Climate-Health Supplement Study.
January 10, 2025 | Ongoing Project | Reading time: 8 min
Introduction
KHRC is carrying out a climate-health supplement study to examine the impact of climate change on human health. The study also seeks to strengthen the skills of scientists through workshops and training programmes. Funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH), this sub-study will nurture climate change experts in Ghana who will apply their expertise to shape health policies and improve the overall health and well-being of individuals.
Investigators
KHRC: Dr. Kwaku Poku Asante, Dr. Sulemana Watara Abubakari, Dr. Seyram Kaali
Background
Climate change disproportionately affects LMIC populations, yet little data is available to inform adaptive strategies in LMICs. Climate change is driven by fossil fuel combustion in high-income countries, but the burden of climate change is disproportionately borne by those who have contributed the least, including persons living in LMICs. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) synthesis identifies that Africa, including Western Africa, is currently experiencing an increase in hot extremes and agricultural and ecological drought and, with high confidence, is highly vulnerable to health systems (e.g. water availability and food production, health and wellbeing) and ecosystems (e.g., changes in ecosystem structure) impacts of climate change. Further, the health impacts of climate change are estimated to disproportionately impact the poorest communities, many of which – particularly from a global perspective – contribute little data to known health sensitivities.
Indeed, the Climate Impacts Lab estimated that “the effect of an additional hot day on mortality in the >64 groups is ~50% larger in regions of the world where mortality data are unavailable”. Policy decisions for those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change are thus being made with incomplete and inconsistent information. Despite the importance of characterizing humidity and air temperatures during heat waves, few studies have investigated how humid heat relates to health outcomes like maternal-child health or mortality in Africa. This is due to a lack of data – there are only ~200 weather stations with a robust, longitudinal reporting record for Africa and only one in Ghana.4 Mortality and morbidity and climate modelling from sub-Saharan Africa is urgently needed to provide better estimates on which policy and community leaders can develop adaptive strategies. Evidence from high-income countries, and largely urban communities, suggests that temperature extremes are associated with a higher risk for mortality. Few studies have examined cause-specific mortality or begun to conceptualize life course temperature exposures instead of short-term temperature extremes in LMICs.
Objectives
This study focuses on two main objectives:
Aim 1: To engage with key stakeholders and enhance climate research capacity in Ghana.
1a) Collaborate with community and government stakeholders to share study findings
and identify priority areas for action.
1b) Build the expertise of climate scientists through training workshops and mentored research, focusing on future heat-related mortality within the context of an ongoing Demographic
and Health Surveillance System (DHSS).
Aim 2: To assess effects of preconception and prenatal i) humid-heat and drought; ii) precipitation on birth outcomes, childhood growth, and maternal CVH using the well-characterized
GRAPHS data repository.
2a) Examine time-varying associations between Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), Standardized Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), and Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD), considered independently,
on birth outcomes, childhood growth, and maternal blood pressure.
2b) Map health sensitivities to future projections of humid heat and drought.
2c) Identify factors contributing to resilience and vulnerability.
2d) Expand climate-related data collection in the GRAPHS study to include additional prospective metrics.
Methodology
This study focuses on analyzing secondary data from the GRAPHS-CLF study, which has tracked maternal and child health variables since 2013. GRAPHS is a well-documented pregnancy cohort with active, long-term follow-up of mothers and their children up
to age 13. The data will be obtained from the Kintampo Health Research Centre database, with analysis conducted using R software. This novel research aligns with the four core pillars of the Climate Change and Health (CCH) Initiative.
1. This study developed two innovative and complementary climate cohorts to examine the links between climate, health outcomes, including morbidity and mortality, resilience, and vulnerability, with a focus on health equity.
2. The study used a novel climate dataset created by co-investigator, Tuholske. This dataset features detailed, gridded historical and prospective climate data, enabling new predictions of how climate impacts health in the
past and future.
3. The study actively involved policy makers and community stakeholders to ensure that its findings were relevant and actionable for health equity and intervention strategies.
4. This study provided
valuable mentorship and professional development for Ghanaian scientists, strengthened their expertise and positioned researchers from KHRC as leaders in climate policy and science.
Expected Outcomes
This study is expected to establish urgently needed climate expertise in Ghana and create two complementary "climate cohorts." These cohorts will produce valuable retrospective and prospective data, offering insights into health sensitivities, resilience, and vulnerability factors. The findings from this study will be highly relevant for shaping health policies and addressing community needs.
Funders
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Collaborators: Alison Lee, Darby Jack, Steven Chillrud, Cascade Tuholske, Elena Clicino.
Study Duration : Twelve (12) Months
Start Date : September 2023
End Date : June 2024