Understanding the burden of poor health outcomes among climate-related migrant populations in Sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review.
The climate crisis plays a central role in the displacement of millions each year in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Few studies have explored the burden of poor health outcomes among climate-related migrants (CRMs) in SSA. This scoping review aimed to summarize this limited body of literature and identify gaps for future research.
A protocol was developed and registered with OSF before performing the literature search. Four databases were systematically searched, identifying 392 unique records. After screening the titles and abstracts of these articles for relevance, 18 articles were sought for full-text review to assess alignment with the pre-defined inclusion criteria. Ten articles were reviewed in depth and summarized to identify key themes.
Included articles originated from Western, Eastern, and Southern Africa and focused primarily on flooding, droughts, and environmental degradation. The five key health outcomes identified were (i) poor mental health and solastalgia, (ii) poor physical health, (iii) loss of financial livelihood, (iv) reduced access to healthcare, and (v) poor social health. Sense of place was also observed to be disrupted, as CRMs reported feelings of solastalgia.
CRMs experience significant and wide-ranging health and place-based struggles. These outcomes are deeply connected and contribute to many quality-of-life challenges. This study highlights a critical research gap in understanding how displacement and climate change contribute to poor health outcomes and disruptions to sense of place, especially in SSA.
A protocol was developed and registered with OSF before performing the literature search. Four databases were systematically searched, identifying 392 unique records. After screening the titles and abstracts of these articles for relevance, 18 articles were sought for full-text review to assess alignment with the pre-defined inclusion criteria. Ten articles were reviewed in depth and summarized to identify key themes.
Included articles originated from Western, Eastern, and Southern Africa and focused primarily on flooding, droughts, and environmental degradation. The five key health outcomes identified were (i) poor mental health and solastalgia, (ii) poor physical health, (iii) loss of financial livelihood, (iv) reduced access to healthcare, and (v) poor social health. Sense of place was also observed to be disrupted, as CRMs reported feelings of solastalgia.
CRMs experience significant and wide-ranging health and place-based struggles. These outcomes are deeply connected and contribute to many quality-of-life challenges. This study highlights a critical research gap in understanding how displacement and climate change contribute to poor health outcomes and disruptions to sense of place, especially in SSA.
Authors
Bobholz Bobholz, Schanock Schanock, Oladebo Oladebo, Mwemaho Mwemaho, Ssentongo Ssentongo, Nyabigambo Nyabigambo, Dickson-Gomez Dickson-Gomez, Johnston Johnston, Mayega Mayega, Xu Xu, Isunju Isunju, Beyer Beyer
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