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Huynh L, Anjum S, Lieu T, Horse ML, Martin-Hill D, Wekerle C. Examining the connection between water concerns, water anxiety, and resilience among Indigenous persons: A systematic scoping review. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2024; 148:106184. [PMID: 37055333 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106184] [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: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE Despite Canada's and the United States' acceptance of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), achieving equitable water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)-related services among Indigenous peoples remain at issue for the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Water anxiety is a mental health burden threatening resilience, given cultural stewardship imperatives for water well-being. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTINGS Peer-reviewed literature documenting water anxiety/insecurity was explored in relation to resilience among Indigenous communities in Canada and the United States (including Hawaii and Alaska). METHODS A systematic scoping review was conducted using three databases (Medline, Sociological Abstracts and PsycINFO) and key words pertaining to Indigenous Peoples, Canada, U.S., and water. Two reviewers screened and extracted each article. RESULTS The search yielded six quantitative studies. Large diversity among Indigenous communities resulted in different water concerns tied to geographical locales, industry, and the health of water bodies. Environmental concerns, poor access to safe drinking water, and negative effects of water insecurity (water costs, food scarcity) was associated with water anxiety. Indigenous ecological knowledge, cultural continuity, water advocacy, and participatory community interventions was associated with resilience. CONCLUSION There is limited research exploring water anxiety and resilience among Indigenous communities. Particularly among women, water related health risks, concern for future generations, and cultural gender role expectations for water stewardship, contribute to water anxiety. An important next step is to recognize water anxiety as a mental health burden, and advance Indigenous-led research to not only optimally redress water inequities, but also the broader scope of its impact to ongoing trauma among Indigenous peoples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lyndsey Huynh
- Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Sidra Anjum
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Toney Lieu
- Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Dawn Martin-Hill
- Department of Anthropology, Indigenous Studies Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Faculty of Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christine Wekerle
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Faculty of Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Optentia Research Unit, North-West University, South Africa
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Riley T, Lovett R, Cumming B, Meredith A, Anderson NE, Thandrayen J. Data analysis of zoonoses notifications in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations in Australia 1996-2021: implications for One Health. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1175835. [PMID: 37900024 PMCID: PMC10602743 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1175835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Zoonoses are a health concern for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia that face elevated risk of disease related to the environment and animals. Internationally, One Health is encouraged to effectively manage zoonoses by taking integrated approaches involving animal, human, and environmental health sectors to improve health outcomes. However, Australia's health systems manage zoonotic diseases in animals and people separately which does not support a One Health approach. For the effective management of zoonoses, a strong evidence base and database regarding the epidemiology of zoonotic pathogens is needed. However, we currently lack this evidence limiting our understanding of the impact of zoonoses on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations. Methods As a first step towards building the evidence base, we undertook a descriptive analysis of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander zoonotic notifications in Australia from 1996 to 2021. We presented notifications as annual notification rates per 100,000 population, and percentages of notifications by state, remoteness, sex, and age group. Results Salmonellosis and campylobacteriosis were the most notified zoonoses with the highest annual notification rates of 99.75 and 87.46 per 100,000 population, respectively. The north of Australia (Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia), remote and outer regional areas, and young children (0-4 years of age) had the highest percentages of notifications. Discussion To our knowledge, these findings are the first national presentation of the epidemiology of zoonoses within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations. A greater understanding of transmission, prevalence and impact of zoonoses on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (including animal and environmental health factors) is required to inform their effective management through a One Health approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Riley
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Raymond Lovett
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Bonny Cumming
- Animal Management in Rural and Remote Indigenous Communities (AMRRIC), Darwin, NT, Australia
| | - Anna Meredith
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, United Kingdom
| | - Neil E. Anderson
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, United Kingdom
| | - Joanne Thandrayen
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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Belaid L, Budgell R, Sauvé C, Andersson N. Shifting paradigm from biomedical to decolonised methods in Inuit public health research in Canada: a scoping review. BMJ Glob Health 2022; 7:e008311. [PMID: 36323455 PMCID: PMC9639062 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2021-008311] [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: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The National Inuit Strategy on Research focuses on advancing Inuit governance in research, increasing ownership over data and building capacity. Responding to this call for Inuit self-determination in research, academic researchers should consider cultural safety in research and ways to promote Inuit-led methods. METHODS This scoping review collated academic literature on public health research in Inuit communities in Canada between 2010 and 2022. A critical assessment of methods used in public health research in Inuit communities examined cultural safety and the use of Inuit-attuned methods. Descriptive and analytical data were summarised in tables and figures. Knowledge user engagement in the research process was analysed with thematic analysis. RESULTS 356 articles met the inclusion criteria. Much of the published research was in nutrition and mental health, and few initiatives reported translation into promotion programmes. Almost all published research was disease or deficit focused and based on a biomedical paradigm, especially in toxicology, maternal health and chronic diseases. Recent years saw an increased number of participatory studies using a decolonial lens and focusing on resilience. While some qualitative research referred to Inuit methodologies and engaged communities in the research process, most quantitative research was not culturally safe. Overall, community engagement remained in early stages of co-designing research protocols and interventions. Discussion on governance and data ownership was limited. Recent years saw emerging discussions on these issues. Knowledge user capacity-building was limited to brief training on conventional data collection methods. CONCLUSIONS The last decade of published public health research has not responded to the National Inuit Strategy on Research. Participatory research is gaining ground, but has not reached its full potential. A shift from biomedical to decolonised methods is slowly taking place, and public health researchers who have not yet embraced this paradigm shift should do so.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loubna Belaid
- Direction de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement, École Nationale d'Administration Publique, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Family Medicine (CIET/PRAM), McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Richard Budgell
- Family Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Caroline Sauvé
- Direction de l'Enseignement et de l'Académie, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Neil Andersson
- Department of Family Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Centro de Investigación de Enfermedades Tropicales, Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, Acapulco, Mexico
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Shifting Safeties and Mobilities on the Land in Arctic North America: A Systematic Approach to Identifying the Root Causes of Disaster. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14127061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Amid the surge in research on mobility and migration in the context of environmental change, little research has focused on the experiences of people for whom travel is cyclical and a part of daily, weekly, or seasonal life. For Inuit in Arctic North America, the land is the heart of cultural and community life. Disruption to time spent on the land is reported to impact the emotional health and well-being of individuals and communities. There is concern that environmental change is creating barriers to safe travel, constituting a creeping disaster. We systematically review and evaluate the literature for discussion of barriers to travel for Inuit in Arctic North America, using an approach from the field of disaster anthropology to identify root causes of constraints to mobility. We identify root causes of risk and barriers to time spent on the land. These emerge from historic and contemporary colonial policy and inequality, as opposed to environmental hazards per se, impacting people’s mobility in profound ways and enacting a form of slow violence. These results suggest a need to understand the underlying processes and institutions that put people at risk.
