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Toivettula A, Varis O, Vahala R, Juvakoski A. Making waves: Mental health impacts of inadequate drinking water services - From sidenote to research focus. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 243:120335. [PMID: 37516073 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120335] [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: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
The paramount significance of the harmful impacts of poor drinking water services on physical health have been recognized for decades. Besides, over the past twenty years, an additional body of literature on their negative mental health impacts has emerged. With this brief review, we summarise the findings of the scholarship to advance addressing overall health (physical, mental, and social) in the water sector. We furthermore review the key policy documents of this field with a focus on mental health aspects and give recommendations for practitioners and decision-makers on addressing mental health in water service delivery. We reviewed the existing published works (42) assessing psychological impacts of deficient drinking water services in low-income settings. We then identified and compared the different mechanisms causing negative mental health outcomes described in them. For these purposes, we used a water insecurity experience -model and the vulnerability-stress model of clinical psychology. Next, we probed key international and national guiding documents of the water sector to analyse how mental health issues resulting from poor services are addressed today. We found that according to the literature, poor quality and quantity of water was predictably one of the most important psychosocial stressors to users. Surprisingly, however, various kinds of water-service-related inequalities (e.g. between genders, communities or socio-economic groups) showed up as equally significant stressors. Our analysis with the vulnerability-stress model furthermore indicates that insufficient drinking water services may predispose to common mental disorders particularly through external stress. Existing field guidelines have evolved to highlight the values of non-discrimination and participation, whilst mental health aspects remain ignored. This should not be the case. Therefore, practices for addressing mental health effectively in documentation and water service development should be further researched. But already in the light of the existing literature, we urge stakeholders to focus more on the negative mental health impacts of unequal service provision for users and nearby people left without improved services.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Toivettula
- Department of Built Environment, School of Engineering, Aalto University, PO Box 15200, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland.
| | - O Varis
- Department of Built Environment, School of Engineering, Aalto University, PO Box 15200, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - R Vahala
- Department of Built Environment, School of Engineering, Aalto University, PO Box 15200, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - A Juvakoski
- Department of Built Environment, School of Engineering, Aalto University, PO Box 15200, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland.
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Teji Roba K, Brewis A, Manning M, Hassen JY. Parental khat use and early childhood growth status in Eastern Ethiopia. Nutr Health 2023; 29:389-393. [PMID: 36591937 DOI: 10.1177/02601060221148898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adult chewing of the stimulant plant khat (Catha edulis) has an unclear relationship with child growth outcomes. Contradictory study conclusions because habitual khat chewing covary with increased household income from khat production. AIM Disentangling the association of parental khat use, household khat production, and child nutritional status and growth markers. METHODS Bayesian analysis was applied to survey data for 2340 households containing 2760 children aged 24-60 months in a population-representative geographic sampling of two districts in Eastern Ethiopia, a khat chewing and producing region. RESULTS Stunting effects were more evident than wasting; the negative child growth effect of khat chewing persisted regardless of household khat production; maternal chewing particularly mattered for child growth delays. CONCLUSIONS This exploratory analysis suggests that future studies should target the interactions of khat chewing practices with gendered performances of child care/feeding responsibilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kedir Teji Roba
- Haramaya University College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya, Ethiopia
| | - Alexandra Brewis
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Mason Manning
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
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Shinyemba TW, Cloete K. Exploring the nexus of water insecurity and psychological distress in Windhoek's informal settlements, Namibia. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH 2023; 21:1051-1063. [PMID: 37632380 PMCID: wh_2023_076 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2023.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/28/2023]
Abstract
Water insecurity has long been a pressing issue, particularly in the informal settlements of Windhoek. The current study aims to investigate the relationship between water insecurity and residents' psychological distress in Windhoek's informal settlements. The study draws upon secondary data collected by Future Resilience for African Cities and Lands in 2017. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to establish the relationship between water insecurity, psychological distress, and three manifest variables (source of income, housing type, and household structure). The study findings revealed a positive association between housing type and psychological distress (β = 0.056, p < 0.001). Household structure was negatively associated with psychological distress (β = -0.035, p < 0.001) and water insecurity (β = -0.054, p < 0.001). In addition, a positive association (β = 0.595, p < 0.001) was found between water insecurity and psychological distress, suggesting that water scarcity negatively impacts residents' mental well-being. The study highlights the need to address the issue of water insecurity in informal settlements across Windhoek. This can be achieved by setting measures to make water and essential sanitation services more accessible and affordable to residents in these communities. Such approaches would help mitigate the effect of water insecurity on the psychological distress of persons living in informal settlements and create more resilient and sustainable settlements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Willem Shinyemba
- Department of Computing, Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, School of Science, University of Namibia, Private Bag 13301, Windhoek, Namibia E-mail:
| | - Khanyisile Cloete
