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Climate Change and Human Health Literature Portal Management of chronic noncommunicable diseases after natural disasters in the Caribbean: A scoping review

Climate Change and Human Health Literature Portal

Hassan S, Nguyen M, Buchanan M, Grimshaw A, Adams OP, Hassell T, Ragster L, Nunez-Smith M
2020
Health Affairs. 39 (12): 2136-2143

Extreme weather events in the Caribbean region are becoming increasingly severe because of climate change. The region also has high rates of poorly controlled chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), which were responsible for at least 30 percent of deaths after two recent hurricanes. We conducted a scoping review of literature published between 1974 and 2020 to understand the burden and management of chronic NCDs in the Caribbean after natural disasters. Of the twenty-nine articles included in this review, most described experiences related to Hurricanes Dorian (2019) and Irma and Maria (2017) and the Haiti earthquake (2010). Challenges included access to medication, acute care services, and appropriate food, as well as communication difficulties and reliance on ad hoc volunteers and outside aid. Mitigating these challenges requires different approaches, including makeshift points of medication dispensing, disease surveillance systems, and chronic disease self-management education programs. Evidence is needed to inform policies to build resilient health systems and integrate NCD management into regional and national disaster preparedness and response plans.

Expand Abstract

Resource Description

    Extreme Weather-Related Event or Disaster
    • Extreme Weather-Related Event or Disaster: Flood, Hurricane
    Island
    Non-United States
    • Non-United States: Non-U.S. North America
    General Health Impact, Other Health Impact, Specify
    • General Health Impact, Other Health Impact, Specify: Noncommunicable Diseases
    Review Article
    Adaptation, Vulnerable Population
    • Adaptation, Vulnerable Population: Intervention
    • Adaptation, Vulnerable Population: Pre-existing Medical Condition
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