IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/ijphth/v61y2016i6d10.1007_s00038-015-0759-7.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Climate-driven migration: an exploratory case study of Maasai health perceptions and help-seeking behaviors

Author

Listed:
  • Alexandra K. Heaney

    (Columbia University)

  • Sandra J. Winter

    (Stanford University)

Abstract

Objectives By 2050, over 250 million people will be displaced from their homes by climate change. This exploratory case study examines how climate-driven migration impacts the health perceptions and help-seeking behaviors of Maasai in Tanzania. Increasing frequency and intensity of drought is killing livestock, forcing Maasai to migrate from their rural homelands to urban centers in search of ways to support their families. Little existing research investigates how this migration changes the way migrants think about health and make healthcare decisions. Methods This study used semi-structured qualitative interviews to explore migrant and non-migrant beliefs surrounding health and healthcare. Migrant and non-migrant participants were matched on demographic characteristics and location. Results Migrants emphasized the importance of mental health in their overall health perceptions, whereas non-migrants emphasized physical health. Although non-migrants perceived more barriers to accessing healthcare, migrant and non-migrant help-seeking behaviors were similar in that they only sought help for physical health problems, and utilized hospitals as a last option. Conclusions These findings have implications for improving Maasai healthcare utilization, and for future research targeting other climate-driven migrant populations in the world.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexandra K. Heaney & Sandra J. Winter, 2016. "Climate-driven migration: an exploratory case study of Maasai health perceptions and help-seeking behaviors," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 61(6), pages 641-649, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:ijphth:v:61:y:2016:i:6:d:10.1007_s00038-015-0759-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s00038-015-0759-7
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00038-015-0759-7
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s00038-015-0759-7?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kroeger, Axel, 1983. "Anthropological and socio-medical health care research in developing countries," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 17(3), pages 147-161, January.
    2. Frank Biermann & Ingrid Boas, 2010. "Preparing for a Warmer World: Towards a Global Governance System to Protect Climate Refugees," Global Environmental Politics, MIT Press, vol. 10(1), pages 60-88, February.
    3. Robert Biswas-Diener & Joar Vittersø & Ed Diener, 2005. "Most People are Pretty Happy, but There is Cultural Variation: The Inughuit, The Amish, and The Maasai," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 6(3), pages 205-226, September.
    4. Bailis, Daniel S. & Segall, Alexander & Chipperfield, Judith G., 2003. "Two views of self-rated general health status," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 56(2), pages 203-217, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Patricia Nayna Schwerdtle & Julia Stockemer & Kathryn J. Bowen & Rainer Sauerborn & Celia McMichael & Ina Danquah, 2020. "A Meta-Synthesis of Policy Recommendations Regarding Human Mobility in the Context of Climate Change," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-30, December.
    2. Ashley Jowell & Sharon Wulfovich & Sianga Kuyan & Catherine Heaney, 2018. "Ethnic identity, resilience, and well-being: a study of female Maasai migrants," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 63(6), pages 703-711, July.
    3. Fiona Charlson & Suhailah Ali & Tarik Benmarhnia & Madeleine Pearl & Alessandro Massazza & Jura Augustinavicius & James G. Scott, 2021. "Climate Change and Mental Health: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-38, April.
    4. Martin Röösli & Guéladio Cissé, 2020. "Towards health for future," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 65(1), pages 1-2, January.
    5. Simin Mehdipour & Nouzar Nakhaee & Farzaneh Zolala & Maryam Okhovati & Afsar Foroud & Ali Akbar Haghdoost, 2022. "A systematized review exploring the map of publications on the health impacts of drought," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 113(1), pages 35-62, August.
    6. Omolara Sanni & Bukola Salami & Folajinmi Oluwasina & Folakemi Ojo & Megan Kennedy, 2022. "Climate Change and African Migrant Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-7, December.