- Department of Computing, Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, School of Science, University of Namibia, Private Bag 13301, Windhoek, Namibia
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Ford L, Bethancourt HJ, Swanson Z, Nzunza R, Wutich A, Brewis A, Young S, Almeida D, Douglass M, Ndiema EK, Braun DR, Pontzer H, Rosinger AY. Water Insecurity, Water Borrowing, and Psychosocial Stress Among Daasanach Pastoralists in Northern Kenya. WATER INTERNATIONAL 2022; 48:63-86. [PMID: 38800511 PMCID: PMC11126231 DOI: 10.1080/02508060.2022.2138050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
This article quantifies Daasanach water insecurity experiences in Northern Kenya, examines how water insecurity is associated with water borrowing and psychosocial stress, and evaluates if water borrowing mitigates the stress from water insecurity. Of 133 households interviewed in 7 communities, 94% were water insecure and 74.4% borrowed water three or more times in the prior month. Regression analyses demonstrate water borrowing frequency moderates the relationship between water insecurity and psychosocial stress. Only those who rarely or never borrowed water reported greater stress with higher water insecurity. The coping mechanism of water borrowing may help blunt water insecurity-related stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie Ford
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
| | - Hilary J Bethancourt
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
- Institute for Research Policy, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
| | - Zane Swanson
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC
| | | | - Amber Wutich
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
| | - Alexandra Brewis
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
| | - Sera Young
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
- Institute for Research Policy, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
| | - David Almeida
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
| | - Matthew Douglass
- College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
| | | | - David R. Braun
- Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, Department of Anthropology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC
- Department of Human Evolution, Max Planck Institute of Evolutionary Anthropology, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Herman Pontzer
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC
- Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC
| | - Asher Y. Rosinger
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, State College PA
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Zheng M, Wutich A, Brewis A, Kavouras S. Health impacts of water and sanitation insecurity in the Global North: a scoping literature review for U.S. colonias on the Mexico border. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH 2022; 20:1329-1342. [PMID: 36170189 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2022.085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
U.S. border colonias are peri-urban settlements along the U.S.-Mexico border. Residents often face substandard housing, inadequate septic and sewer systems, and unsafe or inadequate household water. As of 2015, an estimated 30% of over 5 million U.S. colonia residents lacked access to clean drinking water, suggesting health complications. This scoping review identifies a very limited existing set of research on water and sanitation insecurity in U.S.-Mexico border colonias, and suggests value in additional focused research in this specific context to address health challenges. Preliminary health data indicates that due to water insecurity, colonia residents are more likely to contract gastrointestinal diseases, be exposed to carcinogenic compounds from contaminated water, and experience psychosocial distress. These widespread health issues in colonias are exacerbated by historical and ongoing socioenvironmental injustices in the U.S.-Mexico border region and their relation to the poor health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine Zheng
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, 1151 S Forest Ave, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA E-mail:
| | - Amber Wutich
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Cady Mall, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Alexandra Brewis
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, 1151 S Forest Ave, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA E-mail:
| | - Stavros Kavouras
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Cady Mall, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
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Lawrance EL, Thompson R, Newberry Le Vay J, Page L, Jennings N. The Impact of Climate Change on Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing: A Narrative Review of Current Evidence, and its Implications. Int Rev Psychiatry 2022; 34:443-498. [PMID: 36165756 DOI: 10.1080/09540261.2022.2128725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Converging global evidence highlights the dire consequences of climate change for human mental health and wellbeing. This paper summarises literature across relevant disciplines to provide a comprehensive narrative review of the multiple pathways through which climate change interacts with mental health and wellbeing. Climate change acts as a risk amplifier by disrupting the conditions known to support good mental health, including socioeconomic, cultural and environmental conditions, and living and working conditions. The disruptive influence of rising global temperatures and extreme weather events, such as experiencing a heatwave or water insecurity, compounds existing stressors experienced by individuals and communities. This has deleterious effects on people's mental health and is particularly acute for those groups already disadvantaged within and across countries. Awareness and experiences of escalating climate threats and climate inaction can generate understandable psychological distress; though strong emotional responses can also motivate climate action. We highlight opportunities to support individuals and communities to cope with and act on climate change. Consideration of the multiple and interconnected pathways of climate impacts and their influence on mental health determinants must inform evidence-based interventions. Appropriate action that centres climate justice can reduce the current and future mental health burden, while simultaneously improving the conditions that nurture wellbeing and equality. The presented evidence adds further weight to the need for decisive climate action by decision makers across all scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L Lawrance
- Institute of Global Health Innovation, Imperial College London, UK.,Mental Health Innovations, UK.,Grantham Institute of Climate and the Environment, Imperial College London, UK
| | | | | | - Lisa Page
- Brighton & Sussex Medical School, UK
| | - Neil Jennings
- Grantham Institute of Climate and the Environment, Imperial College London, UK
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