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Padrón-Monedero A, Linares C, Díaz J, Noguer-Zambrano I. Impact of drought on mental and behavioral disorders, contributions of research in a climate change context. A narrative review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2024; 68:1035-1042. [PMID: 38503966 PMCID: PMC11109013 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-024-02657-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Mental and behavioral disorders are an important public health problem and constitute a priority for the WHO, whose recommendations include the surveillance of their risk factors. On the other hand, drought episodes have been increasing in frequency and severity in Europe since 1980. Therefore, to review the present knowledge about the impact of drought on mental and behavioral disorders, in the present climate change context, and to underline potential research gaps, could be of major interest. Thus, we performed a narrative review using online academic databases with the aim of identifying relevant literature about the impact of drought on mental and behavioral disorders. To the best of our knowledge, no study in Europe quantifies the potential association between drought and mental disorders. A limited number of studies have found significant associations between droughts (with different temporal ranges) and various measures of mental health. However, according to our review, only three of them quantified the association between drought and objective mental health outcomes, such as number of emergencies due to clinically diagnosed mental disorders or suicides. Additionally, few studies used specific indices as a measure of drought; and finally, as far as authors are aware, none of them has analyzed this relationship adjusting for various other potential environmental confounders. Moreover, the eventual association could vary between different geographical areas within the same country. Therefore, national and regional studies would be especially necessary. Thus, there is a need for specific national and regional studies, in Europe and globally, that assess the impact of specific indices of drought (with different temporal ranges) on objective mental health outcomes controlling for potential environmental confounders. Moreover, the quantification of its cost would be necessary for health prioritization, evidence-based policies and strategic health planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Padrón-Monedero
- Health Programs Department, National School of Public Health, Carlos III Health Institute, Av./ Monforte de Lemos 5, 28029, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Cristina Linares
- Climate Change, Health and Urban Environment Reference Unit, National School of Public Health, Carlos III Health Institute (Instituto de Salud Carlos III/ISCIII), Av./ Monforte de Lemos 5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Julio Díaz
- Climate Change, Health and Urban Environment Reference Unit, National School of Public Health, Carlos III Health Institute (Instituto de Salud Carlos III/ISCIII), Av./ Monforte de Lemos 5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Noguer-Zambrano
- Health Programs Department, National School of Public Health, Carlos III Health Institute, Av./ Monforte de Lemos 5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
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Salvador C, Nieto R, Kapwata T, Wright CY, Reason C, Gimeno L, Vicedo-Cabrera AM. Analyzing the effects of drought at different time scales on cause-specific mortality in South Africa. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS : ERL [WEB SITE] 2024; 19:054022. [PMID: 38855580 PMCID: PMC7616071 DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/ad3bd2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
South Africa (SA) is highly vulnerable to the effects of drought on the environment, economy, and society. However, its effect on human health remains unclear. Understanding the mortality risk associated with different types of droughts in different population groups and by specific causes would help clarify the potential mechanisms involved. The study aims to comprehensively assess the effect of droughts of varying time scales on cause-specific mortality (all; infectious and parasitic; endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic; cardiovascular; respiratory) in SA (from 2009-2016) and identify more vulnerable profiles based on sex and age. We also evaluated the urbanicity and district-level socioeconomic deprivation as potential risk modifiers. We used a two-stage time-series study design, with the weekly standardized precipitation-evapotranspiration index (SPEI) calculated at 1, 6, 12, and 15 months of accumulation to identify droughts of different duration (SPEI1, 6, 12, 15, respectively). We applied a quasi-Poisson regression adjusted by mean temperature to assess the association between each type of drought and weekly mortality in all district municipalities of SA, and then pooled the estimates in a meta-regression model. We reported relative risks (RRs) for one unit increase of drought severity. Overall, we found a positive association between droughts (regardless the time scale) and all causes of death analyzed. The strongest associations were found for the drought events more prolonged (RR [95%CI]: 1.027 [1.018, 1.036] (SPEI1); 1.035 [1.021, 1.050] (SPEI6); 1.033 [1.008, 1.058] (SPEI12); 1.098 [1.068, 1.129] (SPEI15)) and respiratory mortality (RRs varied from 1.037 [1.021, 1.053] (SPEI1) to 1.189 [1.14, 1.241] (SPEI15)). An indication of greater vulnerability was found in younger adults for the shortest droughts, in older adults for medium-term and long-term droughts, and children for very long-term droughts. However, differences were not significant. Further evidence of the relevance of urbanicity and demographic and socioeconomic conditions as potential risk modifiers is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Coral Salvador
- Centro de Investigación Marinã, Universidade de Vigo, Environmental Physics Laboratory (EPhysLab), Ourense, Spain
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Oeschger Center for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Raquel Nieto
