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Climate Change and Human Health Literature Portal Neglected tropical diseases in the context of climate change in East Africa: A systematic scoping review

Climate Change and Human Health Literature Portal

Bryson JM, Bishop-Williams KE, Berrang-Ford L, Nunez EC, Lwasa S, Namanya DB, Indigenous Health Adaptation to Climate Change Research Team, Harper SL
2020
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 102 (6): 1443-1454

East Africa is highly affected by neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), which are projected to be exacerbated by climate change. Consequently, understanding what research has been conducted and what knowledge gaps remain regarding NTDs and climate change is crucial to informing public health interventions and climate change adaptation. We conducted a systematic scoping review to describe the extent, range, and nature of publications examining relationships between NTDs and climatic factors in East Africa. We collated all relevant English and French publications indexed in PubMed(®), Web of Science™ Core Collection, and CAB Direct(©) databases published prior to 2019. Ninety-six publications were included for review. Kenya, Tanzania, and Ethiopia had high rates of publication, whereas countries in the Western Indian Ocean region were underrepresented. Most publications focused on schistosomiasis (n = 28, 29.2%), soil-transmitted helminthiases (n = 16, 16.7%), or human African trypanosomiasis (n = 14, 14.6%). Precipitation (n = 91, 94.8%) and temperature (n = 54, 56.3%) were frequently investigated climatic factors, whereas consideration of droughts (n = 10, 10.4%) and floods (n = 4, 4.2%) was not prominent. Publications reporting on associations between NTDs and changing climate were increasing over time. There was a decrease in the reporting of Indigenous identity and age factors over time. Overall, there were substantial knowledge gaps for several countries and for many NTDs. To better understand NTDs in the context of a changing climate, it would be helpful to increase research on underrepresented diseases and regions, consider demographic and social factors in research, and characterize how these factors modify the effects of climatic variables on NTDs in East Africa.

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Resource Description

    Meteorological Factor, Precipitation, Temperature
    Tropical
    Non-United States
    • Non-United States: Africa
    Infectious Disease, Other Health Impact, Specify
    • Infectious Disease, Other Health Impact, Specify: General Infectious Disease, Vectorborne Disease
      • General Infectious Disease, Vectorborne Disease: General Vectorborne Disease
      Vectorborne Disease
    • Infectious Disease, Other Health Impact, Specify: Neglected Tropical Diseases
    Review Article
    Sociodemographic Vulnerability, Vulnerable Population
    • Sociodemographic Vulnerability, Vulnerable Population: Low Socioeconomic Status
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