Burden of infant mortality associated with flood in 37 African countries

Abstract Floods are becoming more frequent and severe in the context of climate change, with major impacts on human health. However, their effect on infant mortality remains unknown, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. We conducted a sibling-matched case-control study using individual-...

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Main Authors: Yixiang Zhu, Cheng He, Jovine Bachwenkizi, Zafar Fatmi, Lu Zhou, Jian Lei, Cong Liu, Haidong Kan, Renjie Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-11-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54561-y
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author Yixiang Zhu
Cheng He
Jovine Bachwenkizi
Zafar Fatmi
Lu Zhou
Jian Lei
Cong Liu
Haidong Kan
Renjie Chen
author_facet Yixiang Zhu
Cheng He
Jovine Bachwenkizi
Zafar Fatmi
Lu Zhou
Jian Lei
Cong Liu
Haidong Kan
Renjie Chen
author_sort Yixiang Zhu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Floods are becoming more frequent and severe in the context of climate change, with major impacts on human health. However, their effect on infant mortality remains unknown, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. We conducted a sibling-matched case-control study using individual-level data from Demographic and Health Surveys in Africa during 1990–2020. Individual flood experience was determined by matching the residential coordinates with flood events from the Dartmouth Flood Observatory database. Using data from 514,760 newborns, we found increased risks of infant mortality associated with flood exposure across multiple periods, with the risks remaining elevated for up to four years after the flood event. Overall, flood exposure was associated with 3.42 infant deaths per 1000 births in Africa from 2000 to 2020, approximately 1.7 times the burden associated with life-period exposure. This multi-country study in Africa provides novel evidence that flood events may increase infant mortality risk and burden, even over years after exposure.
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spelling doaj-art-976c20a0a1da4daf99cc792b459334d02024-11-24T12:32:45ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232024-11-011511910.1038/s41467-024-54561-yBurden of infant mortality associated with flood in 37 African countriesYixiang Zhu0Cheng He1Jovine Bachwenkizi2Zafar Fatmi3Lu Zhou4Jian Lei5Cong Liu6Haidong Kan7Renjie Chen8School of Public Health, Key Lab of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education, NHC Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment, IRDR ICoE on Risk Interconnectivity and Governance on Weather/Climate Extremes Impact and Public Health, Fudan UniversitySchool of Public Health, Key Lab of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education, NHC Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment, IRDR ICoE on Risk Interconnectivity and Governance on Weather/Climate Extremes Impact and Public Health, Fudan UniversityDepartment of Environmental and Occupational Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied SciencesDepartment of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan UniversitySchool of Public Health, Key Lab of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education, NHC Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment, IRDR ICoE on Risk Interconnectivity and Governance on Weather/Climate Extremes Impact and Public Health, Fudan UniversityDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science CenterSchool of Public Health, Key Lab of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education, NHC Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment, IRDR ICoE on Risk Interconnectivity and Governance on Weather/Climate Extremes Impact and Public Health, Fudan UniversitySchool of Public Health, Key Lab of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education, NHC Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment, IRDR ICoE on Risk Interconnectivity and Governance on Weather/Climate Extremes Impact and Public Health, Fudan UniversitySchool of Public Health, Key Lab of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education, NHC Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment, IRDR ICoE on Risk Interconnectivity and Governance on Weather/Climate Extremes Impact and Public Health, Fudan UniversityAbstract Floods are becoming more frequent and severe in the context of climate change, with major impacts on human health. However, their effect on infant mortality remains unknown, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. We conducted a sibling-matched case-control study using individual-level data from Demographic and Health Surveys in Africa during 1990–2020. Individual flood experience was determined by matching the residential coordinates with flood events from the Dartmouth Flood Observatory database. Using data from 514,760 newborns, we found increased risks of infant mortality associated with flood exposure across multiple periods, with the risks remaining elevated for up to four years after the flood event. Overall, flood exposure was associated with 3.42 infant deaths per 1000 births in Africa from 2000 to 2020, approximately 1.7 times the burden associated with life-period exposure. This multi-country study in Africa provides novel evidence that flood events may increase infant mortality risk and burden, even over years after exposure.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54561-y
spellingShingle Yixiang Zhu
Cheng He
Jovine Bachwenkizi
Zafar Fatmi
Lu Zhou
Jian Lei
Cong Liu
Haidong Kan
Renjie Chen
Burden of infant mortality associated with flood in 37 African countries
Nature Communications
title Burden of infant mortality associated with flood in 37 African countries
title_full Burden of infant mortality associated with flood in 37 African countries
title_fullStr Burden of infant mortality associated with flood in 37 African countries
title_full_unstemmed Burden of infant mortality associated with flood in 37 African countries
title_short Burden of infant mortality associated with flood in 37 African countries
title_sort burden of infant mortality associated with flood in 37 african countries
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54561-y
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