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Strategies for reducing the burden of climate-sensitive diarrheal infections on young children

Anna Dimitrova, Vienna University of Economics and Business
Alexander Gershunov, UCSD
Tarik Benmarhnia, UCSD

Climate-sensitive infectious diseases are an issue of growing concern due to global warming and the related increase in extreme climate and weather events. Diarrhea, which is strongly associated with climatic factors, remains among the leading causes of child death globally, disproportionately affecting populations in low- and middle-income countries. We use Demographic and Health Survey data for 28 low- to middle-income countries in combination with high resolution climate data to estimate the association between precipitation shocks and symptoms of diarrhea in children under 3. We find that anomalously dry weather increases the risk of diarrhea symptoms in the tropical savannah regions. In the humid subtropical regions, the same health risk is increased due to anomalously wet weather. Our analysis of effect modifiers reveals that different interventions may be effective in both climate zones. Improved feeding practices are found to significantly reduce children’s susceptibility to diarrheal infections associated with droughts. Basic immunization seems to provide some protection against diarrheal infections following heavy precipitation events. Moreover, we find evidence that the rotavirus vaccine can significantly reduce or even eliminate the risk of diarrhea symptoms associated with both droughts and heavy precipitation events.

Keywords: Health and morbidity, Environmental studies, Children and youth

See paper.

  Presented in Session 42. Impact of Environmental Factors on Population Health and Wellbeing (I)