- Centro de Investigación Marinã, Universidade de Vigo, Environmental Physics Laboratory (EPhysLab), Ourense, Spain
| | - Thandi Kapwata
- Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Johannesburg 2090, South Africa
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
| | - Caradee Y Wright
- Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
- Department of Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
| | - Chris Reason
- Oceanography Department, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Luis Gimeno
- Centro de Investigación Marinã, Universidade de Vigo, Environmental Physics Laboratory (EPhysLab), Ourense, Spain
| | - Ana M Vicedo-Cabrera
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Oeschger Center for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Sohrabizadeh S, Farahi-Ashtiani I, Bahramzadeh A, Eskandari Z, Moradi A, Hanafi-Bojd AA. Climate change and health: The case of mapping droughts and migration pattern in Iran (2011-2016). JOURNAL OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT (WESTON, MASS.) 2024; 22:113-122. [PMID: 38573734 DOI: 10.5055/jem.0814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Migration and mobility of population have been reported as a common reaction to drought. There is historical evidence to suggest the health effects of droughts and human migration linkage in Iran. This study aimed to map the drought and migration patterns in Iran in 2011 and 2016 and explore their possible health impacts. METHODS This sequential explanatory mixed-method study was done in two stages of spatial analysis and qualitative study. Data mapping was conducted through the equal interval classification and using drought, migration, and agriculture occupation data based on provincial divisions in Iran in 2011 and 2016. This qualitative study was conducted using the content analysis approach. RESULTS The in-migration rate was higher in 2011 rather than 2016. Migration to cities was much higher than migration to villages in both years. The frequency of male migrants was higher than females in all provinces in 2011 and 2016. Physical and mental diseases as well as economic, sociocultural, education, and environment effects on health were extracted from the qualitative data. CONCLUSION A holistic picture of droughts and migration issues in Iran and their health consequences were achieved by the present research. Further research is needed to explore the determinants of health impacts of climate change in vulnerable groups. Public health problems can be prevented by adaptive and preventive policy-making and planning. This can improve the coping capacity of the population facing droughts and enforced migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanaz Sohrabizadeh
- Air Quality and Climate Change Research Center, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Environment, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Corresponding author: . ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9170-178X
| | - Iman Farahi-Ashtiani
- Department of Health in Disasters and Emergencies, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amirhosein Bahramzadeh
- Department of Health in Disasters and Emergencies, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7820-3172
| | - Zahra Eskandari
- Department of Medical Emergencies, School of Nursing, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Tehran, Iran
| | - Aioub Moradi
- Department of Forestry, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran
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Gwon Y, Ji Y, Abadi AM, Rau A, Berman JD, Leeper RD, Rennie J, Nagaya R, Bell JE. The effect of heterogeneous severe drought on all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in the Northern Rockies and Plains of the United States. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169033. [PMID: 38065492 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169033] [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: 07/02/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Drought is a distinct and complicated climate hazard that regularly leads to severe economic impacts. Changes in the frequency and occurrence of drought due to anthropogenic climate change can lead to new and unanticipated outcomes. To better prepare for health outcomes, more research is needed to develop methodologies to understand potential consequences. This study suggests a new methodology for assessing the impact of monthly severe drought exposure on mortality in the Northern Rockies and Plains of the United States from 2000 to 2018. A two-stage model with the power prior approach was applied to integrate heterogeneous severe drought pattern and estimate overall risk ratios of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality related to multiple drought indices (the US Drought Monitor, 6- and 12-month Standardized Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index, 6- and 12 month Evaporative Demand Drought Index). Under severe drought, the risk ratios of all-cause mortality are 1.050 (95 % Cr: 1.031 to 1.071, USDM), 1.041 (95 % Cr: 1.022 to 1.060, 6-SPEI), 1.009 (95 % Cr: 0.989 to 1.031, 12SPEI), 1.045 (95 % Cr: 1.022 to 1.067, 6-EDDI), and 1.035 (95 % Cr: 1.009 to 1.062, 12-EDDI); cardiovascular mortality are 1.057 (95 % Cr: 1.023 to 1.091, USDM), 1.028 (95 % Cr: 0.998 to 1.059, 6-SPEI), 1.005 (95 % Cr: 0.973 to 1.040, 12-SPEI), 1.042 (95 % Cr: 1.005 to 1.080, 6-EDDI), and 1.004 (95 % Cr: 0.959 to 1.049, 12-EDDI). Our results showed that (i) a model with properly accounted for heterogeneous exposure pattern had greater risk ratios if statistically significant; (ii) a mid-term (6-month) severe drought had higher risk ratios compared to longer-term (12-month) drought; and (iii) different severe droughts affect populations in a different way. These results expand the existing knowledge of drought relationship to increasing mortality in the United States. The findings from this study highlight the need for communities and policymakers to establish effective drought-prevention initiatives in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeongjin Gwon
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha 68198, NE, USA; Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, University of Nebraska, Lincoln 68588, NE, USA.
