Fourteenth International Conference on Climate Change: Impacts & Responses

Abstract

Malaria as a vector-borne disease has over the years morphed from being a health crisis to a development crisis over the past decade. A multifaceted and comprehensive approach is therefore required in dealing with this issue that affects human growth and development as well as productivity in the long run. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has argued that expected changes in temperature and precipitation will impact the natural habitats of mosquitoes, altering the prevalence of the vector in some areas and potentially exposing new areas and populations to malaria and other vector-borne diseases. However, there is sparse research on climatic related interventions (bottom-up approach) aimed at reducing the incidence of malaria in the sub-region. This study explores the perspectives of community stakeholders on the impact of climate-related hazard on the health and livelihood of vulnerable population at risk to the incidence of malaria in malaria endemic communities using the Community-based Risk Screening Tool-Adaptation and Livelihoods (CRiSTAL) tool. This research contributes to existing malaria-climate change literature to help reduce the high incidence of malaria in endemic communities. The findings of this study will highlight the impact of climatic conditions on malaria on different vulnerable population on their health and livelihood at the community level. Additionally, this study is expected to identify and examine community livelihood resources that are most affected.This study also examines existing and new coping strategies by vulnerable populations tha assist in policy formulation and implementation aimed at eliminating malaria.