EXPLORING THE INFLUENCE OF CLIMATE VARIABILITY/ CHANGE ON THE PREVALENCE OF SCHISTOSOMIASIS IN GHANA: A STUDY OF THE GA DISTRICTS

ABSTRACT

Climate change is projected to have an impact on disease abundance and a geographic shift in the prevalence of many vector borne diseases like schistosomiasis and malaria. Schistosomiasis is one of the 13 diseases that the WHO has classified as Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) which currently affects some 200 million people and another 600 million people are at risk globally. Despite the high prevalence and its associated effects like anaemia and bladder cancer, it receives less attention and little is currently known about the pattern of spread and the potential links to climate change. This study examined the influence of climate variability/change on schistosomiasis prevalence in endemic communities. Also, community knowledge and perceptions of schistosomiasis infection, as well as coping strategies were examined. The study employed a mixed method involving qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Schistosomiasis epidemiological data from the Centre for Health Information Management (CHIM) and climatic data the Ghana Meteorological Agency were used. The primary data collection involved focus group discussion, in-depth interviews and participant observation in two communities. The results of the quantitative data analysis showed a significant positive correlation between total rainfall and schistosomiasis (r=0.410, p0.138). Minimum and maximum temperatures correlated negatively with schistosomiasis (r=-0.717, p