| | - Yuanyuan Ji
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha 68198, NE, USA
| | - Azar M Abadi
- Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Alabama, Birmingham 35233, AL, USA
| | - Austin Rau
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, MN, USA
| | - Jesse D Berman
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, MN, USA
| | - Ronald D Leeper
- North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695, NC, USA
| | - Jared Rennie
- National Centers for Environmental Information, National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, Asheveille, 28801, NC, USA
| | - Richard Nagaya
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha 68198, NE, USA
| | - Jesse E Bell
- Department of Environmental, Agriculture, Occupational and Health, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha 68198, NE, USA; Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, University of Nebraska, Lincoln 68588, NE, USA; School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska, Lincoln 68588, NE, USA
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de Moura Brito Júnior V, de Magalhães HF, Albuquerque UP. Perception of health risks in contexts of extreme climate change in semiarid Northeastern Brazil: an analysis of the role of socioeconomic variables. JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2023; 19:24. [PMID: 37303045 DOI: 10.1186/s13002-023-00597-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Global climate change poses a significant challenge in contemporary society, particularly affecting vulnerable populations like small farmers residing in arid and semiarid regions. This study aims to investigate the perception of health risks and adaptive responses in the semiarid region of Northeast Brazil (NEB). Four questions were formulated: (1) How do socioeconomic factors influence the perception of health risks during extreme climate events? (2) How do socioeconomic factors impact the adoption of adaptive responses to mitigate health risks during extreme weather events? (3) How does the perceived risk level affect the utilization of adaptive responses? (4) What is the influence of extreme climate events on the perceived risks and the adoption of adaptive responses? METHOD The research was conducted in the rural community of Carão, situated in the Agreste region of the State of Pernambuco, NEB. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 49 volunteers aged 18 and above. The interviews aimed to gather socioeconomic information, including sex, age, income, access to healthcare services, family size, and education level. Additionally, the interviews explored the perceived risks and responses employed during different extreme climate events such as droughts or heavy rainfall. The perceived risks and adaptive responses data were quantified to address the research questions. Generalized linear models were employed to analyze the data for the first three questions, while the nonparametric Mann-Whitney test was used for the fourth question. RESULTS The study found no significant differences in the level of perceived risk and adaptive responses between the two climate extremes. However, the quantity of adaptive responses was found to be directly influenced by the perceived risks, regardless of the type of extreme climate event. CONCLUSION The study concludes that risk perception is influenced by various complex factors, including socioeconomic variables, and plays a critical role in the adoption of adaptive responses during extreme climate events. The findings suggest that specific socioeconomic variables have a more pronounced influence on how individuals perceive and adapt to risks. Furthermore, the results indicate a cause-and-effect relationship between perceived risks and the generation of adaptive responses. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the factors shaping risk perception and provide valuable insights for future studies in regions prone to extreme climate events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valdir de Moura Brito Júnior
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Evolução de Sistemas Socioecológicos (LEA), Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária, Recife, Pernambuco, 50670-901, Brazil
| | - Henrique Fernandes de Magalhães
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Evolução de Sistemas Socioecológicos (LEA), Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária, Recife, Pernambuco, 50670-901, Brazil
| | - Ulysses Paulino Albuquerque
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Evolução de Sistemas Socioecológicos (LEA), Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária, Recife, Pernambuco, 50670-901, Brazil.
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Freitas CMD. Disasters and icebergs: we must go beyond. CAD SAUDE PUBLICA 2023; 39:e00052523. [PMID: 37075340 DOI: 10.1590/0102-311xpt052523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
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Salvador C, Vicedo‐Cabrera AM, Libonati R, Russo A, Garcia BN, Belem LBC, Gimeno L, Nieto R. Effects of Drought on Mortality in Macro Urban Areas of Brazil Between 2000 and 2019. GEOHEALTH 2022; 6:e2021GH000534. [PMID: 35280229 PMCID: PMC8902811 DOI: 10.1029/2021gh000534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
A significant fraction of Brazil's population has been exposed to drought in recent years, a situation that is expected to worsen in frequency and intensity due to climate change. This constitutes a current key environmental health concern, especially in densely urban areas such as several big cities and suburbs. For the first time, a comprehensive assessment of the short-term drought effects on weekly non-external, circulatory, and respiratory mortality was conducted in 13 major Brazilian macro-urban areas across 2000-2019. We applied quasi-Poisson regression models adjusted by temperature to explore the association between drought (defined by the Standardized Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index) and the different mortality causes by location, sex, and age groups. We next conducted multivariate meta-analytical models separated by cause and population groups to pool individual estimates. Impact measures were expressed as the attributable fractions among the exposed population, from the relative risks (RRs). Overall, a positive association between drought exposure and mortality was evidenced in the total population, with RRs varying from 1.003 [95% CI: 0.999-1.007] to 1.010 [0.996-1.025] for non-external mortality related to moderate and extreme drought conditions, from 1.002 [0.997-1.007] to 1.008 [0.991-1.026] for circulatory mortality, and from 1.004 [0.995-1.013] to 1.013 [0.983-1.044] for respiratory mortality. Females, children, and the elderly population were the most affected groups, for whom a robust positive association was found. The study also revealed high heterogeneity between locations. We suggest that policies and action plans should pay special attention to vulnerable populations to promote efficient measures to reduce vulnerability and risks associated with droughts.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. Salvador
- Centro de Investigación MariñaUniversidade de VigoEnvironmental Physics Laboratory (EPhysLab)OurenseSpain
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM)University of BernBernSwitzerland
- Oeschger Center for Climate Change ResearchUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - A. M. Vicedo‐Cabrera
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM)University of BernBernSwitzerland
- Oeschger Center for Climate Change ResearchUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - R. Libonati
- Departamento de MeteorologiaUniversidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de JaneiroBrazil
- Instituto Dom Luíz (IDL)Faculdade de CiênciasUniversidade de LisboaLisboaPortugal
| | - A. Russo
- Instituto Dom Luíz (IDL)Faculdade de CiênciasUniversidade de LisboaLisboaPortugal
| | - B. N. Garcia
- Departamento de MeteorologiaUniversidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de JaneiroBrazil
| | - L. B. C. Belem
- Departamento de MeteorologiaUniversidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de JaneiroBrazil
| | - L. Gimeno
- Centro de Investigación MariñaUniversidade de VigoEnvironmental Physics Laboratory (EPhysLab)OurenseSpain
| | - R. Nieto
- Centro de Investigación MariñaUniversidade de VigoEnvironmental Physics Laboratory (EPhysLab)OurenseSpain
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Santos L, Oliveira JE, Maduro-Abreu A, Litre G, Sátiro GS, Soares DDC. [Climate change, changes in productivity and health: complex interactions in the national literature]. CIENCIA & SAUDE COLETIVA 2021; 26:5315-5328. [PMID: 34787222 DOI: 10.1590/1413-812320212611.3.14622019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
This article reviews the scientific output published in national journals on the interactions that are established between the concepts of climate change, productive changes (including changes in land use) and human health in the last ten years (from 2008 to 2017), highlighting the theoretical-methodological trends of this output. To achieve this, a review of the literature was made from publications made available in the Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) and the CAPES Journals Portal. The results obtained demonstrate the advances made in the last ten years by the interdisciplinary teams that dealt with the subject over the period analyzed. At the same time, this article identifies the research gaps that can be exploited in future research. In addition, a positive sophistication and refinement of analytical tools and instruments have been identified that are able to gather consistent information about a broad and complex reality characterized by the diversity of biomes, climatic scenarios and productive systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana Santos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioética, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade de Brasília (UnB). Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro s/n, Asa Norte. 70910-900 Brasília DF Brasil.
