• Home
  • Collections
    • Agriculture and Environmental Studies
    • Arts, Media and Popular Culture
    • AWDF Publications
    • Capacity Building
    • Children's Human Rights
    • Climate Change
    • Development Studies
    • Disability Rights & Disability Studies
    • Economic Empowerment and Livelihood
    • Feminist Studies
    • Gender and Sexuality
    • Governance and Politics
    • HIV and AIDS
    • Peace Building
    • Philanthropy
    • Race, Culture, and Identity
    • Religion and Spirituality
    • Reproductive Health and Wellness
  • Photo and Video Collections
  • Sauti Centre Catalogue
  • AWDF Main Site

Search by :

ALL Author Subject ISBN/ISSN Advanced Search

Last search:

{{tmpObj[k].text}}
Image of Impacts of Climate Change on Health and Wellbeing in South Africa

Impacts of Climate Change on Health and Wellbeing in South Africa

Chersich, Matthew F. - Personal Name; Wright, Caradee Y. - Personal Name; Venter, Francois - Personal Name; Rees, Helen - Personal Name; Scorgie, Fiona - Personal Name; Erasmus, Barend - Personal Name;
Download PDF

Given its associated burden of disease, climate change in South Africa could be reframed as
predominately a health issue, one necessitating an urgent health-sector response. The growing impact
of climate change has major implications for South Africa, especially for the numerous vulnerable
groups in the country. We systematically reviewed the literature by searching PubMed and Web
of Science. Of the 820 papers screened, 34 were identified that assessed the impacts of climate
change on health in the country. Most papers covered effects of heat on health or on infectious
diseases (20/34; 59%). We found that extreme weather events are the most noticeable effects to date,
especially droughts in the Western Cape, but rises in vector-borne diseases are gaining prominence.
Climate aberration is also linked in myriad ways with outbreaks of food and waterborne diseases,
and possibly with the recent Listeria epidemic. The potential impacts of climate change on mental
health may compound the multiple social stressors that already beset the populace. Climate change
heightens the pre-existing vulnerabilities of women, fishing communities, rural subsistence farmers
and those living in informal settlements. Further gender disparities, eco-migration and social
disruptions may undermine the prevention—but also treatment—of HIV. Our findings suggest that
focused research and effective use of surveillance data are required to monitor climate change’s
impacts; traditional strengths of the country’s health sector. The health sector, hitherto a fringe
player, should assume a greater leadership role in promoting policies that protect the public’s health,
address inequities and advance the country’s commitments to climate change accords.


Detail Information
Publication Information
: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health., 43343
Number of Pages
-
ISBN
-
Language
English
ISSN
-
Subject(s)
South Africa; climate change; HIV; eco-migration;
Description
-
Citation
-
Other Information
Type
Article
Part Of Series
-
DOI Identifier
-
Related Publications

No Related Publications available

Comments



African Women Development Fund (AWDF) Online Repository (AfriREP)
  • Collections
  • Sauti Centre Catalogue
  • AWDF Website

Contact Us

* - required fields
form to email

Search

Start your search by typing one or more keywords for title, author or subject


© 2023 — The African Women's Development Fund. All Rights Reserved

Powered by AlliedNet Systems Ltd.
Select the topic you are interested in
  • Agriculture and Environmental Studies
  • Arts, Media and Popular Culture
  • AWDF Publications
  • Capacity Building
  • Children Human Rights
  • Climate Change
  • Development Studies
  • Disability Rights & Disability Studies
  • Economic Empowerment and Livelihood
  • Feminist Studies
  • Gender and Sexuality
  • Governance and Politics
  • HIV & AIDS
  • Peace Building
  • Philanthropy
  • Race, Culture, and Identity
  • Religion and Spirituality
  • Reproductive Health and Wellness
  • Resource Toolkits
  • Women's Human Rights
Advanced Search