Abstract
Acute gastrointestinal illness (AGI) is a global public health priority that often disproportionately effects Indigenous populations. While previous research examines the association between meteorological conditions and AGI, little is known about how socio-cultural factors may modify this relationship. This present study seeks to address this research gap by comparing AGI prevalence and determinants between an Indigenous and non-Indigenous population in Uganda. We estimate the 14-day self-reported prevalence of AGI among adults in an Indigenous Batwa population and their non-Indigenous neighbours using cross-sectional panel data collected over four periods spanning typically rainy and dry seasons (January 2013 to April 2014). The independent associations between Indigenous status, precipitation, and AGI are examined with multivariable multi-level logistic regression models, controlling for relative wealth status and clustering at the community level. Estimated prevalence of AGI among the Indigenous Batwa was greater than among the non-Indigenous Bakiga. Our models indicate that both Indigenous identity and decreased levels of precipitation in the weeks preceding the survey period were significantly associated with increased AGI, after adjusting for confounders. Multivariable models stratified by Indigenous identity suggest that Indigenous identity may not modify the association between precipitation and AGI in this context. Our results suggest that short-term changes in precipitation affect both Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations similarly, though from different baseline AGI prevalences, maintaining rather than exacerbating this socially patterned health disparity. In the context of climate change, these results may challenge the assumption that changing weather patterns will necessarily exacerbate existing socially patterned health disparities.
Highlights
Global climate change is expected to have substantial impacts on human health [1, 2]
Since we controlled for relative wealth in the multivariable models, our results suggest that Indigenous identity affects Acute gastrointestinal illness (AGI) occurrence beyond disparities in wealth
This finding is supported by a growing body of research demonstrating disparities in health outcomes between Indigenous populations and non-Indigenous populations [13]
Summary
Global climate change is expected to have substantial impacts on human health [1, 2]. Acute gastrointestinal illness (AGI), a climate-sensitive health outcome, is a leading cause of morbidity and child mortality worldwide and in Africa [5, 6]. In the tropics and subtropics, the burden of AGI is expected to increase as temperature and precipitation vary due to climate change, leading to decreased water quality and availability [7, 8]. Large uncertainties still exist in these associations reflecting a paucity of research examining how meteorological conditions with AGI manifests differently in diverse environmental and socio-economic contexts [8, 12]. More contextually focused research is needed to examine how the precipitation-AGI relationship is influenced by socio-demographic and environmental variables
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.