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Lebel L, Paquin V, Kenny TA, Fletcher C, Nadeau L, Chachamovich E, Lemire M. Climate change and Indigenous mental health in the Circumpolar North: A systematic review to inform clinical practice. Transcult Psychiatry 2022; 59:312-336. [PMID: 34989262 PMCID: PMC9160950 DOI: 10.1177/13634615211066698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Climate change is disproportionally impacting the Circumpolar North, with particular impacts among Indigenous populations. Environmental changes are felt in many aspects of daily life of Northern communities, including both physical and mental health. Thus, health institutions from around the Arctic must meet emerging needs, while the phenomenon remains marginal to their southern counterparts. In this systematic review, we aimed to review current scientific knowledge on the mental health impacts of climate change in Indigenous Peoples across the Circumpolar North. Seven databases were searched. Original peer-reviewed research articles were included if they addressed links between climate change and mental health in Arctic or Subarctic Indigenous Populations. After extraction, data were synthesized using thematic analysis. Of the 26 articles that met inclusion criteria, 16 focused on Canadian Inuit communities and 21 were exclusively qualitative. Being on the land was identified as a central determinant of wellbeing. Immediate impacts of climate change on mental health were felt through restricted mobility and disrupted livelihoods. Effects on mental health were further felt through changes in culture and identity, food insecurity, interpersonal stress and conflicts, and housing problems. Various ways in how communities and individuals are coping with these effects were reported. Understanding climate-related pathways of mental health risks in the Arctic is crucial to better identify vulnerable groups and to foster resilience. Clinicians can play a role in recognizing and providing support for patients affected by these disruptions. Policies sensitive to the climate-mental health relationship must be advocated for.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurence Lebel
- Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Axis, 36896CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Centre, Québec, QC, Canada.,Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, 4440Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Vincent Paquin
- Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Axis, 36896CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Centre, Québec, QC, Canada.,Douglas Mental Health Institute, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Tiff-Annie Kenny
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, 4440Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Christopher Fletcher
- Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Axis, 36896CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Centre, Québec, QC, Canada.,Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, 4440Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Lucie Nadeau
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Montreal Children's Hospital, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Eduardo Chachamovich
- Douglas Mental Health Institute, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Mélanie Lemire
- Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Axis, 36896CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Centre, Québec, QC, Canada.,Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, 4440Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
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Niqivut Silalu Asijjipalliajuq: Building a Community-Led Food Sovereignty and Climate Change Research Program in Nunavut, Canada. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14081572. [PMID: 35458135 PMCID: PMC9027988 DOI: 10.3390/nu14081572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The history of health research in Inuit communities in Canada recounts unethical and colonizing research practices. Recent decades have witnessed profound changes that have advanced ethical and community-driven research, yet much work remains. Inuit have called for research reform in Inuit Nunangat, most recently creating the National Inuit Strategy on Research (NISR) as a framework to support this work. The present study details the process undertaken to create a research program guided by the NISR to address food security, nutrition, and climate change in Inuit Nunangat. Four main elements were identified as critical to supporting the development of a meaningful and authentic community-led program of research: developing Inuit-identified research questions that are relevant and important to Inuit communities; identifying Inuit expertise to answer these questions; re-envisioning and innovating research methodologies that are meaningful to Inuit and reflect Inuit knowledge and societal values; and identifying approaches to mobilizing knowledge that can be applied to support food security and climate change adaptation. We also identify considerations for funding agencies to support the meaningful development of Inuit-led research proposals, including aligning funding with community priorities, reconsidering who the researchers are, and investing in community infrastructure. Our critical reflection on the research program development process provides insight into community-led research that can support Inuit self-determination in research, enhance local ethical conduct of research, privilege Inuit knowledge systems, and align Inuit-identified research priorities with research funding opportunities in health research. While we focus on Inuit-led research in Nunavut, Canada, these insights may be of interest more broadly to Indigenous health research.
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Aylward B, Cunsolo A, Vriezen R, Harper SL. Climate change is impacting mental health in North America: A systematic scoping review of the hazards, exposures, vulnerabilities, risks and responses. Int Rev Psychiatry 2022; 34:34-50. [PMID: 35584021 DOI: 10.1080/09540261.2022.2029368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
As climate change progresses, it is crucial that researchers and policymakers understand the ways in which climate-mental health risks arise through interactions between climate hazards, human exposure and social vulnerabilities across time and location. This scoping review systematically examined the nature, range and extent of published research in North America that investigates climate-mental health interactions. Five electronic databases were searched and two independent reviewers applied pre-determined criteria to assess the eligibility of articles identified in the search. Eighty-nine articles were determined to be relevant and underwent data extraction and analysis. The published literature reported on numerous exposure pathways through which acute and chronic climate hazards interacted with social vulnerabilities to increase mental health risks, including wellbeing, trauma, anxiety, depression, suicide and substance use. This review also highlights important gaps within the North American climate-mental health evidence base, including minimal research conducted in Mexico, as well as a lack of studies investigating climate-mental health adaptation strategies and projected future mental health risks. Further research should support effective preparation for and adaptation to the current and future mental health impacts of climate change. Such strategies could reduce health risks and the long-term mental health impacts that individuals and communities experience in a changing climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Breanne Aylward
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Ashlee Cunsolo
- School of Arctic & Subarctic Studies, Labrador Campus of Memorial University, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Canada
| | - Rachael Vriezen
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
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Brubacher LJ, Dewey CE, Tatty N, Healey Akearok GK, Cunsolo A, Humphries S, Harper SL. "Sewing Is Part of Our Tradition": A Case Study of Sewing as a Strategy for Arts-Based Inquiry in Health Research With Inuit Women. QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH 2021; 31:2602-2616. [PMID: 34605697 PMCID: PMC8649823 DOI: 10.1177/10497323211042869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
In this article, we present a case study of sewing as a strategy for arts-based inquiry in health research, situated within a broader project that highlighted Nunavut Inuit women's childbirth experiences. Five focus groups were hosted as sewing sessions with pregnant women (N = 19) in Iqaluit, Nunavut (2017-2018). Women's reflections on the sessions, and the significance of sewing to Inuit, were integrated with researchers' critical reflections to examine the value of sewing as a strategy for arts-based inquiry within a focus group method: results related to the flexibility of the sessions; how collective sewing created space for voicing, sharing, and relating; sewing as a tactile and place-specific practice tied to Inuit knowledge and tradition; and lessons learned. Our results underscore the possibilities of arts-based approaches, such as sewing, to enhance data gathering within a focus group method and to contribute to more locally appropriate, place-based methods for Indigenous health research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Jane Brubacher
- University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
- Laura Jane Brubacher, Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1.
