Mean Temperature and Drought Projections in Central Africa: A Population-Based Study of Food Insecurity, Childhood Malnutrition and Mortality, and Infectious Disease

Munum Hassan, Kinza Saif, Muhammad Saad Ijaz, Zouina Sarfraz (), Azza Sarfraz, Karla Robles-Velasco and Ivan Cherrez-Ojeda ()
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Munum Hassan: Department of Research, Akhtar Saeed Medical College, University of Health Sciences, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
Kinza Saif: Department of Research, Wah Medical College, University of Health Sciences, Wah Cantt 47000, Pakistan
Muhammad Saad Ijaz: Department of Research, Rawalpindi Medical University, Rawalpindi 46000, Pakistan
Zouina Sarfraz: Department of Research and Publications, Fatima Jinnah Medical University, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
Azza Sarfraz: Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, The Aga Khan University, Karachi 74800, Pakistan
Karla Robles-Velasco: Department of Allergy and Pulmonology, Universidad Espíritu Santo, Samborondón 092301, Ecuador
Ivan Cherrez-Ojeda: Department of Allergy and Pulmonology, Universidad Espíritu Santo, Samborondón 092301, Ecuador

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 3, 1-21

Abstract: The Central African Region is an agricultural and fishing-based economy, with 40% of the population living in rural communities. The negative impacts of climate change have caused economic/health-related adverse impacts and food insecurity. This original article aims to research four key themes: (i) acute food insecurity (AFI); (ii) childhood malnutrition and mortality; (iii) infectious disease burden; and (iv) drought and mean temperature projections throughout the twenty-first century. Food insecurity was mapped in Central Africa based on the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) for AFI. The global hunger index (GHI) was presented along with the proportion of children with undernourishment, stunting, wasting, and mortality. Data for infectious disease burden was computed by assessing the adjusted rate of change (AROC) of mortality due to diarrhea among children and the burden of death rates due to pneumonia across all age groups. Finally, the mean drought index was computed through the year 2100. This population-based study identifies high levels of hunger across a majority of the countries, with the mean drought index suggesting extreme ends of wet and dry days and an overall rise of 1–3 °C. This study is a source of evidence for stakeholders, policymakers, and the population residing in Central Africa.

Keywords: climate change; drought; mean temperature; Central Africa; food insecurity; malnutrition; mortality; infectious disease; global health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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