Public Health Impact and Health System Preparedness within a Changing Climate in Bangladesh: A Scoping Review

Bangladesh, one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world is also severely exposed to climate change (CC) impacts with a multitude of health complexities. Health adaptation to CC is thus a serious issue in Bangladesh, but not explored properly from a health system and policy environment pers...

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Main Author: Mahin Al Nahian
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-01-01
Series:Challenges
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2078-1547/14/1/4
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author_facet Mahin Al Nahian
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description Bangladesh, one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world is also severely exposed to climate change (CC) impacts with a multitude of health complexities. Health adaptation to CC is thus a serious issue in Bangladesh, but not explored properly from a health system and policy environment perspective. In order to address this gap and provide a holistic picture of the overall scenario, this scoping review explores CC impacts on the population health in Bangladesh and discusses the policy environment and health system preparedness against such climatic challenges. A total of 28 articles were reviewed following Arksey and O’Malley’s scoping review framework. A “5-point scale” was devised to assess CC integration in the health sector Operational Plans (OPs). Though the country made significant progress in different health indicators, poverty and income inequality have kept marginal communities out of many health provisions. There are four major stakeholders in the health system. The government sector is handicapped by poor governance, bureaucratic processes, and staff shortages; and primarily focuses on the public sector only. National Health Policy (NHP) governs the health system through 29 sectoral OPs, that put CC as a major cross-cutting issue. About 25% of the OPs have fully integrated CC and other OPs have significant CC co-benefits. In Bangladesh CC was linked to increased morbidity and mortality, diarrhea, cholera, skin problems, respiratory infections, malaria, dengue, kala azar, pre-eclampsia, and hypertension. Significant research gaps exist on child health, migrant health, and mental health. Integration of research evidence into policy, planning and program design is largely absent. However, prioritizing health for the National Adaptation Plan is an essential step towards establishing a climate-resilient health system.
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spelling doaj.art-caa486cdc4fa4b03b0f0757f554516a72023-11-17T10:15:08ZengMDPI AGChallenges2078-15472023-01-01141410.3390/challe14010004Public Health Impact and Health System Preparedness within a Changing Climate in Bangladesh: A Scoping ReviewMahin Al Nahian0International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh; 68, Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka 1212, BangladeshBangladesh, one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world is also severely exposed to climate change (CC) impacts with a multitude of health complexities. Health adaptation to CC is thus a serious issue in Bangladesh, but not explored properly from a health system and policy environment perspective. In order to address this gap and provide a holistic picture of the overall scenario, this scoping review explores CC impacts on the population health in Bangladesh and discusses the policy environment and health system preparedness against such climatic challenges. A total of 28 articles were reviewed following Arksey and O’Malley’s scoping review framework. A “5-point scale” was devised to assess CC integration in the health sector Operational Plans (OPs). Though the country made significant progress in different health indicators, poverty and income inequality have kept marginal communities out of many health provisions. There are four major stakeholders in the health system. The government sector is handicapped by poor governance, bureaucratic processes, and staff shortages; and primarily focuses on the public sector only. National Health Policy (NHP) governs the health system through 29 sectoral OPs, that put CC as a major cross-cutting issue. About 25% of the OPs have fully integrated CC and other OPs have significant CC co-benefits. In Bangladesh CC was linked to increased morbidity and mortality, diarrhea, cholera, skin problems, respiratory infections, malaria, dengue, kala azar, pre-eclampsia, and hypertension. Significant research gaps exist on child health, migrant health, and mental health. Integration of research evidence into policy, planning and program design is largely absent. However, prioritizing health for the National Adaptation Plan is an essential step towards establishing a climate-resilient health system.https://www.mdpi.com/2078-1547/14/1/4climate change and healthclimate resilient health systemhealth adaptationhealth policyhealth system in Bangladesh
spellingShingle Mahin Al Nahian
Public Health Impact and Health System Preparedness within a Changing Climate in Bangladesh: A Scoping Review
Challenges
climate change and health
climate resilient health system
health adaptation
health policy
health system in Bangladesh
title Public Health Impact and Health System Preparedness within a Changing Climate in Bangladesh: A Scoping Review
title_full Public Health Impact and Health System Preparedness within a Changing Climate in Bangladesh: A Scoping Review
title_fullStr Public Health Impact and Health System Preparedness within a Changing Climate in Bangladesh: A Scoping Review
title_full_unstemmed Public Health Impact and Health System Preparedness within a Changing Climate in Bangladesh: A Scoping Review
title_short Public Health Impact and Health System Preparedness within a Changing Climate in Bangladesh: A Scoping Review
title_sort public health impact and health system preparedness within a changing climate in bangladesh a scoping review
topic climate change and health
climate resilient health system
health adaptation
health policy
health system in Bangladesh
url https://www.mdpi.com/2078-1547/14/1/4
work_keys_str_mv AT mahinalnahian publichealthimpactandhealthsystempreparednesswithinachangingclimateinbangladeshascopingreview