| | | | | | | | - Ashlee Cunsolo
- Labrador Institute of Memorial University, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada
| | | | - Sherilee L. Harper
- University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
- University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Riley T, Anderson NE, Lovett R, Meredith A, Cumming B, Thandrayen J. One Health in Indigenous Communities: A Critical Review of the Evidence. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182111303. [PMID: 34769820 PMCID: PMC8583238 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182111303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Indigenous populations around the world face disproportionately high rates of disease related to the environment and animals. One Health is a concept that has been used effectively to understand and address these health risks. One Health refers to the relationships and interdependencies between animal, human, and environmental health and is an emerging research field that aligns with indigenous views of health. To understand the applicability of One Health in indigenous communities, a critical review was undertaken to investigate evidence of One Health research in indigenous communities internationally, assess the strength of evidence, and understand what gaps are present. This review included the appraisal of twenty-four studies based in five regions: Canada, Africa, Australia, South America, and Central America. The review found that there is a need for studies of high strength, with rigorous methods, local leadership, and active involvement of indigenous viewpoints, to be undertaken in indigenous communities internationally that focus on One Health. It highlights the need to further consider indigenous viewpoints in research to reduce limitations, increase effectiveness of findings, consider appropriateness of recommendations, and benefit communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Riley
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra 2601, Australia; (R.L.); (J.T.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Neil E. Anderson
- Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Roslin EH25 9RG, UK; (N.E.A.); (A.M.)
| | - Raymond Lovett
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra 2601, Australia; (R.L.); (J.T.)
| | - Anna Meredith
- Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Roslin EH25 9RG, UK; (N.E.A.); (A.M.)
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Bonny Cumming
- Animal Management in Rural and Remote Indigenous Communities (AMRRIC), Darwin 0801, Australia;
| | - Joanne Thandrayen
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra 2601, Australia; (R.L.); (J.T.)
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Scarpa G, Berrang-Ford L, Twesigomwe S, Kakwangire P, Peters R, Zavaleta-Cortijo C, Patterson K, Namanya DB, Lwasa S, Nowembabazi E, Kesande C, Harris-Fry H, Cade JE. A Community-Based Approach to Integrating Socio, Cultural and Environmental Contexts in the Development of a Food Database for Indigenous and Rural Populations: The Case of the Batwa and Bakiga in South-Western Uganda. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13103503. [PMID: 34684504 PMCID: PMC8537349 DOI: 10.3390/nu13103503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Comprehensive food lists and databases are a critical input for programs aiming to alleviate undernutrition. However, standard methods for developing them may produce databases that are irrelevant for marginalised groups where nutritional needs are highest. Our study provides a method for identifying critical contextual information required to build relevant food lists for Indigenous populations. For our study, we used mixed-methods study design with a community-based approach. Between July and October 2019, we interviewed 74 participants among Batwa and Bakiga communities in south-western Uganda. We conducted focus groups discussions (FGDs), individual dietary surveys and markets and shops assessment. Locally validated information on foods consumed among Indigenous populations can provide results that differ from foods listed in the national food composition tables; in fact, the construction of food lists is influenced by multiple factors such as food culture and meaning of food, environmental changes, dietary transition, and social context. Without using a community-based approach to understanding socio-environmental contexts, we would have missed 33 commonly consumed recipes and foods, and we would not have known the variety of ingredients’ quantity in each recipe, and traditional foraged foods. The food culture, food systems and nutrition of Indigenous and vulnerable communities are unique, and need to be considered when developing food lists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Scarpa
- School of Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK;
- School of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK;
- Correspondence: ; +44-74-15966075
| | - Lea Berrang-Ford
- School of Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK;
- Indigenous Health Adaptation to Climate Change Research Team, Kanungu District, Buhoma, Uganda; (S.T.); (P.K.); (D.B.N.); (S.L.); (E.N.); (C.K.)
| | - Sabastian Twesigomwe
- Indigenous Health Adaptation to Climate Change Research Team, Kanungu District, Buhoma, Uganda; (S.T.); (P.K.); (D.B.N.); (S.L.); (E.N.); (C.K.)
| | - Paul Kakwangire
- Indigenous Health Adaptation to Climate Change Research Team, Kanungu District, Buhoma, Uganda; (S.T.); (P.K.); (D.B.N.); (S.L.); (E.N.); (C.K.)
| | - Remco Peters
- School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TH, UK;
| | - Carol Zavaleta-Cortijo
- Facultad de Salud Publica y Administracion, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, San Martín de Porres 15102, Peru;
| | - Kaitlin Patterson
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada;
| | - Didacus B. Namanya
- Indigenous Health Adaptation to Climate Change Research Team, Kanungu District, Buhoma, Uganda; (S.T.); (P.K.); (D.B.N.); (S.L.); (E.N.); (C.K.)
- Ministry of Health, Lourdel Road, Nakasero P.O. Box 7272, Uganda
| | - Shuaib Lwasa
- Indigenous Health Adaptation to Climate Change Research Team, Kanungu District, Buhoma, Uganda; (S.T.); (P.K.); (D.B.N.); (S.L.); (E.N.); (C.K.)
- Department of Geography, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
- The Global Center on Adaptation, 3072 Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ester Nowembabazi
- Indigenous Health Adaptation to Climate Change Research Team, Kanungu District, Buhoma, Uganda; (S.T.); (P.K.); (D.B.N.); (S.L.); (E.N.); (C.K.)
| | - Charity Kesande
- Indigenous Health Adaptation to Climate Change Research Team, Kanungu District, Buhoma, Uganda; (S.T.); (P.K.); (D.B.N.); (S.L.); (E.N.); (C.K.)
| | - Helen Harris-Fry
- Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, London WC1E 7HT, UK;
| | - Janet E. Cade
- School of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK;
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Climate Change and Enteric Infections in the Canadian Arctic: Do We Know What’s on the Horizon? GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/gidisord3030012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The Canadian Arctic has a long history with diarrheal disease, including outbreaks of campylobacteriosis, giardiasis, and salmonellosis. Due to climate change, the Canadian Arctic is experiencing rapid environmental transformation, which not only threatens the livelihood of local Indigenous Peoples, but also supports the spread, frequency, and intensity of enteric pathogen outbreaks. Advances in diagnostic testing and detection have brought to attention the current burden of disease due to Cryptosporidium, Campylobacter, and Helicobacter pylori. As climate change is known to influence pathogen transmission (e.g., food and water), Arctic communities need support in developing prevention and surveillance strategies that are culturally appropriate. This review aims to provide an overview of how climate change is currently and is expected to impact enteric pathogens in the Canadian Arctic.