| | - Jessica Eloísa Oliveira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Administração, Faculdade de Economia, Administração e Contabilidade, UnB. Brasília DF Brasil
| | - Alexandre Maduro-Abreu
- Centro de Pesquisa em Gestão, Inovação e Sustentabilidade, Faculdade de Economia, Administração e Contabilidade, UnB. Brasília DF Brasil
| | - Gabriela Litre
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Sustentável, UnB. Brasília DF Brasil
| | - Guadalupe Souza Sátiro
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Desenvolvimento Sustentável, Centro de Desenvolvimento Sustentável, UnB. Brasília DF Brasil
| | - Danny de Castro Soares
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Economia, Universidade Católica de Brasília. Brasília DF Brasil
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Alam I, Otani S, Majbauddin A, Qing Q, Ishizu SF, Masumoto T, Amano H, Kurozawa Y. The Effects of Drought Severity and Its Aftereffects on Mortality in Bangladesh. Yonago Acta Med 2021; 64:292-302. [PMID: 34429705 DOI: 10.33160/yam.2021.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2012] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Background Drought has been a considerable problem for many years in northern Bangladesh. However, the health impacts of drought in this region are not well understood. Methods This study analyzed the impact of drought duration and severity on select causes of mortality in northern Bangladesh. Rainfall data from three meteorological stations (Rangpur, Dinajpur and Nilphamari) in northern Bangladesh were used to assess drought and non-drought periods, and the Standardized Precipitation Index was used to categorize mild, moderate, severe, and extreme drought. Mortality data from 2007 to 2017 for the three areas were collected from the Sample Vital Registration System, which is a survey of 1 million people. The generalized linear model with Poisson regression link was used to identify associations between mortality and the drought severity and 1-month preceding SPI. Results Only severe and extreme drought in the short-term drought periods affected mortality. Long-term drought was not associated with natural cause mortality in Rangpur and Nilphamari. In Dinajpur, mild and moderate drought was associated with circulatory- and respiratory-related mortality. Conclusion The impact of drought on mortality varied by region. This study improves our understanding of how droughts affect specific causes of mortality and will help policy makers to take appropriate measures against drought impacts on selected cause of mortality. Future research will be critical to reduce drought-related risks of health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Intekhab Alam
- Division of Health Administration and Promotion, Department of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8503, Japan
| | - Shinji Otani
- International Platform for Dryland Research and Education, Tottori University, Tottori 680-0001, Japan
| | - Abir Majbauddin
- Department of Regenerative Dermatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Qing Qing
- The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Tottori University, Tottori 680-8553, Japan
| | - Satomi Funaki Ishizu
- Division of Health Administration and Promotion, Department of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8503, Japan
| | - Toshio Masumoto
- Division of Health Administration and Promotion, Department of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8503, Japan
| | - Hiroki Amano
- Division of Health Administration and Promotion, Department of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8503, Japan
| | - Youichi Kurozawa
- Division of Health Administration and Promotion, Department of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8503, Japan
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Factors Associated with Suicidal Behavior in Farmers: A Systematic Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18126522. [PMID: 34204344 PMCID: PMC8296393 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18126522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
This review aimed to investigate the factors associated with suicidal behavior in farmers in the scientific literature. Two researchers participated independently in searching databases, specifically PubMed/MEDLINE, LILACS, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO, and SciELO. Only observational studies were included. The quality of the selected studies was assessed with a critical assessment checklist for cross-sectional analytical and case-control studies, prepared by the Joanna Briggs Institute. Data related to the publication were collected (author and year; city/country); methodological design; sample/population (gender; average age), outcome, measuring instrument and factors associated with suicidal behavior. A total of 14 studies were included in the systematic review, and factors associated with farmers' behavior in mental health (depression), seasonal impacts (drought), and work exposures (herbicides and insecticides) were identified. However, heterogeneity was found in terms of the method, measurement of suicidal behavior, and associated factors, which indicates the need for further studies.
