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Changing Patterns of Health in Communities Impacted by a Bioenergy Project in Northern Sierra Leone

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  • Astrid M. Knoblauch

    (Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
    University of Basel, P.O. Box, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland)

  • Mary H. Hodges

    (Helen Keller International Sierra Leone, P.O. Box, Freetown, Sierra Leone)

  • Mohamed S. Bah

    (Helen Keller International Sierra Leone, P.O. Box, Freetown, Sierra Leone)

  • Habib I. Kamara

    (Helen Keller International Sierra Leone, P.O. Box, Freetown, Sierra Leone)

  • Anita Kargbo

    (Helen Keller International Sierra Leone, P.O. Box, Freetown, Sierra Leone)

  • Jusufu Paye

    (Helen Keller International Sierra Leone, P.O. Box, Freetown, Sierra Leone)

  • Hamid Turay

    (Helen Keller International Sierra Leone, P.O. Box, Freetown, Sierra Leone)

  • Emmanuel D. Nyorkor

    (Helen Keller International Sierra Leone, P.O. Box, Freetown, Sierra Leone)

  • Mark J. Divall

    (SHAPE Consulting Ltd., Pretoria 0062, South Africa)

  • Yaobi Zhang

    (Helen Keller International, Regional Office for Africa, P.O. Box, Dakar, Senegal)

  • Jürg Utzinger

    (Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
    University of Basel, P.O. Box, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland)

  • Mirko S. Winkler

    (Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
    University of Basel, P.O. Box, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland)

Abstract

Large private sector investments in low- and middle-income countries are often critically evaluated with regards to their environmental, social, human rights, and health impacts. A health impact assessment, including a baseline health survey, was commissioned by the Addax Bioenergy Sierra Leone project in 2010. As part of the monitoring, a follow-up survey was conducted three years later. A set of health indicators was assessed at six impacted and two control sites. Most of these indices improved, particularly at the impacted sites. The prevalences of stunting, wasting, and Plasmodium falciparum in children under five years of age decreased significantly at impacted sites (all p < 0.05) and non-significantly at control sites. Anemia in children and in women of reproductive age (15–49 years) decreased significantly at impacted and control sites ( p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). Health facility-based deliveries increased significantly at the impacted sites ( p < 0.05). The prevalences of helminth infections in children aged 10–15 years remained approximately at the same levels, although focal increases at the impacted sites were noted. Access to improved sanitation decreased significantly ( p < 0.05) at control and non-significantly at impacted sites. Water quality remained poor without significant changes. The epidemiologic monitoring of a bioenergy project provides a useful contribution for evidence-based decision-making.

Suggested Citation

  • Astrid M. Knoblauch & Mary H. Hodges & Mohamed S. Bah & Habib I. Kamara & Anita Kargbo & Jusufu Paye & Hamid Turay & Emmanuel D. Nyorkor & Mark J. Divall & Yaobi Zhang & Jürg Utzinger & Mirko S. Winkl, 2014. "Changing Patterns of Health in Communities Impacted by a Bioenergy Project in Northern Sierra Leone," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-20, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:11:y:2014:i:12:p:12997-13016:d:43463
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    1. John H Amuasi & Graciela Diap & Samuel Blay Nguah & Patrick Karikari & Isaac Boakye & Amara Jambai & Wani Kumba Lahai & Karly S Louie & Jean-Rene Kiechel, 2012. "Access to Artemisinin-Combination Therapy (ACT) and other Anti-Malarials: National Policy and Markets in Sierra Leone," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(10), pages 1-9, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jeffery Spickett & Dianne Katscherian & Helen Brown & Krassi Rumchev, 2015. "Health Impact Assessment: Improving Its Effectiveness in the Enhancement of Health and Well-Being," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-6, April.
    2. Meelan Thondoo & Daniel H. De Vries & David Rojas-Rueda & Yashila D. Ramkalam & Ersilia Verlinghieri & Joyeeta Gupta & Mark J. Nieuwenhuijsen, 2020. "Framework for Participatory Quantitative Health Impact Assessment in Low- and Middle-Income Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-20, October.
    3. Dominik Dietler & Ruth Lewinski & Sophie Azevedo & Rebecca Engebretsen & Fritz Brugger & Jürg Utzinger & Mirko S. Winkler, 2020. "Inclusion of Health in Impact Assessment: A Review of Current Practice in Sub-Saharan Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-20, June.
    4. Astrid M. Knoblauch & Mark J. Divall & Milka Owuor & Colleen Archer & Kennedy Nduna & Harrison Ng’uni & Gertrude Musunka & Anna Pascall & Jürg Utzinger & Mirko S. Winkler, 2017. "Monitoring of Selected Health Indicators in Children Living in a Copper Mine Development Area in Northwestern Zambia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-17, March.
    5. Ajide, Kazeem Bello & Ibrahim, Ridwan Lanre & Mohammed, Abubakar & Saleh Al-Faryan, Mamdouh Abdulaziz, 2023. "Infectious diseases and health outcomes’ implications of natural resource curse in Africa," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).

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