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Middleton J, Cunsolo A, Pollock N, Jones-Bitton A, Wood M, Shiwak I, Flowers C, Harper SL. Temperature and place associations with Inuit mental health in the context of climate change. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 198:111166. [PMID: 33857460 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Climate change has important implications for mental health globally. Yet, few studies have quantified the magnitude and direction of associations between weather and mental health-related factors, or assessed the geographical distribution of associations, particularly in areas experiencing rapid climatic change. This study examined the associations between air temperature variables and mental health-related community clinic visits across Nunatsiavut, Labrador, Canada, and the place-specific attributes of these associations. METHODS Daily de-identified community clinic visit data were collected from the provincial electronic health recording system and linked to historical weather data (2012-2018). A multilevel, multivariable negative binomial regression model was fit to investigate associations between temperature variables and mental health-related community clinic visits across the region, adjusting for seasonality as a fixed effect and community as a random effect. A multivariable negative binomial model was then fit for each Nunatsiavut community, adjusting for seasonality. RESULTS Mental health-related visits contributed to 2.4% of all 228,104 visit types across the study period; this proportion ranged from 0.6% to 11.3% based on community and year. Regionally, the incidence rate of mental health-related community clinic visits was greater after two weeks of warm average (i.e. above -5ᵒC) temperatures compared to temperatures below -5ᵒC (IRR-5≤5ᵒC = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.21-1.78; IRR6≤15ᵒC = 2.24, 95% CI = 1.66-3.03; IRR>15ᵒC = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.02-2.94), and the incidence rate of mental health-related clinic visits was lower when the number of consecutive days within -5 to 5ᵒC ranges (i.e. temperatures considered to be critical to land use) increased (IRR = 0.96; 95% CI = 0.94-0.99), adjusting for seasonal and community effects. Community-specific models, however, revealed that no two communities had the same association between meteorological conditions and the incidence rate of daily mental health-related visits. DISCUSSION Regionally, longer periods of warm temperatures may burden existing healthcare resources and shorter periods of temperatures critical to land use (i.e. -5 to 5ᵒC) may present enjoyable or opportunistic conditions to access community and land-based resources. The heterogeneity found in temperature and mental health-related clinic visits associations across Nunatsiavut communities demonstrates that place quantitatively matters in the context of Inuit mental health and climate change. This evidence underscores the importance of place-based approaches to health policy, planning, adaptation, and research related to climate change, particularly in circumpolar regions such as Nunatsiavut where the rate of warming is one of the fastest on the planet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Middleton
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada; School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 116 St. and 85 Ave., Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2R3, Canada.
| | - Ashlee Cunsolo
- School of Arctic and Subarctic Studies, Labrador Institute of Memorial University, 219 Hamilton River Road, P.O. Box 490, Stn. B, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada; Division of Community Health and Humanities, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, 300 Prince Philip Drive, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, A1B 3V6, Canada.
| | - Nathaniel Pollock
- School of Arctic and Subarctic Studies, Labrador Institute of Memorial University, 219 Hamilton River Road, P.O. Box 490, Stn. B, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada; Division of Community Health and Humanities, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, 300 Prince Philip Drive, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, A1B 3V6, Canada
| | - Andria Jones-Bitton
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Michele Wood
- Department of Health and Social Development, Nunatsiavut Government, 218 Kelland Drive, P.O. Box 496, Station C, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Inez Shiwak
- Torngat Wildlife, Plants, and Fisheries Secretariat, 217 Hamilton River Road, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, A0P 1C0, Canada
| | - Charlie Flowers
- Torngat Wildlife, Plants, and Fisheries Secretariat, 217 Hamilton River Road, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, A0P 1C0, Canada
| | - Sherilee L Harper
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada; School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 116 St. and 85 Ave., Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2R3, Canada.
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Gall A, Anderson K, Howard K, Diaz A, King A, Willing E, Connolly M, Lindsay D, Garvey G. Wellbeing of Indigenous Peoples in Canada, Aotearoa (New Zealand) and the United States: A Systematic Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18115832. [PMID: 34071636 PMCID: PMC8198891 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18115832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Despite the health improvements afforded to non-Indigenous peoples in Canada, Aotearoa (New Zealand) and the United States, the Indigenous peoples in these countries continue to endure disproportionately high rates of mortality and morbidity. Indigenous peoples' concepts and understanding of health and wellbeing are holistic; however, due to their diverse social, political, cultural, environmental and economic contexts within and across countries, wellbeing is not experienced uniformly across all Indigenous populations. We aim to identify aspects of wellbeing important to the Indigenous people in Canada, Aotearoa and the United States. We searched CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO and PubMed databases for papers that included key Indigenous and wellbeing search terms from database inception to April 2020. Papers that included a focus on Indigenous adults residing in Canada, Aotearoa and the United States, and that included empirical qualitative data that described at least one aspect of wellbeing were eligible. Data were analysed using the stages of thematic development recommended by Thomas and Harden for thematic synthesis of qualitative research. Our search resulted in 2669 papers being screened for eligibility. Following full-text screening, 100 papers were deemed eligible for inclusion (Aotearoa (New Zealand) n = 16, Canada n = 43, United States n = 41). Themes varied across countries; however, identity, connection, balance and self-determination were common aspects of wellbeing. Having this broader understanding of wellbeing across these cultures can inform decisions made about public health actions and resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alana Gall
- Wellbeing and Preventable Chronic Disease Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, NT 0810, Australia; (K.A.); (A.D.); (D.L.); (G.G.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Kate Anderson
- Wellbeing and Preventable Chronic Disease Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, NT 0810, Australia; (K.A.); (A.D.); (D.L.); (G.G.)
| | - Kirsten Howard
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia;
| | - Abbey Diaz
- Wellbeing and Preventable Chronic Disease Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, NT 0810, Australia; (K.A.); (A.D.); (D.L.); (G.G.)
| | - Alexandra King
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 2Z4, Canada;
| | - Esther Willing
- Kōhatu–Centre for Hauora Māori, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand;
| | - Michele Connolly
- International Group for Indigenous Health Measurement, Columbia, MD 21045, USA;
| | - Daniel Lindsay
- Wellbeing and Preventable Chronic Disease Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, NT 0810, Australia; (K.A.); (A.D.); (D.L.); (G.G.)
| | - Gail Garvey
- Wellbeing and Preventable Chronic Disease Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, NT 0810, Australia; (K.A.); (A.D.); (D.L.); (G.G.)
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Gislason MK, Kennedy AM, Witham SM. The Interplay between Social and Ecological Determinants of Mental Health for Children and Youth in the Climate Crisis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18094573. [PMID: 33925907 PMCID: PMC8123462 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18094573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Children and youth are showing increasing levels of mental health distress due to the climate crisis, characterized by feelings of sadness, guilt, changes in sleep and appetite, difficulty concentrating, solastalgia, and disconnection from land. To gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between climate change and children and youth's mental health, we conducted a rapid review and a thematic analysis of the results in NVivo 12. Our findings show that children and youth experience a plethora of direct and indirect effects from climate change and this impacts their mental wellbeing in diverse and complex ways. Young people also have varied perceptions of climate change based on their social locations and many are dealing with feelings of immense worry and eco-anxiety. The mental health impacts of climate change on children/youth are tied to Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) but also need to be understood in relation to the Ecological Determinants of Health (EDoH). Through an eco-social lens, this paper explores these conceptual issues and uses them to provide a framework for understanding the interplay of social and ecological determinants of mental health for children/youth.
