The impact of extreme weather events on the mental health of vulnerable populations in Africa (The WEMA project): a study protocol

Technical Deep Dive: The impact of extreme weather events on the mental health of vulnerable populations in Africa

Overview

This study protocol describes a transdisciplinary research project, named the WEMA study, that aims to explore the impact of extreme weather events (EWEs) such as storms, cyclones, flooding, and heavy rainfall on common mental disorders (CMDs) in four African countries: Burkina Faso, Kenya, Mozambique, and South Africa. The study will employ a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods to generate contextually grounded and policy-relevant evidence on this important public health issue.

Problem & Context

• EWEs are increasing in frequency and intensity due to climate change, and negatively affect both physical and mental health.
• Vulnerable populations, including those in sub-Saharan Africa, are disproportionately impacted by the mental health consequences of EWEs.
• Limited data on the specific effects of EWEs on mental health in Africa highlights the need for more research to guide policy and practice in this area.

Methodology

The study will use a multi-pronged approach:

Literature Review

• A rapid literature review guided by the PRISMA framework will synthesize existing evidence on the relationship between EWEs and mental health.

Secondary Data Analysis

• Analysis of health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS) data across multiple African sites to assess the temporal association between temperature, precipitation, and mental health-related morbidity and mortality, using time series regression with distributed lag non-linear models.

Cross-sectional Surveys

• Cross-sectional surveys to estimate the prevalence of CMDs among adults exposed and unexposed to flooding, using logistic regression to account for confounders.

Qualitative Component

• An embedded qualitative study involving thematic analysis of digital stories produced by community-based co-researchers through participatory workshops, capturing lived experiences of EWEs.

Knowledge Synthesis and Dissemination

• Findings from the quantitative and qualitative components will be synthesized and disseminated through knowledge exchange meetings to bridge scientific and experiential insights and inform locally relevant interventions.

Data & Experimental Setup

• The study will leverage existing HDSS data across multiple African sites, as well as new cross-sectional survey data collected in the four target countries.
• The qualitative component will involve the production of digital stories by community-based co-researchers.

Results

This is a study protocol, so no results are available yet. The study aims to generate evidence on:

• The temporal association between EWEs and mental health-related morbidity and mortality
• The prevalence of CMDs among adults exposed and unexposed to flooding
• Lived experiences of EWEs and their impacts on mental health, as captured through digital stories

Interpretation

The pool of evidence generated through this transdisciplinary study is intended to:

• Draw attention to the impact of EWEs on mental health
• Inform relevant policy and practice
• Advance locally relevant climate adaptation strategies to help reduce health inequalities and support the psychosocial well-being of affected communities

Limitations & Uncertainties

• The study protocol does not address potential limitations or uncertainties, as this is a plan for future research.

What Comes Next

The WEMA study is an ongoing research project that aims to provide much-needed evidence to guide policy and practice in addressing the mental health impacts of EWEs in sub-Saharan Africa. The researchers plan to widely disseminate the findings to relevant stakeholders.