    7. Marion Borderon & Patrick Sakdapolrak & Raya Muttarak & Endale Kebede & Raffaella Pagogna & Eva Sporer, 2019. "Migration influenced by environmental change in Africa: A systematic review of empirical evidence," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 41(18), pages 491-544.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Veenhoven, Ruut, 2008. "How universal is happiness?," MPRA Paper 16853, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 01 Jun 2008.
    2. Pouliot, Mariève, 2011. "Relying on nature’s pharmacy in rural Burkina Faso: Empirical evidence of the determinants of traditional medicine consumption," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(10), pages 1498-1507.
    3. Bimal Kanti Paul & Munshi Khaledur Rahman & Max Lu & Thomas W. Crawford, 2022. "Household Migration and Intentions for Future Migration in the Climate Change Vulnerable Lower Meghna Estuary of Coastal Bangladesh," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-17, April.
    4. Christiane Fröhlich & Giovanni Bettini, 2017. "Where Next? Climate Change, Migration, and the (Bio)politics of Adaptation," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 8, pages 33-39, February.
    5. Juan José Barrios, 2014. "Culture, competition, and happiness," Documentos de Investigación 99, Universidad ORT Uruguay. Facultad de Administración y Ciencias Sociales.
    6. Louis Lebel & Jianchu Xu & Ram Bastakoti & Amrita Lamba, 2010. "Pursuits of adaptiveness in the shared rivers of Monsoon Asia," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 10(4), pages 355-375, December.
    7. Clark Gray & Richard Bilsborrow, 2013. "Environmental Influences on Human Migration in Rural Ecuador," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 50(4), pages 1217-1241, August.
    8. Rocco, Lorenzo, 2014. "Trust me, you will be in better health," MPRA Paper 91657, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    9. Rees, Philip Howell & Wohland, Pia N. & Norman, Paul D., 2009. "The estimation of mortality for ethnic groups at local scale within the United Kingdom," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 69(11), pages 1592-1607, December.
    10. David J. Kaczan & Jennifer Orgill-Meyer, 2020. "The impact of climate change on migration: a synthesis of recent empirical insights," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 158(3), pages 281-300, February.
    11. Keith Cox & Antonio Casablanca & Dan McAdams, 2013. "“There is Nothing Good About this Work:” Identity and Unhappiness Among Nicaraguan Female Sex Workers," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 14(5), pages 1459-1478, October.
    12. Zhenghui Chen & Gareth Davey, 2008. "Normative Life Satisfaction in Chinese Societies," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 89(3), pages 557-564, December.
    13. Devillanova, Carlo & Raitano, Michele & Struffolino, Emanuela, 2019. "Longitudinal employment trajectories and health in middle life: Insights from linked administrative and survey data," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 40, pages 1375-1412.
    14. Stekelenburg, Jelle & Jager, Bastiaan E. & Kolk, Pascal R. & Westen, Esther H. M. N. & Kwaak, Anke van der & Wolffers, Ivan N., 2005. "Health care seeking behaviour and utilisation of traditional healers in Kalabo, Zambia," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 71(1), pages 67-81, January.
    15. Jüri Allik & Rene Mõttus & Anu Realo & Dmitri Rozgonjuk, 2018. "What Makes Young Russians Happy and Satisfied With Their Lives?," SAGE Open, , vol. 8(3), pages 21582440188, September.
    16. Reuben D. Rusk, 2022. "An Adaptive Motivation Approach to Understanding the ‘How’ and ‘Why’ of Wellbeing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-24, October.
    17. Andrew Baldwin, 2013. "Racialisation and the Figure of the Climate-Change Migrant," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 45(6), pages 1474-1490, June.
    18. Wild, Kayli & Barclay, Lesley & Kelly, Paul & Martins, Nelson, 2010. "Birth choices in Timor-Leste: A framework for understanding the use of maternal health services in low resource settings," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 71(11), pages 2038-2045, December.
    19. Haenssgen, Marco J. & Charoenboon, Nutcha & Zanello, Giacomo, 2021. "You’ve got a friend in me: How social networks and mobile phones facilitate healthcare access among marginalised groups in rural Thailand and Lao PDR," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    20. Tarek Drissi Bouzaidi & Aziz Ragbi, 2024. "An analysis of the trend towards universal health coverage and access to healthcare in Morocco," Health Economics Review, Springer, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:ijphth:v:61:y:2016:i:6:d:10.1007_s00038-015-0759-7. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.