclusions: This study provided insight to the KAB of 3 population subgroups in Miami, Florida. pSCI are significantly more vulnerable to the effects of regional weather events yet exhibit disproportionate self-perception of their vulnerability. Continued and more comprehensive research is needed to characterize the barriers that vulnerable populations face during weather events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Hildegard Bass
- Department of Neurology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA;
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (P.G.); (L.M.D.)
| | - Pardis Ghamasaee
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (P.G.); (L.M.D.)
| | - Gregory E. Bigford
- Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Department of Neurological Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA;
| | | | - Lunthita M. Duthely
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (P.G.); (L.M.D.)
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Daniel Samano
- Department of Neurology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA;
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (P.G.); (L.M.D.)
- Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Department of Neurological Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA;
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Shabani A, Rasoulian M, Naserbakht M, Hakim Shooshtari M, Hajebi A, Tiyuri A, Motevalian SA. Prevalence and determinants of post-traumatic stress disorder five months after the 2019 huge flooding in Iran. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:346. [PMID: 38302994 PMCID: PMC10835963 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-17861-y] [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: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the high occurrence of floods in Iran, its psychological consequences have been less discussed. The present paper addresses the prevalence of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and its determinants among the affected adults by the huge flood of 2019. METHODS An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted through household face-to-face surveys in August and September 2019. Individuals who were affected by floods and were at least 16 years old were randomly selected from three provinces in Iran: Lorestan and Khuzestan in the west and southwest, and Golestan in the northeast. The questionnaire of demographic and flood related variables in addition to the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) were utilized to collect the data. We applied a complex sample analysis to describe the prevalence of PTSD and logistic regression analyses to find its determinants. RESULTS Out of the 2,305 individuals approached for surveys, 1,671 (72.5%) adults affected by the floods participated in the study. The majority of participants were housewives, married, had either no formal education or primary education, and resided in rural areas. The prevalence of PTSD in the participants was 24.8% (CI 95%: 20.7-28.8%) and was significantly higher in Lorestan province (39.7%, P < 0.001). Determinants of PTSD, were unemployment (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.53, CI 95%: 1.38-9.00), primary (AOR = 2.44, CI 95%: 1.10-5.41) or high school (AOR = 2.35, CI 95%: 1.25-4.40) education (vs. university), a history of mental disorders (AOR = 2.36, CI 95%: 1.22-4.58), high damage to assets (AOR = 2.29, CI 95%: 1.40-3.75), limited access to health care services after the flood (AOR = 1.95, CI 95%: 1.20-3.19), not receiving compensation for flood damage (AOR = 1.94, CI 95%: 1.01-3.83), high wealth index (AOR = 1.90, CI 95%: 1.23-2.93), and flooded house with a height of more than one meter (AOR = 1.66, CI 95%: 1.02-2.76). CONCLUSION Results show a notable prevalence of PTSD, especially in Lorestan province, among adults affected by floods. Determinants of PTSD include unemployment, lower education, psychiatric history, extensive property damage, limited post-flood healthcare access, lack of compensation, and increased flood exposure. We recommend adopting an inclusive screening approach for high-risk groups and developing appropriate therapeutic and supportive interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Shabani
- Mental Health Research Center, Psychosocial Health Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Rasoulian
- Mental Health Research Center, Psychosocial Health Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Morteza Naserbakht
- Mental Health Research Center, Psychosocial Health Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mitra Hakim Shooshtari
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ahmad Hajebi
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Research Center for Addiction and Risky Behaviors (ReCARB), Psychosocial Health Research Institute (PHRI), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Tiyuri
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Seyed Abbas Motevalian