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Menezes JA, Madureira AP, dos Santos RB, Duval IDB, Regoto P, Margonari C, Barata MMDL, Confalonieri U. Analyzing Spatial Patterns of Health Vulnerability to Drought in the Brazilian Semiarid Region. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18126262. [PMID: 34207877 PMCID: PMC8296049 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18126262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Health determinants might play an important role in shaping the impacts related to long-term disasters such as droughts. Understanding their distribution in populated dry regions may help to map vulnerabilities and set coping strategies for current and future threats to human health. The aim of the study was to identify the most vulnerable municipalities of the Brazilian semiarid region when it comes to the relationship between drought, health, and their determinants using a multidimensional index. From a place-based framework, epidemiological, socio-economic, rural, and health infrastructure data were obtained for 1135 municipalities in the Brazilian semiarid region. An exploratory factor analysis was used to reduce 32 variables to four independent factors and compute a Health Vulnerability Index. The health vulnerability was modulated by social determinants, rural characteristics, and access to water in this semiarid region. There was a clear distinction between municipalities with the highest human welfare and economic development and those municipalities with the worst living conditions and health status. Spatial patterns showed a cluster of the most vulnerable municipalities in the western, eastern, and northeastern portions of the semiarid region. The spatial visualization of the associated vulnerabilities supports decision making on health promotion policies that should focus on reducing social inequality. In addition, policymakers are presented with a simple tool to identify populations or areas with the worst socioeconomic and health conditions, which can facilitate the targeting of actions and resources on a more equitable basis. Further, the results contribute to the understanding of social determinants that may be related to medium- and long-term health outcomes in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Júlia Alves Menezes
- Transdisciplinary Study Group on Health and Environment René Rachou Institute–Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Avenida Augusto de Lima, 1715, Barro Preto, 30190-009 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; (R.B.d.S.); (I.d.B.D.); (U.C.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Ana Paula Madureira
- Department of Biosystems Engineering, The Federal University of São João del-Rei, Praça Dom Helvécio, 74, Fábricas, 36301-160 São João del-Rei, MG, Brazil;
| | - Rhavena Barbosa dos Santos
- Transdisciplinary Study Group on Health and Environment René Rachou Institute–Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Avenida Augusto de Lima, 1715, Barro Preto, 30190-009 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; (R.B.d.S.); (I.d.B.D.); (U.C.)
| | - Isabela de Brito Duval
- Transdisciplinary Study Group on Health and Environment René Rachou Institute–Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Avenida Augusto de Lima, 1715, Barro Preto, 30190-009 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; (R.B.d.S.); (I.d.B.D.); (U.C.)
| | - Pedro Regoto
- Postgraduate Program of Meteorology, National Institute for Space Research, Rodovia Presidente Dutra Km 39, 12630-000 Cachoeira Paulista, SP, Brazil;
| | - Carina Margonari
- Leishmaniasis Study Group René Rachou Institute–Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Avenida Augusto de Lima, 1715, Barro Preto, 30190-009 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil;
| | - Martha Macêdo de Lima Barata
- Postgraduate Program of Public Health and Environment, National School of Public Health–Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rua Leopoldo Bulhões, 1480, Manguinhos, 21041-210 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil;
| | - Ulisses Confalonieri
- Transdisciplinary Study Group on Health and Environment René Rachou Institute–Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Avenida Augusto de Lima, 1715, Barro Preto, 30190-009 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; (R.B.d.S.); (I.d.B.D.); (U.C.)
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Helldén D, Andersson C, Nilsson M, Ebi KL, Friberg P, Alfvén T. Climate change and child health: a scoping review and an expanded conceptual framework. Lancet Planet Health 2021; 5:e164-e175. [PMID: 33713617 DOI: 10.1016/s2542-5196(20)30274-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Climate change can have detrimental effects on child health and wellbeing. Despite the imperative for a fuller understanding of how climate change affects child health and wellbeing, a systematic approach and focus solely on children (aged <18 years) has been lacking. In this Scoping Review, we did a literature search on the impacts of climate change on child health from January, 2000, to June, 2019. The included studies explicitly linked an alteration of an exposure to a risk factor for child health to climate change or climate variability. In total, 2970 original articles, reviews, and other documents were identified, of which 371 were analysed. Employing an expanded framework, our analysis showed that the effects of climate change on child health act through direct and indirect pathways, with implications for determinants of child health as well as morbidity and mortality from a range of diseases. This understanding can be further enhanced by using a broader range of research methods, studying overlooked populations and geographical regions, investigating the costs and benefits of mitigation and adaptation for child health, and considering the position of climate change and child health within the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Present and future generations of children bear and will continue to bear an unacceptably high disease burden from climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Helldén
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Camilla Andersson
- Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Maria Nilsson
- Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Kristie L Ebi
- Department of Global Health, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Peter Friberg
- Swedish Institute for Global Health Transformation, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Tobias Alfvén
