IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON INFECTIOUS DISEASES

1.1 Introduction

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in weather conditions and patterns of extreme weather events. It may lead to changes in health threat to human beings, multiplying existing health problems. climate change is one of the most important global environmental challenges, with implications for food production, water supply, health, energy, etc. Addressing climate change requires a good scientific understanding as well as coordinated action at national and global level. Historically, the responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions’ increase lies largely with the industrialized world, though the developing countries are likely to be the source of an increasing proportion of future emissions. Environmental change embraces the change in the framework of natural human surroundings, which include biophysical components and processes of natural environment of land, water and air including all layers in the atmosphere, inorganic and organic matters (Oiamo, 2014).

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

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1.2 Background of Study

Changes in precipitation may impact disease vectors/hosts as well. Many vector-borne infectious diseases are found to be positively associated with rainfall. Larval development of some mosquito vectors accelerates with increased rain and rising temperature (Hoshen and Morse, 2004). Adult Anopheline, vector of malaria, reproduce in small natural ponds of clean water; droughts may limit the quantity and quality of breeding sites for these mosquitoes, resulting in reduction in vector population and disease transmission (Gage et al., 2008).

The primary carrier of West Nile virus is a type of mosquito named Culex, which usually breeds underground in the nasty water pools in city drains and catch basins. Drought allows for rotten organic materials to accumulate in those pools, forming favorite condition for Culex; heavy precipitation would wash the drains and water down the pools (Epstein, 2001b), limiting the spread of West Nile virus.

Environmental degradation and social injustice exert worldwide the greatest effects on the health of individuals and populations (Donohoe, 2003). Human depression caused by high salinity, asthma, suicide and heart disease with salinity can be expected to increase in rural areas in the future, further adding to the burden of disease associated with environmental degradation (Speldewinde et al., 2009; Fearnley et al., 2014). An estimated 12.6 million deaths each year are attributable to unhealthy environments nearly one in four of total global deaths. A bulletin of World Health Organization (WHO) has explored environmental risk factors, such as air, water and soil pollution, chemical exposures, climate change and ultraviolet radiation; contribute to more than 100 diseases and injuries (WHO, 2021).

The major environmental problems of South Asia including Nepal are degradation of air quality, drinking water, natural resources, lack of solid waste management, surface water quality, water resources, a release of toxic pollutants, loss of biodiversity, impacts of climate change and improper land use (CES, 2015). Through the economic perspective towards environmental change, a detrimental change in environmental components i.e., environmental degradation create multiplier negative effects in the various sectors of economy of a nation, especially on health and agricultural sectors of developing economies.

An econometric analysis has proved that income inequality and environmental degradation have a negative and significant impact on life expectancy in Pakistan, with unidirectional causality running from environmental degradation to life expectancy (Ali and Audi, 2016). Environmental threats to the health of children in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific are myriad and include the classic infectious disease hazards: Pneumonia, dengue, malaria, dysentery, measles, AIDS and tuberculosis (WHO, 2017a; Zuckerman, 2012; Bonjour et al., 2013).

Therefore, in FCT Abuja where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Impact of Climate Change on Infectious Diseases.

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1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation revealed that the main problems are lack of priority given to this sector, lack of financial resources, erratic water supply and sanitation services, poor hygiene related behaviour patterns and inadequate sanitation in public places such as schools, hotels, hospitals, health centers etc. One of the most important aspects is a lack of environmental education and awareness that these disease processes are related to poor environment management in various sectors. The environmental factors which can create health problems in humans are Heat and climatic change, rising global temperature, Changing weather patterns, Green house effect, melting of ice caps, endangered species, heating of earth due to pollutants, Hurricanes like typhoon, tornado, flood and drought.

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1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to examine the Impact of Climate Change on Infectious Diseases. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To find out the public perception of climate change on infectious diseases affecting human health and environment in the area under study;
2. To examine the impact of climate changes of the environment on human health in the area under study;
3. To investigate the effects of climate change on infectious diseases affecting human health in the area under study; and
4. To examine the factors affecting public perception of climate change on infectious diseases affecting human health and environment in the area under study.

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1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• Are there factors affecting public perception of climate change on infectious diseases affecting human health and environment in the area under study?
• What is the impact of climate changes of the environment on human health in the area under study?
• What are the effects of climate change on infectious diseases affecting human health in the area under study?
• What is the public perception of climate change on infectious diseases affecting human health and environment in the area under study?

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1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

Hypothesis One

• H0: There are no significant factors affecting public perception of climate change on infectious diseases affecting human health and environment in the area under study
• H1: There are significant factors affecting public perception of climate change on infectious diseases affecting human health and environment in the area under study

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1.7 Significance of Study

This study will be of immense benefit to researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.

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1.8 Scope of Study

The scope of the research is focused on the Impact of Climate Change on Infectious Diseases in FCT Abuja.

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1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
3. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
4. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

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1.10 Definition of Terms

Climate Change: It refers to long-term statistical shifts of the weather, including changes in the average weather condition or in the distribution of weather conditions around the average (i.e. extreme weather events).