Climate change and health vulnerability in Nepal: A systematic review of the literature since 2010

The Nepali population is among those most vulnerable to the health impacts of climate change. We conducted a systematic literature review to document the health effects of climate change in Nepal and identify knowledge gaps by examining vulnerability categories related to health. Three databases wer...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Global public health 2022-07, Vol.17 (7), p.1406-1419
Main Authors: Tome, Joana, Richmond, Holly L., Rahman, Munshi, Karmacharya, Dibesh, Schwind, Jessica S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Climate change
Drinking water
Drought
Elderly women
Floods
Food security
health
Health care
Health care policy
Healthy food
Insecurity
Literature reviews
Morbidity
Mothers
Nepal
Older people
Populations
Public health
Systematic review
Vulnerability
Water
Water levels
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Summary:The Nepali population is among those most vulnerable to the health impacts of climate change. We conducted a systematic literature review to document the health effects of climate change in Nepal and identify knowledge gaps by examining vulnerability categories related to health. Three databases were searched for journal articles that addressed health and vulnerability related to climate change in Nepal from 2010 onwards. Of the 1063 articles identified, 37 were eligible for inclusion. The findings suggested the health of the population was affected mostly by food insecurity, floods, droughts, and reduced water levels. Studies revealed both morbidity and mortality increased due to climate change, with the most impacted populations being women, children, and the elderly. At greatest risk for impacts from climate change were those from poor and marginal populations, especially impoverished women. The public health sector, healthcare, and potable water sources were some of the least mentioned vulnerability subcategories, indicating more research is needed to better understand their adaptation capacities. We propose that identifying vulnerabilities and areas of limited research are critical steps in the prioritization of health policy and interventions for the most vulnerable populations in Nepal.
ISSN:1744-1692
1744-1706
DOI:10.1080/17441692.2021.1924824