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Sachs' Children and Youth Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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Flório FM, Dos Santos Klee L, Brandão Ramos AP, Ambrosano GMB, de Souza Fonseca Silva A. Use of Water by Schoolchildren: Impact of Indirectly Supervised Daily Toothbrushing-A Pilot Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2021; 13:513-517. [PMID: 33623340 PMCID: PMC7887171 DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10005-1800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim This present longitudinal, quantitative, and analytical pilot study evaluated the impact of daily indirectly supervised toothbrushing on water consumption. Materials and methods The study was carried out in a social center that provided care to children aged 5–14 years in Campinas in the state of São Paulo. Calibrated hydrometers were installed on taps used by the children, and the daily volume of water used was measured for 25 school days (T0). An educational program was then implemented (T1), where supervised toothbrushing was explained, encouraged, and put into action. The next phase (T2) incorporated a recreational approach to the rational use of water, and the consumption was measured for another 25 school days. After six months (T3) without further educational interventions by the researchers, water consumption was measured for the same period of 25 school days. The data were analyzed based on the mixed models methodology for measures repeated over time. Results The water consumption did not change significantly (p > 0.05) between the different phases of the study (T0 = 0.43 ± 0.19, T1 = 0.38 ± 0.17, T2 = 0.39 ± 0.15, T1 = 0.48 ± 0.21 dm3/day/child). Conclusion The introduction of toothbrushing into the routine of the children, in the context of recreational and sustainable health education, did not have a detrimental impact on water consumption. Clinical significance Among the many recommendations for the introduction and implementation of supervised toothbrushing programs in school environments, there is no mention of the measures taken during such procedures aimed at economizing water, the rational use of which should be a daily practice irrespective of the water conditions of the surrounding region. The findings of this study contribute to the enhancement of educational and pedagogical activities in schools. How to cite this article Flório FM, dos Santos Klee L, Brandão Ramos AP, et al. Use of Water by Schoolchildren: Impact of Indirectly Supervised Daily Toothbrushing—A Pilot Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2020;13(5):513–517.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flávia Martão Flório
- Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculdade São Leopoldo Mandic, Campinas, SP, Brazil; Department of Public Health, São Leopoldo Mandic School of Dentistry and Research Center, Campinas, Brazil
| | | | - Ana Paula Brandão Ramos
- Simplific Consultancy and Advisory in Health, Safety and Environment, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazi
| | - Gláucia Maria Bovi Ambrosano
- Department of Social Preventive Dentistry, Piracicaba School of Dentistry (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
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da Silva PE, Spyrides MHC, de Melo Barbosa Andrade L, Santos E Silva CM, Mutti PR, Lucio PS. An epidemiological index for drought vulnerability in the Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2021; 65:325-335. [PMID: 33125535 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-020-02034-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In the Northeast Brazil (NEB), the impacts of climate extreme events such as severe droughts are aggravated by poverty and poor socioeconomic conditions. In this region, such events usually result in the spread of endemic diseases, problems in water distribution, and agricultural losses, often leading to an increase in the population's vulnerability. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the microregions of the Rio Grande do Norte (RN) state, in the NEB, according to the Epidemiological Index for Drought Vulnerability (EIDV). We mapped and classified the microregions according to three dimensions of vulnerability: risk, susceptibility, and adaptive capacity. We also verified potential associations between drought risk and epidemiological vulnerability. The EIDV was calculated by considering the three dimensions of vulnerability as mutually exclusive events and applying the third axiom of probability. Then we carried out a cluster analysis in order to classify the microregions according to similarities in the EIDV. Odds ratio were also calculated in order to evaluate the odds of microregions having a high susceptibility to diseases and high vulnerability given the drought risk. Results showed that the Pau dos Ferros, Seridó Ocidental, Seridó Oriental, and Umarizal microregions were the most vulnerable, while Natal and Litoral Sul were the least vulnerable. Regarding the dimensions of vulnerability, we observed that almost the entire RN state exhibited high drought risk. Pau dos Ferros and Umarizal had the highest susceptibility and Litoral Nordeste presented the worst adaptive capacity to the effects of drought on health. The EIDV revealed that the population of the RN state needs improvements in living conditions and health, since socioeconomic status is one of the factors that most influence the vulnerability of microregions, which in turn is aggravated by drought risk.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lara de Melo Barbosa Andrade
- Departamento de Ciências Atmosféricas e Climáticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Cláudio Moisés Santos E Silva
- Departamento de Ciências Atmosféricas e Climáticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Pedro Rodrigues Mutti
- Departamento de Ciências Atmosféricas e Climáticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Paulo Sérgio Lucio
- Departamento de Ciências Atmosféricas e Climáticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
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Salvador C, Nieto R, Linares C, Díaz J, Alves CA, Gimeno L. Drought effects on specific-cause mortality in Lisbon from 1983 to 2016: Risks assessment by gender and age groups. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 751:142332. [PMID: 33182008 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Portugal (Southwestern Europe) experiences a high incidence of dry hazards such as drought, a phenomenon that entails a notable burden of morbidity and mortality worldwide. For the first time in the Lisbon district, a time-series study was conducted to evaluate the impact of drought measured by the Standardised Precipitation Index (SPI) and Standardised Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) on the daily natural, circulatory, and respiratory mortality from 1983 to 2016. An assessment by gender and adult age population groups (45-64, 65-74, ≥75 years old) was included. To estimate the relative risks and attributable risks, generalised linear models with a Poisson link were used. Additionally, the influence of heatwaves and atmospheric pollution for the period from 2007 to 2016 (available period for pollution data) was considered. The main findings indicate statistically significant associations between drought conditions and all analysed causes of mortality. Moreover, SPEI shows an improved capability to reflect the different risks. People in the 45-64 year-old group did not indicate any significant influence in any of the cases, whereas the oldest groups had the highest risk. The drought effects on mortality among the population varied across the different study periods, and in general, the men population was affected more than the women population (except for the SPEI and circulatory mortality during the long study period). The short-term influence of droughts on mortality could be explained primarily by the effect of heatwaves and pollution; however, when both gender and age were considered in the Poisson models, the effect of drought also remained statistically significant when all climatic phenomena were included for specific groups of the total population and men. This type of study facilitates a better understanding of the population at risk and allows the development of more effective measures to mitigate the drought effects on the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Salvador
- EPhysLab (Environmental Physics Laboratory), CIM-UVIGO, Universidade de Vigo, Ourense, Spain.
