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Impact of Climate Change on Children’s Health in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Adeboyejo Aina Thompson

    (Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou, 0950, Limpopo, South Africa)

  • Lirvhuwani Matamale

    (Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou, 0950, Limpopo, South Africa)

  • Shonisani Danisa Kharidza

    (Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou, 0950, Limpopo, South Africa)

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of climate change on children’s health, in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. Twenty one years climatic data were collected to analyse climatic conditions in the province. The study also employs 12 years hospital records of clinically diagnosed climate-related ailments among children under 13 years to examine the incidence, spatio-temporal, age and sex variations of the diseases. Regression analysis was employed to examine the relationships between climatic parameters and incidence of diseases and also to predict distribution of disease by 2050. The results show that the most prevalent diseases were diarrhea (42.4%), followed by respiratory infection (31.3%), asthma (6.6%) and malaria (6.5%). The incidence varied within city, with the high density areas recording the highest proportion (76.7%), followed by the medium (9.4%) and low (2.5%) density residential areas. The most tropical location, Mussina, had the highest incidence of the most prevalent disease, diarrhea, with 59.4%. Mortality rate was higher for males (54.2%). Analysis of 21 years of climatic data show that maximum temperature is positively correlated with years in four cities with r coefficients of 0.50; 0.56, 0.48 and 0.02, thereby indicating local warming. Similarly rainfall decreased over time in all the cities, with r ranging from ?0.02 for Bela Bela to r = 0.18 for Makhado. Results of the regression analysis show that 37.9% of disease incidence is accounted for by the combined influence of temperature and rainfall.

Suggested Citation

  • Adeboyejo Aina Thompson & Lirvhuwani Matamale & Shonisani Danisa Kharidza, 2012. "Impact of Climate Change on Children’s Health in Limpopo Province, South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-24, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:9:y:2012:i:3:p:831-854:d:16579
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Chris D. Thomas & Alison Cameron & Rhys E. Green & Michel Bakkenes & Linda J. Beaumont & Yvonne C. Collingham & Barend F. N. Erasmus & Marinez Ferreira de Siqueira & Alan Grainger & Lee Hannah & Lesle, 2004. "Extinction risk from climate change," Nature, Nature, vol. 427(6970), pages 145-148, January.
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    2. Niklas Pleger & Beatrix Kloft & David Quarcoo & Simona Zitnik & Stefanie Mache & Doris Klingelhoefer & David A Groneberg, 2014. "Bacterial Meningitis: A Density-Equalizing Mapping Analysis of the Global Research Architecture," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-13, September.
    3. Monika dos Santos & David Howard & Pieter Kruger & Arnaud Banos & Saul Kornik, 2019. "Climate Change and Healthcare Sustainability in the Agincourt Sub-District, Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Region, South Africa," Post-Print hal-01993273, HAL.
    4. Kathleen A. Alexander & Marcos Carzolio & Douglas Goodin & Eric Vance, 2013. "Climate Change is Likely to Worsen the Public Health Threat of Diarrheal Disease in Botswana," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-29, March.
    5. MODISE Trevor Rehaugetswe & RANKOANA Agnes & MALATJI Moshohli Kenneth, 2022. "Local Community Members’ Perceptions Of Rainfall Scarcity And Its Impacts On Water And Food Resources: A Case Study Of Moletjie Community In Limpopo Province, South Africa," Management of Sustainable Development, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Faculty of Economic Sciences, vol. 14(2), pages 34-37, December.

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