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Charlson F, Ali S, Benmarhnia T, Pearl M, Massazza A, Augustinavicius J, Scott JG. Climate Change and Mental Health: A Scoping Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:4486. [PMID: 33922573 PMCID: PMC8122895 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18094486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Climate change is negatively impacting the mental health of populations. This scoping review aims to assess the available literature related to climate change and mental health across the World Health Organisation's (WHO) five global research priorities for protecting human health from climate change. We conducted a scoping review to identify original research studies related to mental health and climate change using online academic databases. We assessed the quality of studies where appropriate assessment tools were available. We identified 120 original studies published between 2001 and 2020. Most studies were quantitative (n = 67), cross-sectional (n = 42), conducted in high-income countries (n = 87), and concerned with the first of the WHO global research priorities-assessing the mental health risks associated with climate change (n = 101). Several climate-related exposures, including heat, humidity, rainfall, drought, wildfires, and floods were associated with psychological distress, worsened mental health, and higher mortality among people with pre-existing mental health conditions, increased psychiatric hospitalisations, and heightened suicide rates. Few studies (n = 19) addressed the other four global research priorities of protecting health from climate change (effective interventions (n = 8); mitigation and adaptation (n = 7); improving decision-support (n = 3); and cost estimations (n = 1)). While climate change and mental health represents a rapidly growing area of research, it needs to accelerate and broaden in scope to respond with evidence-based mitigation and adaptation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona Charlson
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Queensland Health, Wacol, QLD 4076, Australia; (S.A.); (M.P.); (J.G.S.)
- School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Suhailah Ali
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Queensland Health, Wacol, QLD 4076, Australia; (S.A.); (M.P.); (J.G.S.)
- School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Tarik Benmarhnia
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science & Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC, San Diego, CA 92093, USA;
| | - Madeleine Pearl
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Queensland Health, Wacol, QLD 4076, Australia; (S.A.); (M.P.); (J.G.S.)
- School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Alessandro Massazza
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK;
| | - Jura Augustinavicius
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA;
| | - James G. Scott
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Queensland Health, Wacol, QLD 4076, Australia; (S.A.); (M.P.); (J.G.S.)
- Mental Health Programme, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD 4076, Australia
- Metro North Mental Health Service, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
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Emanuelsen K, Pearce T, Oakes J, Harper SL, Ford JD. Sewing and Inuit women's health in the Canadian Arctic. Soc Sci Med 2020; 265:113523. [PMID: 33243528 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 09/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Traditional Inuit cultural values and practices are integral to an Inuit understanding of health. We examine the role of sewing in Inuit women's health in the Canadian Arctic in a case study of Ulukhaktok, Northwest Territories, Canada. An analysis of data collected using semi-structured interviews with 30 Inuit women reveals that sewing contributes to participant's health and the collective health of the community in several ways including: pride and sense of accomplishment; cultural identity; relaxation, decompression, and socialization; and spirituality and healing. As a cultural practice, sewing is about older generations teaching younger generations about their identity, who they are and where they come from. For some participants, sewing is a way through which they express their culture. Sewing brings people together at a time when social isolation is becoming more apparent, and gives women the chance to learn vital, tangible skills that continue to have social, economic, and cultural importance. Sewing is also a form of healing that helps women ease their minds and focus on a challenging and productive task that brings them satisfaction, self-worth, and value. We conclude that sewing is important for cultural continuity, enabling Inuit to both practice and carryon their culture, and contributing positively to individual and the collective health of the community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Emanuelsen
- Sustainability Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, 90 Sippy Downs, Queensland, 4556, Australia.
| | - Tristan Pearce
- Department of Global & International Studies, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, British Columbia, V2N 4Z9, Canada.
| | - Jill Oakes
- Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, 66 Chancellors Cri, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Sherilee L Harper
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 116 St & 85 Ave, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - James D Ford
- Priestley International Centre for Climate, University of Leeds, Woodhouse, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
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Ready E, Collings P. "All the problems in the community are multifaceted and related to each other": Inuit concerns in an era of climate change. Am J Hum Biol 2020; 33:e23516. [PMID: 33043559 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Human dimensions of climate change research in the Arctic often proposes ways for local communities to adapt to changes to their environment, foregrounding problems posed by climate change while treating social, political, and economic factors as background conditions. We explore the relevance of this research paradigm for Inuit by examining how Inuit from Kangiqsujuaq present and discuss the major issues facing their community. METHODS We thematically code and analyze the responses of 107 Inuit to three free-response questions about the problems facing their community and the best things about their community. The data were collected as part of a questionnaire for a project focused on food security and food sharing conducted in Kangiqsujuaq, Nunavik, in 2013 to 2014. RESULTS Few respondents mentioned issues relating to climate change among the most pressing problems faced by their community. Rather, a suite of interconnected social and economic issues, particularly substance abuse and the cost of living, emerged as the main concerns of Kangiqsujuarmiut. However, the environment was a central theme in respondents' favorite thing about their community. CONCLUSIONS In light of the concerns identified by Inuit, we argue that much research on climate change makes incorrect a priori assumptions and consequently fails to capture aspects of Arctic socioecological systems that are essential for how Inuit are responding to climate change. An inductive, open-ended approach can help produce research more relevant to communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elspeth Ready
- Department of Human Behavior, Ecology and Culture, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany.,Department of Anthropology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Peter Collings
- Department of Anthropology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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Middleton J, Cunsolo A, Jones-Bitton A, Shiwak I, Wood M, Pollock N, Flowers C, Harper SL. “We're people of the snow:” Weather, climate change, and Inuit mental wellness. Soc Sci Med 2020; 262:113137. [DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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Drivers and health implications of the dietary transition among Inuit in the Canadian Arctic: a scoping review. Public Health Nutr 2020; 24:2650-2668. [PMID: 32914743 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980020002402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The current study undertook a systematic scoping review on the drivers and implications of dietary changes among Inuit in the Canadian Arctic. DESIGN A keyword search of peer-reviewed articles was performed using PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, Academic Search Premier, Circumpolar Health Bibliographic Database and High North Research Documents. Eligibility criteria included all full-text articles of any design reporting on research on food consumption, nutrient intake, dietary adequacy, dietary change, food security, nutrition-related chronic diseases or traditional food harvesting and consumption among Inuit populations residing in Canada. Articles reporting on in vivo and in vitro experiments or on health impacts of environmental contaminants were excluded. RESULTS A total of 162 studies were included. Studies indicated declining country food (CF) consumption in favour of market food (MF). Drivers of this transition include colonial processes, poverty and socio-economic factors, changing food preferences and knowledge, and climate change. Health implications of the dietary transition are complex. Micro-nutrient deficiencies and dietary inadequacy are serious concerns and likely exacerbated by increased consumption of non-nutrient dense MF. Food insecurity, overweight, obesity and related cardiometabolic health outcomes are growing public health concerns. Meanwhile, declining CF consumption is entangled with shifting culture and traditional knowledge, with potential implications for psychological, spiritual, social and cultural health and well-being. CONCLUSIONS By exploring and synthesising published literature, this review provides insight into the complex factors influencing Inuit diet and health. Findings may be informative for future research, decision-making and intersectoral actions around risk assessment, food policy and innovative community programmes.