| | - R Nieto
- EPhysLab (Environmental Physics Laboratory), CIM-UVIGO, Universidade de Vigo, Ourense, Spain
| | - C Linares
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, National School of Public Health, Carlos III National Institute of Health (Instituto de Salud Carlos III/ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - J Díaz
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, National School of Public Health, Carlos III National Institute of Health (Instituto de Salud Carlos III/ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - C A Alves
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - L Gimeno
- EPhysLab (Environmental Physics Laboratory), CIM-UVIGO, Universidade de Vigo, Ourense, Spain
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Sena A, Ebi K. When Land Is Under Pressure Health Is Under Stress. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 18:E136. [PMID: 33375481 PMCID: PMC7796245 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18010136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
The land provides vital resources to support life on Earth. Land ecosystems services have social, cultural, and spiritual benefits and promote human health and well-being. However, human activities, particularly ongoing unsustainable land practices, are negatively impacting ecosystems through desertification, land degradation and drought (DLDD). This article highlights the pressures and impacts of DLDD on human health through exposure pathways, including water security and safety; sanitation and hygiene; food security and safety; air quality; and soil quality. We describe the impacts on 19 health outcomes in three groups: non-communicable diseases; injuries; and infections, parasitic and nutritional diseases. The magnitude of these health impacts is mediated by social, economic, and health system-related factors. We propose actions for the health sector to respond to the DLDD challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aderita Sena
- Centre of the Study and Research of Health Emergencies and Disasters, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-361, Brazil
| | - Kristie Ebi
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, WA 98195, USA;
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Bellizzi S, Lane C, Elhakim M, Nabeth P. Health consequences of drought in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region: hotspot areas and needed actions. Environ Health 2020; 19:114. [PMID: 33183302 PMCID: PMC7659048 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-020-00665-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Over the past four decades, drought episodes in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) of the of the World Health Organization (WHO) have gradually become more widespread, prolonged and frequent. We aimed to map hotspot countries and identified key strategic actions for health consequences. METHODS We reviewed scientific literature and WHO EMR documentation on trends and patterns of the drought health consequences from 1990 through 2019. Extensive communication was also carried out with EMR WHO country offices to retrieve information on ongoing initiatives to face health consequences due to drought. An index score was developed to categorize countries according vulnerability factors towards drought. RESULTS A series of complex health consequences are due to drought in EMR, including malnutrition, vector-borne diseases, and water-borne diseases. The index score indicated how Afghanistan, Yemen and Somalia are "hotspots" due to poor population health status and access to basic sanitation as well as other elements such as food insecurity, displacement and conflicts/political instability. WHO country offices effort is towards enhancing access to water and sanitation and essential healthcare services including immunization and psychological support, strengthening disease surveillance and response, and risk communication. CONCLUSIONS Drought-related health effects in the WHO EMR represent a public health emergency. Strengthening mitigation activities and additional tailored efforts are urgently needed to overcome context-specific gaps and weaknesses, with specific focus on financing, accountability and enhanced data availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saverio Bellizzi
- Emergency Department, World Health Organization, Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Chris Lane
- Emergency Department, World Health Organization, Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Elhakim
- Emergency Department, World Health Organization, Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Pierre Nabeth
- Emergency Department, World Health Organization, Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, Cairo, Egypt
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Belesova K, Agabiirwe CN, Zou M, Phalkey R, Wilkinson P. Drought exposure as a risk factor for child undernutrition in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and assessment of empirical evidence. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2019; 131:104973. [PMID: 31400736 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.104973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Revised: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Droughts affect around 52 million people globally each year, a figure that is likely to increase under climate change. OBJECTIVES To assess the strength of empirical evidence on drought exposure as a risk factor for undernutrition in children <5 years of age in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). METHODS Systematic review of observational studies published between 1990 and 2018 in English and reporting undernutrition outcomes in children <5 years of age in relation to droughts in LMICs. The search was performed in the Global Health, Medline, Embase, and Scopus databases. We assessed the strength of evidence following the Navigation Guide. RESULTS 27 studies met our inclusion criteria. 12 reported prevalence estimates in drought-affected conditions without comparison to unaffected conditions. These showed high prevalence of chronic and mixed undernutrition and poor to critical levels of acute undernutrition. Only two studies were judged to have low risk of bias. Overall, the strength of evidence of drought as a risk factor was found to be limited, but the two studies with low risk of bias suggested positive associations of drought exposure with children being underweight and having anaemia. CONCLUSION Published evidence suggests high levels of all types of child undernutrition in drought-affected populations in low-income settings, but the extent to which these levels are attributable to drought has not been clearly quantified and may be context specific. This review offers suggestions for enhancing the quality of future studies to strengthen evidence on the potential magnitude, timing, and modifying factors of drought impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristine Belesova
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Caroline Noel Agabiirwe
- Division of Epidemiology and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Margaret Zou
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Revati Phalkey
- Division of Epidemiology and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK; Institute of Public Health, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, Heidelberg 69120, Germany.
