Members of the NAR-Kolleg

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Dr. Aditi Bunker

Network Aging Research
Bergheimer Straße 20
69115 Heidelberg

Fellows: Prof. Dr. Rainer Sauerborn, Prof. Dr. Joacim Rocklöv

The impact of climate on the health of the ageing population in Nouna, Burkina Faso

The association between weather and human health has been recognized globally. This study focuses on the population in Nouna, Burkina Faso in Sub-Saharan Africa. 80% of the population are subsistence farmers, and rely on seasonal weather patterns for income and food. Inhabitants of this region are experiencing average temperature increase, as well as more extreme weather events, both of which are associated with direct and indirect health consequences. A previous study in Nouna shows that the elderly are particularly sensitive to short-term weather events such as rainfall and temperature (Diboulo et al., 2012). This study aims to identify which weather-related risk factors increase population vulnerability to mortality, with a focus on the elderly. Descriptive vulnerability maps will provide local decision makers with a tool to develop targeted and cost-saving interventions for those adversely affected. Given the increasing life expectancy and growing number of elderly, it is important to study how life lived with disease can impact the population. This study uses a novel method of data collection to quantify the burden of disease caused by death and illness in the Nouna population.

References

• Diboulo, E., Sié, A., Rocklöv, J., Niamba, L., Yé, M., Bagagnan, C., & Sauerborn, R. (2012). Weather and mortality: a 10 year retrospective analysis of the Nouna Health and Demographic Surveillance System, Burkina Faso. Global Health Action, 5, 1–8.

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