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Buse CG, Patrick R. Climate change glossary for public health practice: from vulnerability to climate justice. J Epidemiol Community Health 2020; 74:867-871. [PMID: 32620579 DOI: 10.1136/jech-2020-213889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Revised: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Climate change is an emerging and growing field of practice for the international public health community. As practitioners, researchers and policy-makers grapple with the local health impacts of climate change, there is an increasing need to clarify key terminology to support public health actors engage and respond in ways that promote intersectoral collaboration. This contribution introduces the public health discourse on climate change, with a particular focus on its implications for health equity. After defining key terms and existing adaptation practices, climate justice and assets-oriented inquiry into the intersectional determinants of health are discussed as future opportunities for addressing health equity in climate and health-related research and practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris G Buse
- Centre for Environmental Assessment Research, The University of British Columbia, Kelowna, Canada
| | - Rebecca Patrick
- Deakin University School of Health and Social Development, Burwood, Australia
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Torris-Hedlund MA. Examining the Use of Photovoice to Explore Disaster Risk Perception Among Native Hawaiians Living on O'ahu: A Feasibility Study. HAWAI'I JOURNAL OF HEALTH & SOCIAL WELFARE 2019; 78:287-292. [PMID: 31501826 PMCID: PMC6731181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this feasibility study was to evaluate the use of Photovoice (PV) to explore disaster risk perception (RP) among Native Hawaiians living on O'ahu. Six participants identified 5 primary concerns: (a) issues of infrastructure, (b) Oahu's dependence on imports, (c) concern for family, (d) the presence of outsiders in the community during disaster warning periods, and (e) the complexity of the issue. Findings from this study suggest PV shows potential as a useful tool for evaluating risk perception and providing valuable community insight. Despite the potentially stressful nature of examining the outcomes of a disaster, speaking with members of the community in a supportive environment provided protection and encouragement. Finally, the use of community-based participatory research (CBPR) and participatory action research (PAR) methodologies facilitates a trusting relationship between the researcher and the community which may help improve disaster-planning efforts.
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Hayes K, Berry P, Ebi KL. Factors Influencing the Mental Health Consequences of Climate Change in Canada. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16091583. [PMID: 31064134 PMCID: PMC6539500 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16091583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 05/01/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Climate change is increasing risks to the mental health of Canadians. Impacts from a changing climate may outstrip the ability of Canadians and their health-sustaining institutions to adapt effectively and could increase poor mental health outcomes, particularly amongst those most marginalized in society. A scoping review of literature published during 2000–2017 explored risks, impacts, and vulnerabilities related to climate change and mental health. In this commentary, the authors present a new assessment of evidence from this scoping review and highlight factors that influence the capacity to adapt to the mental health consequences of a changing climate. Findings from this assessment reveal eleven key factors that influence the capacity to adapt: social capital; sense of community; government assistance; access to resources; community preparedness; intersectoral/transdisciplinary collaboration; vulnerability and adaptation assessments; communication and outreach; mental health literacy; and culturally relevant resources. Attention to these factors by Canadian decision makers can support proactive and effective management of the mental health consequences of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Hayes
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada.
| | - Peter Berry
- Climate Change and Innovation Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON K1P 5N7, Canada.
- Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada.
| | - Kristie L Ebi
- Center for Health and the Global Environment, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
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Kipp A, Cunsolo A, Vodden K, King N, Manners S, Harper SL. At-a-glance - Climate change impacts on health and wellbeing in rural and remote regions across Canada: a synthesis of the literature. Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can 2019; 39:122-126. [PMID: 31021062 DOI: 10.24095/hpcdp.39.4.02] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
This article provides a synthesis of the forthcoming first order draft of the Canadian Government's National Assessment on Climate Change 'Rural and Remote' chapter, highlighting key health concerns from the literature associated with climate change in rural and remote regions, as well as existing and future adaptation strategies. To support the health and wellbeing of those experiencing the negative effects of climate change, and utilizing systematic search processes, this synthesis article highlights the importance of considering the specific socio-cultural, economic, and geographic elements and existing expertise of individuals and communities in rural and remote regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Kipp
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Ashlee Cunsolo
- Labrador Institute, Memorial University, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada
| | - Kelly Vodden
- Environmental Policy Institute, Grenfell Campus, Memorial University, Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Nia King
- School of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sean Manners
- Environmental Policy Institute, Grenfell Campus, Memorial University, Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Sherilee L Harper
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Fijal D, Beagan BL. Indigenous perspectives on health: Integration with a Canadian model of practice. The Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy 2019; 86:220-231. [PMID: 31018654 DOI: 10.1177/0008417419832284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND. The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommend change within the Canadian health care system, respecting and valuing Indigenous health and healing practices. Adjusting the lens through which occupational therapists practice to incorporate Indigenous views of health and wellness is one potential change. PURPOSE. This critical interpretive synthesis of the literature incorporates Indigenous perspectives on health and wellness into the Canadian Model of Occupational Performance and Engagement (CMOP-E) framework, strengthening that model to better serve all peoples in Canada. KEY ISSUES. Integrating Indigenous worldviews can add to the CMOP-E the importance of balance among physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental health; the inseparability of person, community, and land; and understanding occupations as dimensions of meaning. These are incorporated in a proposed integrated model (ICMOP-E). IMPLICATIONS. Effectively integrating Indigenous perspectives may be an important first step in a longer journey toward engaging more respectfully with Indigenous perspectives on health and wellness.