| | - Paul Wilkinson
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
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Sena A, Freitas C, Feitosa Souza P, Carneiro F, Alpino T, Pedroso M, Corvalan C, Barcellos C. Drought in the Semiarid Region of Brazil: Exposure, Vulnerabilities and Health Impacts from the Perspectives of Local Actors. PLOS CURRENTS 2018; 10:ecurrents.dis.c226851ebd64290e619a4d1ed79c8639. [PMID: 30555749 PMCID: PMC6279460 DOI: 10.1371/currents.dis.c226851ebd64290e619a4d1ed79c8639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The objective of this study was to understand and assess the perception of communities, organized civil society, health professionals, and decision-makers of several governmental institutions, regarding vulnerabilities and health impacts in drought prone municipalities of Brazil. METHODS This study was carried out through a qualitative investigation in eight municipalities in the Brazilian Semiarid region. Data collection was done through semi-structure and structure interviews, and discussion with local actors, which included communities groups, health professionals, governmental managers and organized civil society. RESULTS The results point to the local actors' concerns and to the fragility of the health sector in the planning of integrated actions directed towards risks and impacts associated with drought conditions on human health. DISCUSSION The lack of a specific knowledge contributes to making invisible the process that determines the impacts of drought on health, leading to an acceptance of drought in those municipalities, reducing the capacity of the health system to respond to droughts. KEYWORDS drought, vulnerability, risks, health, perception, Brazilian Semiarid, resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aderita Sena
- Institute of Scientific and Technological Communication and Information in Health (ICICT), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Carlos Freitas
- Center for Study and Research of Emergencies and Disasters in Health (Cepedes), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Feitosa Souza
- Institute of Scientific and Technological Communication and Information in Health (ICICT), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Fernando Carneiro
- Health and Environment Department, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Tais Alpino
- Center for Study and Research of Emergencies and Disasters in Health (Cepedes), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Marcel Pedroso
- Institute of Scientific and Technological Communication and Information in Health (ICICT), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | | | - Christovam Barcellos
- Institute of Scientific and Technological Communication and Information in Health (ICICT), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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Assessing the Influence of Water Management and Rainfall Seasonality on Water Quality and Intestinal Parasitism in Rural Northeastern Brazil. J Trop Med 2018; 2018:8159354. [PMID: 30105057 PMCID: PMC6076909 DOI: 10.1155/2018/8159354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The drought in the Brazilian semiarid region has affected the quality of water. This study assessed the relationships between enteric parasitoses, water management, and water quality, correlating them with pluviometric seasonality. Methods Cross-sectional surveys were carried out in four rural communities at the beginning of the dry season (n=151), at the end of the dry season (n=184), and in the rainy season (n=199), in order to collect sociodemographic data, human fecal samples, and samples of the water used for human consumption for physicochemical and microbiological analyses. In 2015, water filters were provided to 30 households under study. Results There was an increasing trend in detection rates of commensal protozoa and the Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar complex at the beginning of the rainy season, with detection rates of 6% in 2014 and 21.6% in 2016. Giardia intestinalis and Ascaris lumbricoides presented distinct temporal distributions, which peaked in 2015: 20.1% and 30%, respectively. The proportion of inhabitants drinking inadequate water was 55% at the beginning of the dry season and 28.8% at the end of the dry season, reaching 70.9% at the beginning of the rainy season. The presence of filters reduced this proportion among those who received the hollow ceramic candle filter. Conclusions Data suggest that the strategies to increase water supply in the Brazilian semiarid region can be ameliorated in order to improve the quality of drinking water.
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Sena A, Ebi KL, Freitas C, Corvalan C, Barcellos C. Indicators to measure risk of disaster associated with drought: Implications for the health sector. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0181394. [PMID: 28742848 PMCID: PMC5526563 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0181394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2017] [Accepted: 07/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Brazil has a large semiarid region, which covers part of 9 states, over 20% of the 5565 municipalities in the country and at 22.5 million persons, 12% of the country's population. This region experiences recurrent and extended droughts and is characterized by low economic development, scarcity of natural resources including water, and difficult agricultural and livestock production. Local governments and communities need easily obtainable tools to aid their decision making process in managing risks associated with drought. METHODS To inform decision-making at the level of municipalities, we investigated factors contributing to the health risks of drought. We used education and poverty indicators to measure vulnerability, number of drought damage evaluations and historical drought occurrences as indicators of hazard, and access to water as an indicator of exposure, to derive a drought disaster risk index. RESULTS Indicators such as access to piped water, illiteracy and poverty show marked differences in most states and, in nearly all states, the living conditions of communities in the semiarid region are worse than in the rest of each state. There are municipalities at high drought disaster risk in every state and there are a larger number of municipalities at higher risks from the center to the north of the semiarid region. CONCLUSIONS Understanding local hazards, exposures and vulnerabilities provides the means to understand local communities' risks and develop interventions to reduce them. In addition, communities in these regions need to be empowered to add their traditional knowledge to scientific tools, and to identify the actions most relevant to their needs and realities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aderita Sena
- Institute of Scientific and Technological Communication and Information in Health (ICICT), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Kristie L. Ebi
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Carlos Freitas
- National School of Public Health (ENSP), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carlos Corvalan
- Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia
| | - Christovam Barcellos
- Institute of Scientific and Technological Communication and Information in Health (ICICT), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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