top of page
Asian Institute of Research, Journal Publication, Journal Academics, Education Journal, Asian Institute
Asian Institute of Research, Journal Publication, Journal Academics, Education Journal, Asian Institute

Journal of Health and Medical Sciences

ISSN 2622-7258

Screen Shot 2018-08-12 at 1.24.09 AM.png
Screen Shot 2018-08-12 at 1.24.02 AM.png
Screen Shot 2018-08-12 at 1.23.57 AM.png
Screen Shot 2018-08-12 at 1.23.52 AM.png
crossref
doi
open access

Published: 22 November 2018

Likely Health Impacts of Climate Change in Guyana: A Systematic Review

Patrick R. Saunders-Hastings, Nadine Overhoff, Raywat Deonandan

University of Ottawa, Canada

journal of social and political sciences
pdf download

Download Full-Text Pdf

doi

10.31014/aior.1994.01.01.6

​

​

Abstract

As anthropogenic inputs continue to drive climate change towards a "tipping point" of increasingly severe consequences, associated research has become more important than ever. Even if mitigation efforts are successful in slowing, or even halting, climate change progression, changes have already been triggered that will be felt for decades; the health impacts of these changes will be felt in most populations around the world and will threaten the well-being of billions. Further, it has been suggested that these impacts will be experienced differently, especially depending on geography. As such, it is crucial for location-specific analysis of the potential consequences of climate change to take place. This study constitutes a systematic review of the health consequences that can be expected in Guyana specifically, the results of which are of some relevance to Latin American more generally. Relevant documents selected for full review underwent quantitative and qualitative data analysis. From this analysis, six thematic categories emerged: i) dengue and malaria, ii) other infections, iii) flooding and waterborne diseases, iv) food and water shortages, v) respiratory issues, and vi) natural disasters. These represent the most likely and most severe health consequences that may be exacerbated by climate change impacts in Guyana. Despite these insights, a knowledge and research gap in this field is evident, and a call is made for further research and policy action to better understand and prepare for the upcoming challenges climate change will present.

References

  1. Campbell-Lendrum, D.H., Corvalán, C.F., & Neira, M. (2007). Global climate change: implications for international public health policy. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 85(3), 35-7.

  2. Campbell-Lendrum, D.H., Corvalán, C.F., & Prüss-Ustün, A. (2003). How much disease could climate change cause? In McMichael, A.J., Campbell-Lendrum., D.H., Corválan, C.F., Ebi, K.L, Githeko, A.K., Scheraga, J.D., & Woodward, A (Eds.), Climate change and human health: Risks   and responses (pp. 153-158). Geneva: World Health Organization. 

  3. People’s Health Movement. (2005). Climate Change. In Global Health Watch 2005-2006: An alternative world health report. (193-206). London: Zed Books Ltd.

  4. Checkley, W., Epstein, L.D., Gilman, R.H., Figueroa, D., Cama, R.I., Patz, J.A., & Black, R.E. (2000). Effects of El Niño and ambient temperature on hospital admissions for diarrhoeal diseases in Peruvian children. Lancet, 355(9202), 442–450.

  5. Costello, A., Abbas, M., Allen, A., Bell, S., Bellamy, R., Friel, S., et al. (2009). Managing the health effects of climate change. The Lancet, 373(9676), 1693-1733.

  6. Curriero, F.C., Patz, J.A., Rose, J.B., & Lele, S. (2001). The association between extreme precipitation and waterborne disease outbreaks in the United States, 1948–1994. American Journal of Public Health 91(8), 1194–9.

  7. Epstein, P.R. (2005). Climate change and human health. New England Journal of Medicine, 353, 1433-1436.

  8. Ford, J.D., & Pearce, T. (2010). What we know, do not know, and need to know about climate change vulnerability in the western Canadian Arctic. Environmental Research Letters 5. doi: 10.1088/1748-9326/5/1/014008

  9. Gagnon, A.S., Smoyer-Tomic, K.E., & Bush, A.B. (2002). The El Niño southern oscillation and malaria epidemics in South America. International Journal of Biometeorology, 46(2), 81-9.

  10. Githeko, A.K., Lindsay, S.W., Confalonieri, U.E., & Patz, J.A. (2000). Climate change and vector-         borne diseases: A regional analysis. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 78(9), 1136-47.

  11. Githeko, A.K., & Woodward, A. (2003). International consensus on the science of climate and health: The IPCC third assessment report. In McMichael, A.J., Campbell-Lendrum, D.H., Corvalán, C.F., Ebi, K.L., Githeko, A.K., Scheraga, J.D., & Woodward, A (Eds.), Climate change and human health: Risks and responses (pp. 43-60). Geneva: World Health Organization.       

  12. Government of Guyana Bureau of Statistics. (2002). Population and Housing Census: Population distribution. [online] Available at <www.statisticsguyana.gov.gy/download.php?file=22‎>  [Accessed March 9, 2014].

  13. Hales, S., Edwards, S.J., & Kovats, R.S. (2003). Impact of health on climate extremes. In McMichael, A.J., Campbell-Lendrum, D.H., Corvalán, C.F., Ebi, K.L., Githeko, A.K., Scheraga, J.D., & Woodward, A (Eds.), Climate change and human health: Risks and responses (pp. 79-102). Geneva: World Health Organization.

  14. Jury, M.R. (2008). Climate influence on dengue epidemics in Puerto Rico. International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 18(5), 323-334.

  15. McMichael, A.J., Woddruff, R.E., & Hales, S. (2006). Climate change and human health: present and future risks. Lancet, 367, 859-69.

  16. Moreno, A. R. (2006). Climate change and human health in Latin America: Drivers, effects, and policies. Regional Environmental Change, 6(3), 157-64.

  17. Narayan, K. (2006). Climate change impacts on water resources in Guyana. Climate Variability and Change-Hydrological Impacts, 308, 413-7.

  18. Ortíz, P.L., Pérez, A., Rivero, A., León, N., Díaz, M., & Pérez, A. (2008). Assessment of human health vulnerability to climate variability and change in Cuba. MEDICC Review, 10(2), 31-48.

  19. Parry M, Arnell, N., McMichael, T., Nicholls, R., Martens, P., Kovats, S., Livermore, M., et al. Millions at risk: defining critical climate change theats and targets. Global Environmental       Change, 11(3), 181-3.

  20. Patz, J.A., Githeko, A.K., McCarty, J.P., Hussein, U., Confalonieri, U, & De Wet, N. (2003). Climate change and infectious diseases. In McMichael, A.J., Campbell-Lendrum, D.H., Corvalán, C.F., Ebi, K.L., Githeko, A.K., Scheraga, J.D., & Woodward, A (Eds.), Climate change and human health: Risks and responses (pp. 103-132). Geneva: World Health Organization.     

  21. Pelling, M. (1999). The political ecology of flood hazard in urban Guyana. Geoforum, 30(3), 249 - 261.

  22. Singh, R.B., Hales, S., de Wet, N., Raj, R., Hearnden, M., Weinstein, P. (2001). The influence of climate variation and change on diarrheal disease in the Pacific Islands. Environmental Health Perspectives, 109(2): 155–9.

  23. Sookdeo, A. (2008). Guyana report on climate change and health [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from http://www.carec.org/

bottom of page