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Masina S, Shirley J, Allen J, Sargeant JM, Guy RA, Wallis PM, Scott Weese J, Cunsolo A, Bunce A, Harper SL. Weather, environmental conditions, and waterborne Giardia and Cryptosporidium in Iqaluit, Nunavut. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH 2019; 17:84-97. [PMID: 30758306 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2018.323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Indigenous communities in the Arctic often face unique drinking water quality challenges related to inadequate infrastructure and environmental contamination; however, limited research exists on waterborne parasites in these communities. This study examined Giardia and Cryptosporidium in untreated surface water used for drinking in Iqaluit, Canada. Water samples (n = 55) were collected weekly from June to September 2016 and tested for the presence of Giardia and Cryptosporidium using microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Exact logistic regressions were used to examine associations between parasite presence and environmental exposure variables. Using microscopy, 20.0% of samples tested positive for Giardia (n = 11) and 1.8% of samples tested positive for Cryptosporidium (n = 1). Low water temperatures (1.1 to 6.7 °C) and low air temperatures (-0.1 to 4.5 °C) were significantly associated with an increased odds of parasite presence (p = 0.047, p = 0.041, respectively). These results suggest that surface water contamination with Giardia and Cryptosporidium may be lower in Iqaluit than in other Canadian regions; however, further research should examine the molecular characterization of waterborne parasites to evaluate the potential human health implications in Northern Canada.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Masina
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, CanadaN1G 2W1 E-mail:
| | - Jamal Shirley
- Nunavut Research Institute, P.O. Box 1720, Iqaluit, Nunavut, CanadaX0A 0H0
| | - Jean Allen
- Nunavut Research Institute, P.O. Box 1720, Iqaluit, Nunavut, CanadaX0A 0H0; Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, P.O. Box 2200, Iqaluit, Nunavut, CanadaX0A 0H0
| | - Jan M Sargeant
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, CanadaN1G 2W1 E-mail: ; Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, CanadaN1G 2W1
| | - Rebecca A Guy
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, 110 Stone Road West, Guelph, Ontario, CanadaN1G 3W4
| | - Peter M Wallis
- Hyperion Research Ltd, 1008 Allowance Avenue SE, Medicine Hat, Alberta, CanadaT1A 3G8
| | - J Scott Weese
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, CanadaN1G 2W1
| | - Ashlee Cunsolo
- Labrador Institute, Memorial University, 219 Hamilton River Road, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador, CanadaA0P 1E0
| | - Anna Bunce
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, CanadaN1G 2W1 E-mail:
| | - Sherilee L Harper
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, CanadaN1G 2W1 E-mail: ; School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 3-300 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405 - 87 Ave, Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaT6G 1C9
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27
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Kipp A, Cunsolo A, Gillis D, Sawatzky A, Harper SL. The need for community-led, integrated and innovative monitoring programmes when responding to the health impacts of climate change. Int J Circumpolar Health 2019; 78:1517581. [PMID: 31066653 PMCID: PMC6508048 DOI: 10.1080/22423982.2018.1517581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2018] [Revised: 08/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
In Northern Canada, climate change has led to many acute and interrelated health and environmental impacts experienced among Inuit populations. Community-based monitoring, in which community members participate in monitoring initiatives using various forms of technology, is a key strategy increasingly used to detect, monitor and respond to climate change impacts. To better understand the landscape of existing environmental and health monitoring programmes mobilising different technologies and operating in the North we conducted a review that used environmental scan methodologies to explore and contextualise these programmes. We consulted with academic researchers with experience in community-led monitoring, conducted systematic searches of grey and peer-reviewed literature, and conducted a secondary search for environment-health mobile-phone applications. Following specific criteria, we identified 18 monitoring programmes using information and communication technologies in the North, and three global monitoring mobile-phone applications, which cumulatively monitored 74 environment and health indicators. Several themes emerged, including the need for: (1) community leadership, (2) indicators of environment and/or human health and (3) innovative technology. This synthesis supports the development of community-led, environment-health monitoring programmes that use innovative technology to monitor and share information related to the health implications of climate change in and around Indigenous communities throughout the Circumpolar North.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Kipp
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Ashlee Cunsolo
- Labrador Institute, Memorial University, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL, Canada
| | - Daniel Gillis
- School of Computer Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Alexandra Sawatzky
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Sherilee L. Harper
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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Clark DG, Ford JD, Tabish T. What role can unmanned aerial vehicles play in emergency response in the Arctic: A case study from Canada. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0205299. [PMID: 30562340 PMCID: PMC6298648 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 09/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper examines search and rescue and backcountry medical response constraints in the Canadian Arctic and potential for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to aid in response and preparedness. Semi-structured interviews (n = 18) were conducted with search and rescue responders, Elders, and emergency management officials to collect data on current emergency response and potential for UAV use. UAV test flights (n = 17) were undertaken with community members. We analyzed five years of weather data to examine UAV flight suitability. Numerous challenges face Arctic search and rescue and backcountry emergency response. Changing social and environmental conditions were described as increasing vulnerability to backcountry emergencies. Responders desired additional first aid and emergency training. Legal and weather restrictions were found to limit where, when and who could fly UAVs. UAVs were demonstrated to have potential benefits for hazard monitoring but not for SAR or medical response due to legal restrictions, weather margins, and local capacity. We find that communities are ill-prepared for ongoing SAR demands, let alone a larger disaster. There are numerous limitations to the use of consumer UAVs by Arctic communities. Prevention of backcountry medical emergencies, building resilience to disasters, and first responder training should be prioritized over introducing UAVs to the response system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan G. Clark
- Department of Geography, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - James D. Ford
- Department of Geography, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Priestley International Centre for Climate, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Taha Tabish
- Qaujigiartiit Health Research Centre, Iqaluit, Canada
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29
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Sawatzky A, Cunsolo A, Jones-Bitton A, Middleton J, Harper SL. Responding to Climate and Environmental Change Impacts on Human Health via Integrated Surveillance in the Circumpolar North: A Systematic Realist Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:E2706. [PMID: 30513697 PMCID: PMC6313572 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15122706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2018] [Revised: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 11/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Environments are shifting rapidly in the Circumpolar Arctic and Subarctic regions as a result of climate change and other external stressors, and this has a substantial impact on the health of northern populations. Thus, there is a need for integrated surveillance systems designed to monitor the impacts of climate change on human health outcomes as part of broader adaptation strategies in these regions. This review aimed to identify, describe, and synthesize literature on integrated surveillance systems in Circumpolar Arctic and Subarctic regions, that are used for research or practice. Following a systematic realist review approach, relevant articles were identified using search strings developed for MEDLINE® and Web of Science™ databases, and screened by two independent reviewers. Articles that met the inclusion criteria were retained for descriptive quantitative analysis, as well as thematic qualitative analysis, using a realist lens. Of the 3431 articles retrieved in the database searches, 85 met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Thematic analysis identified components of integrated surveillance systems that were categorized into three main groups: structural, processual, and relational components. These components were linked to surveillance attributes and activities that supported the operations and management of integrated surveillance. This review advances understandings of the distinct contributions of integrated surveillance systems and data to discerning the nature of changes in climate and environmental conditions that affect population health outcomes and determinants in the Circumpolar North. Findings from this review can be used to inform the planning, design, and evaluation of integrated surveillance systems that support evidence-based public health research and practice in the context of increasing climate change and the need for adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Sawatzky
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | - Ashlee Cunsolo
- Labrador Institute of Memorial University, 219 Hamilton River Road, P.O. Box 490, Stn. B, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL A0P 1E0, Canada.
| | - Andria Jones-Bitton
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | - Jacqueline Middleton
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | - Sherilee L Harper
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 116 St. and 85 Ave., Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada.