- Research Center for Addiction and Risky Behaviors (ReCARB), Psychosocial Health Research Institute (PHRI), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Kam S, Hwang BJ, Parker ER. The impact of climate change on atopic dermatitis and mental health comorbidities: a review of the literature and examination of intersectionality. Int J Dermatol 2023; 62:449-458. [PMID: 36639925 DOI: 10.1111/ijd.16557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Climate change, fueled by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases, is associated with rising temperatures, extreme weather events, increased aeroallergen production, and air pollution. Our understanding that many inflammatory cutaneous diseases carry important mental health comorbidities is expanding. Simultaneously, the detrimental impacts of climate change on human health are now widely recognized as a global public health crisis. Importantly, these climate-associated phenomena exacerbate the environmental triggers of atopic dermatitis (AD) and are also associated with amplification of comorbid mental health conditions in AD including depression, anxiety, trauma-related disorders, and psychotic spectrum disorders. This review is the first to examine the nexus of climate change, atopic dermatitis, and mental health comorbidities and emphasizes the disproportionate impacts of climate change in vulnerable and marginalized populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Kam
- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Barrington J Hwang
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Eva R Parker
- Department of Dermatology and the Center for Biomedical Ethics and Society, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
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Integrating general practitioners into crisis management would accelerate the transition from victim to effective professional: Qualitative analyses of a terrorist attack and catastrophic flooding. Eur J Gen Pract 2022; 28:125-133. [PMID: 35621696 PMCID: PMC9154808 DOI: 10.1080/13814788.2022.2072826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In 2018, Trèbes, 6,000 inhabitants with nine general practitioners (GPs) in southern France, experienced two tragedies; a terrorist attack in March, in which four people were killed, and a catastrophic flood in October, in which six people died and thousands more were affected. Objectives We aimed to obtain a substantive theory for improving crisis management by understanding the personal and professional effects of the two successive disasters on GPs in the same village. Methods This qualitative study conducted complete interviews with eight GPs individually, with subsequent analyses involving the conceptualisation of categories based on grounded theory. Results The analysis revealed that GPs underwent a double status transition. First, doctors who experienced the same emotional shock as the population became victims; their usual professional relationship changed from empathy to sympathy. The helplessness they felt was amplified by the lack of demand from the state to participate in the first emergency measures; consequently, they lost their professional status. In a second phase, GPs regained their values and skills and acquired new ones, thus regaining their status as competent professionals. In this context, the participants proposed integrating a coordinated crisis management system and the systematic development of peer support. Conclusion We obtained valuable information on the stages of trauma experienced by GPs, allowing a better understanding of the effects on personal/professional status. Thus, the inclusion of GPs in adaptive crisis management plans would limit the effects of traumatic dissociation while increasing their professional effectiveness.
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Sheehan MC. 2021 Climate and Health Review - Uncharted Territory: Extreme Weather Events and Morbidity. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH SERVICES 2022; 52:189-200. [PMID: 35229682 DOI: 10.1177/00207314221082452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Extreme weather events (EWEs) affected health in every world region during 2021, placing the planet in "uncharted territory." Portraying the human impacts of EWEs is part of a health frame that suggests public knowledge of these risks will spur support for needed policy change. The health frame has gained traction since the Paris COP21 (United Nations Climate Change Conference) and arguably helped to achieve modest progress at the Glasgow COP26. However, reporting rarely covers the full picture of health impacts from EWEs, instead focusing on cost of damages, mortality, and displacement. This review summarizes data for 30 major EWEs of 2021 and, based on the epidemiological literature, discusses morbidity-related exposures for four hazards that marked the year: wildfire smoke; extreme cold and power outages; extreme, precipitation-related flooding; and drought. A very large likely burden of morbidity was found, with particularly widespread exposure to risk of respiratory outcomes (including interactions with COVID-19) and mental illnesses. There is need for a well-disseminated global annual report on EWE morbidity, including affected population estimates and evolving science. In this way, the public health frame may be harnessed to bolster evidence for the broader and promising frame of "urgency and agency" for climate change action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary C Sheehan
- Department of Health Policy & Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA.,Public Policy Center, Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain
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