Community Health Impacts of the Trident Copper Mine Project in Northwestern Zambia: Results from Repeated Cross-Sectional Surveys

Astrid M. Knoblauch, Andrea Farnham, Hyacinthe R. Zabré, Milka Owuor, Colleen Archer, Kennedy Nduna, Marcus Chisanga, Leonard Zulu, Gertrude Musunka, Jürg Utzinger, Mark J. Divall, Günther Fink and Mirko S. Winkler
Additional contact information
Astrid M. Knoblauch: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
Andrea Farnham: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
Hyacinthe R. Zabré: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
Milka Owuor: Shape Consulting, P.O. Box 602, St Peter Port GY1, Guernsey, UK
Colleen Archer: Pollution Research Group, Department of Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 4041 Durban, South Africa
Kennedy Nduna: Nvumabaranda Public Health Services, Ndola, Zambia
Marcus Chisanga: First Quantum Minerals Limited, Lusaka, Zambia
Leonard Zulu: Independent Researcher, Lusaka, Zambia
Gertrude Musunka: First Quantum Minerals Limited, Lusaka, Zambia
Jürg Utzinger: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
Mark J. Divall: Shape Consulting, P.O. Box 602, St Peter Port GY1, Guernsey, UK
Mirko S. Winkler: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, 4002 Basel, Switzerland

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 10, 1-15

Abstract: The application of a health impact assessment (HIA) for a large-scale copper mining project in rural Zambia triggered the long-term monitoring and evaluation of determinants of health and health outcomes in communities living in proximity to the mine. Three consecutive cross-sectional surveys were conducted at intervals of four years; thus, at baseline (2011), four (2015) and eight (2019) years into the project’s development. Using the same field and laboratory procedures, the surveys allowed for determining changes in health indicators at the household level, in young children (<5 years), school attendees (9–14 years) and women (15–49 years). Results were compared between communities considered impacted by the project and communities outside the project area (comparison communities). The prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum infection increased in both the impacted and comparison communities between 2011 and 2019 but remained consistently lower in the impacted communities. Stunting in children < 5 years and the prevalence of intestinal parasite infections in children aged 9–14 years mostly decreased. In women of reproductive age, selected health indicators (i.e., anaemia, syphilis, underweight and place of delivery) either remained stable or improved. Impacted communities generally showed better health outcomes than comparison communities, suggesting that the health interventions implemented by the project as a consequence of the HIA have mitigated potential negative effects and enhanced positive effects. Caution is indicated to avoid promotion of health inequalities within and beyond the project area.

Keywords: health impact assessment; malaria; mining; monitoring and evaluation; nutrition; schistosomiasis; soil-transmitted helminths; syphilis; Zambia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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