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Vulnerability of indigenous health to climate change: A case study of Uganda's Batwa Pygmies

Author

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  • Berrang-Ford, Lea
  • Dingle, Kathryn
  • Ford, James D.
  • Lee, Celine
  • Lwasa, Shuaib
  • Namanya, Didas B.
  • Henderson, Jim
  • Llanos, Alejandro
  • Carcamo, Cesar
  • Edge, Victoria

Abstract

The potential impacts of climate change on human health in sub-Saharan Africa are wide-ranging, complex, and largely adverse. The region's Indigenous peoples are considered to be at heightened risk given their relatively poor health outcomes, marginal social status, and resource-based livelihoods; however, little attention has been given to these most vulnerable of the vulnerable. This paper contributes to addressing this gap by taking a bottom-up approach to assessing health vulnerabilities to climate change in two Batwa Pygmy communities in rural Uganda. Rapid Rural Appraisal and PhotoVoice field methods complemented by qualitative data analysis were used to identify key climate-sensitive, community-identified health outcomes, describe determinants of sensitivity at multiple scales, and characterize adaptive capacity of Batwa health systems. The findings stress the importance of human drivers of vulnerability and adaptive capacity and the need to address social determinants of health in order to reduce the potential disease burden of climate change.

Suggested Citation

  • Berrang-Ford, Lea & Dingle, Kathryn & Ford, James D. & Lee, Celine & Lwasa, Shuaib & Namanya, Didas B. & Henderson, Jim & Llanos, Alejandro & Carcamo, Cesar & Edge, Victoria, 2012. "Vulnerability of indigenous health to climate change: A case study of Uganda's Batwa Pygmies," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(6), pages 1067-1077.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:75:y:2012:i:6:p:1067-1077
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2012.04.016
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    Cited by:

    1. MacVicar, Sarah & Berrang-Ford, Lea & Harper, Sherilee & Steele, Vivienne & Lwasa, Shuaib & Bambaiha, Didacus Namanya & Twesigomwe, Sabastien & Asaasira, Grace & Ross, Nancy, 2017. "How seasonality and weather affect perinatal health: Comparing the experiences of indigenous and non-indigenous mothers in Kanungu District, Uganda," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 39-48.
    2. Graham McDowell & Eleanor Stephenson & James Ford, 2014. "Adaptation to climate change in glaciated mountain regions," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 126(1), pages 77-91, September.
    3. Sauer, Jeffery & Berrang-Ford, Lea & Patterson, Kaitlin & Donnelly, Blanaid & Lwasa, Shuaib & Namanya, Didas & Zavaleta, Carol & Ford, James & Harper, Sherilee, 2018. "An analysis of the nutrition status of neighboring Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations in Kanungu District, southwestern Uganda: Close proximity, distant health realities," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 217(C), pages 55-64.
    4. Gallois, Sandrine & Ambassa, Appolinaire & Ramírez Rozzi, Fernando, 2024. "Indigenous peoples’ health: Culturally grounded evidence from the Baka, Southeastern Cameroon," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 350(C).
    5. Festus A Asaaga & Bethan V Purse & Mujeeb Rahman & Prashanth N Srinivas & Suresh D Kalegowda & Tanya Seshadri & Juliette C Young & Meera A Oommen, 2023. "The role of social vulnerability in improving interventions for neglected zoonotic diseases: The example of Kyasanur Forest Disease in India," PLOS Global Public Health, Public Library of Science, vol. 3(2), pages 1-28, February.
    6. repec:plo:pone00:0214116 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Simon West & Caroline Schill, 2022. "Negotiating the ethical-political dimensions of research methods: a key competency in mixed methods, inter- and transdisciplinary, and co-production research," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-13, December.
    8. Ndayizeye, Gaëlle & Imani, Gerard & Nkengurutse, Jacques & Irampagarikiye, Rosette & Ndihokubwayo, Noël & Niyongabo, Ferdinand & Cuni-Sanchez, Aida, 2020. "Ecosystem services from mountain forests: Local communities’ views in Kibira National Park, Burundi," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 45(C).

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