MANSA COLLEGE OF NURSING AND MIDWIFERY
NAME:PESIDAH NSOFWA
INDEX NUMBER: 260202
PROGRAM: REGISTERED MIDWIFERY
INTAKE: JANUARY 2026 INTAKE
COURSE: SOCIOLOGY
TUTOR: MRS MUSHITA
ASSIGNMENT NUMBER: ONE (1)
DUE DATE: 12th FEBRUARY, 2026.
QUESTION:
THE WORLD IS EXPERIENCING CLIMATE CHANGE WHICH BRINGS ABOUT A LOT OF
CHANGE, FOR EXAMPLE IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND ALSO ON HEALTH.
DISCUSS AT LEAST 5 NEGATIVE FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO HEALTH DUE TO CLIMATE
CHANGE.
INTRODUCTION
Climate change refers to long-term changes in temperature and weather patterns mainly caused
by human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation. These changes have led to
global warming, extreme weather events, and environmental instability. Although often seen as
an environmental issue, climate change is also a major public health concern. It affects human
health directly and indirectly through heat exposure, infectious diseases, food and water
insecurity, air pollution, and social disruption. Understanding these health impacts is important
for developing effective prevention and adaptation strategies.
HEALTH IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate change affects human health through interconnected environmental, biological, and
social mechanisms. It acts not as a single risk factor but as a threat multiplier, intensifying
existing public health challenges and creating new risks. Its impacts are immediate, long-term,
and unevenly distributed across populations.
1. Direct Physiological Impacts of Rising Temperatures
Global warming has caused more frequent and prolonged heatwaves. Exposure to extreme heat
affects the body’s thermoregulation, resulting in:
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke
Dehydration and electrolyte imbalance
Increased cardiovascular strain
High temperatures also increase hospital admissions for heart attacks, strokes, and respiratory
distress. Prolonged heat exposure reduces productivity and physical performance, especially
among outdoor workers such as farmers and construction workers. Urban areas are particularly
vulnerable due to the urban heat island effect, where concrete and asphalt retain heat, increasing
nighttime temperatures and limiting recovery from daytime heat exposure.
2. Climate-Sensitive Infectious Diseases
Temperature, rainfall, and humidity influence the survival and reproduction of pathogens and
vectors. As temperatures rise:
Mosquitoes expand into new areas
Vector breeding cycles shorten
Transmission seasons lengthen
This increases vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. Heavy rainfall and
flooding can also worsen water-borne diseases like cholera and diarrheal infections. Children
under five are most affected due to weaker immunity and higher dehydration risk. Climate
change therefore alters disease patterns, making control programs more complex.
3. Food Systems, Nutrition, and Long-Term Health
Climate change disrupts agriculture through drought, erratic rainfall, soil degradation, and
extreme weather, causing:
Food shortages.
Reduced dietary diversity
Malnutrition weakens immunity, increasing susceptibility to infections. In children, chronic
undernutrition leads to stunted growth, delayed cognitive development, and lower academic
performance. Higher carbon dioxide levels may also reduce the protein and micronutrient
content of staple crops, creating hidden malnutrition through micronutrient deficiencies.
4. Water Insecurity and Public Health Risks
Climate variability affects freshwater availability. Drought reduces water supplies, while floods
contaminate water sources with sewage and industrial waste. Water insecurity leads to:
Increased diarrheal diseases
Poor hygiene practices
Increased burden on women and children fetching water
Inadequate water and sanitation during climate-related disasters raises the risk of disease
outbreaks in displaced populations living in temporary shelters.
5. Air Quality Degradation and Respiratory Illness
Higher temperatures accelerate chemical reactions in the atmosphere, increasing ground-level
ozone formation. Climate change also increases wildfires, releasing fine particulate matter
(PM2.5) into the air. Exposure to polluted air is linked to;
Asthma exacerbations
Chronic respiratory diseases
Lung cancer
Children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing respiratory conditions are most vulnerable
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, climate change is a major threat to human health. It contributes to heat-related
illnesses, infectious diseases, malnutrition, respiratory problems, and mental health challenges.
Vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and low-income communities are most affected.
Addressing climate change requires strong public health action, environmental protection, and
improved preparedness. Protecting the environment is essential for protecting human health now
and in the future.
REFERENCES
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (2023). Climate change 2023:
Synthesis report. IPCC.
• World Health Organization (WHO). (2023). Climate change and health. World Health
Organization.
• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). (2023). Emissions gap report 2023.
UNEP.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2022). Climate effects on health.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• Watts, N., Amann, M., Arnell, N., Ayeb-Karlsson, S., et al. (2021). The 2021 report of the
Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: Code red for a healthy future. The
Lancet, 398(10311), 161