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30
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Hayes K, Poland B. Addressing Mental Health in a Changing Climate: Incorporating Mental Health Indicators into Climate Change and Health Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessments. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:ijerph15091806. [PMID: 30131478 PMCID: PMC6164893 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15091806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Revised: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
A growing number of health authorities around the world are conducting climate change and health vulnerability and adaptation assessments; however, few explore impacts and adaptations related to mental health. We argue for an expanded conceptualization of health that includes both the physiological and psychological aspects of climate change and health. Through a review of the global literature on mental health and climate change, this analytical review explores how mental health can be integrated into climate change and health vulnerability assessments and concludes with recommendations for integrating mental health within climate change and health vulnerability and adaptation assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Hayes
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada.
| | - Blake Poland
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada.
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31
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King N, Vriezen R, Edge VL, Ford J, Wood M, Harper S. The hidden costs: Identification of indirect costs associated with acute gastrointestinal illness in an Inuit community. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0196990. [PMID: 29768456 PMCID: PMC5955559 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2017] [Accepted: 04/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute gastrointestinal illness (AGI) incidence and per-capita healthcare expenditures are higher in some Inuit communities as compared to elsewhere in Canada. Consequently, there is a demand for strategies that will reduce the individual-level costs of AGI; this will require a comprehensive understanding of the economic costs of AGI. However, given Inuit communities' unique cultural, economic, and geographic contexts, there is a knowledge gap regarding the context-specific indirect costs of AGI borne by Inuit community members. This study aimed to identify the major indirect costs of AGI, and explore factors associated with these indirect costs, in the Inuit community of Rigolet, Canada, in order to develop a case-based context-specific study framework that can be used to evaluate these costs. METHODS A mixed methods study design and community-based methods were used. Qualitative in-depth, group, and case interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify and describe indirect costs of AGI specific to Rigolet. Data from two quantitative cross-sectional retrospective surveys were analyzed using univariable regression models to examine potential associations between predictor variables and the indirect costs. RESULTS/SIGNIFICANCE The most notable indirect costs of AGI that should be incorporated into cost-of-illness evaluations were the tangible costs related to missing paid employment and subsistence activities, as well as the intangible costs associated with missing community and cultural events. Seasonal cost variations should also be considered. This study was intended to inform cost-of-illness studies conducted in Rigolet and other similar research settings. These results contribute to a better understanding of the economic impacts of AGI on Rigolet residents, which could be used to help identify priority areas and resource allocation for public health policies and programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nia King
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Rachael Vriezen
- Department of Food, Agriculture, and Resource Economics, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Victoria L. Edge
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
- Indigenous Health Adaptation to Climate Change Research Team, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - James Ford
- Indigenous Health Adaptation to Climate Change Research Team, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
- Priestley International Centre for Climate, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Michele Wood
- Department of Health and Social Development, Nunatsiavut Government, Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada
| | - IHACC Research Team
- Indigenous Health Adaptation to Climate Change Research Team, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Sherilee Harper
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
- Indigenous Health Adaptation to Climate Change Research Team, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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32
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Ford JD, Stephenson E, Cunsolo Willox A, Edge V, Farahbakhsh K, Furgal C, Harper S, Chatwood S, Mauro I, Pearce T, Austin S, Bunce A, Bussalleu A, Diaz J, Finner K, Gordon A, Huet C, Kitching K, Lardeau MP, McDowell G, McDonald E, Nakoneczny L, Sherman M. Community-based adaptation research in the Canadian Arctic. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. CLIMATE CHANGE 2016; 7:175-191. [PMID: 27668014 PMCID: PMC5020601 DOI: 10.1002/wcc.376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2015] [Revised: 08/10/2015] [Accepted: 10/05/2015] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Community-based adaptation (CBA) has emerged over the last decade as an approach to empowering communities to plan for and cope with the impacts of climate change. While such approaches have been widely advocated, few have critically examined the tensions and challenges that CBA brings. Responding to this gap, this article critically examines the use of CBA approaches with Inuit communities in Canada. We suggest that CBA holds significant promise to make adaptation research more democratic and responsive to local needs, providing a basis for developing locally appropriate adaptations based on local/indigenous and Western knowledge. Yet, we argue that CBA is not a panacea, and its common portrayal as such obscures its limitations, nuances, and challenges. Indeed, if uncritically adopted, CBA can potentially lead to maladaptation, may be inappropriate in some instances, can legitimize outside intervention and control, and may further marginalize communities. We identify responsibilities for researchers engaging in CBA work to manage these challenges, emphasizing the centrality of how knowledge is generated, the need for project flexibility and openness to change, and the importance of ensuring partnerships between researchers and communities are transparent. Researchers also need to be realistic about what CBA can achieve, and should not assume that research has a positive role to play in community adaptation just because it utilizes participatory approaches. WIREs Clim Change 2016, 7:175-191. doi: 10.1002/wcc.376 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
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Affiliation(s)
- James D Ford
- Department of Geography McGill University Montreal Canada
| | | | | | - Victoria Edge
- Department of Population Medicine University of Guelph Guelph Canada
| | | | - Christopher Furgal
- Departments of Indigenous Studies & Environmental Studies Trent University Peterborough Canada
| | - Sherilee Harper
- Department of Population Medicine University of Guelph Guelph Canada
| | - Susan Chatwood
- Institute for Circumpolar Health Research Yellowknife Canada
| | - Ian Mauro
- Department of Geography University of Winnipeg Winnipeg Canada
| | - Tristan Pearce
- Sustainability Research Centre University of the Sunshine Coast Sippy Downs Australia
| | | | - Anna Bunce
- Department of Geography McGill University Montreal Canada
| | | | - Jahir Diaz
- Faculty of Public Health Cayatano Heredia University Lima Peru
| | - Kaitlyn Finner
- Department of Geography McGill University Montreal Canada
| | - Allan Gordon
- Department of Engineering University of Guelph Guelph Canada
| | - Catherine Huet
- Department of Geography McGill University Montreal Canada
| | - Knut Kitching
- Department of Geography McGill University Montreal Canada
| | | | | | - Ellen McDonald
- Department of Population Medicine University of Guelph Guelph Canada
| | | | - Mya Sherman
- Department of Geography McGill University Montreal Canada
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