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Climate Change and Child Health Inequality: A Review of Reviews

Author

Listed:
  • Emmanuelle Arpin

    (Canadian Center for Health Economics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 3M6, Canada)

  • Karl Gauffin

    (Centre for Health Equity Studies, Department of Public Health Sciences, Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden)

  • Meghan Kerr

    (Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada)

  • Anders Hjern

    (Centre for Health Equity Studies, Department of Public Health Sciences, Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
    Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Solna, Sweden)

  • Angela Mashford-Pringle

    (Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada)

  • Aluisio Barros

    (Center for Epidemiological Research, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-610, RS, Brazil)

  • Luis Rajmil

    (Independent Researcher, Homer 22, 1rst 1, 08023 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Imti Choonara

    (School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Derby DE22 3DT, UK)

  • Nicholas Spencer

    (Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 9JD, UK)

Abstract

There is growing evidence on the observed and expected consequences of climate change on population health worldwide. There is limited understanding of its consequences for child health inequalities, between and within countries. To examine these consequences and categorize the state of knowledge in this area, we conducted a review of reviews indexed in five databases (Medline, Embase, Web of Science, PsycInfo, Sociological Abstracts). Reviews that reported the effect of climate change on child health inequalities between low- and high-income children, within or between countries (high- vs low–middle-income countries; HICs and LMICs), were included. Twenty-three reviews, published between 2007 and January 2021, were included for full-text analyses. Using thematic synthesis, we identified strong descriptive, but limited quantitative, evidence that climate change exacerbates child health inequalities. Explanatory mechanisms relating climate change to child health inequalities were proposed in some reviews; for example, children in LMICs are more susceptible to the consequences of climate change than children in HICs due to limited structural and economic resources. Geographic and intergenerational inequalities emerged as additional themes from the review. Further research with an equity focus should address the effects of climate change on adolescents/youth, mental health and inequalities within countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Emmanuelle Arpin & Karl Gauffin & Meghan Kerr & Anders Hjern & Angela Mashford-Pringle & Aluisio Barros & Luis Rajmil & Imti Choonara & Nicholas Spencer, 2021. "Climate Change and Child Health Inequality: A Review of Reviews," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-17, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:20:p:10896-:d:658438
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lukoye Atwoli & Abdullah H Baqui & Thomas Benfield & Raffaella Bosurgi & Fiona Godlee & Stephen Hancocks & Richard Horton & Laurie Laybourn-Langton & Carlos Augusto Monteiro & Ian Norman & Kirsten Pat, 2021. "Call for emergency action to limit global temperature increases, restore biodiversity, and protect health," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(9), pages 1-4, September.
    2. Christina M Pollard & Sue Booth, 2019. "Food Insecurity and Hunger in Rich Countries—It Is Time for Action against Inequality," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-13, May.
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