Social, environment and climate change impacts on vector-borne diseases in arid areas of southern Africa
Why this project?
Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) are prevalent in Southern Africa particularly in poor and vulnerable communities. Bionomic, socioeconomic, environmental, institutional and climatic factors are the major drivers of VBD transmission. With the effects of climate change, the distribution and prevalence of VBDs are likely to increase. The Malaria and Bilharzia in Southern Africa project (MABISA) provided an opportunity to understand the likely impact of climate change on malaria and schistosomiasis in specific socio-ecological systems in Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa. The project focused on dryland ecologies and water systems within drylands.
The aim
The aim of the project was to determine the impacts of socio-economic, environmental, climatic, bionomic and institutional factors on malaria and schistosomiasis in specific vulnerable communities in arid areas of Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe. This was done with a view to develop stakeholder-driven adaptation strategies.
The Malaria and Bilharzia in Southern Africa project (MABISA) provided an opportunity to understand the likely impact of climate change on malaria and schistosomiasis in specific socio-ecological systems in Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
The research sites
South Africa: Study sites in the uMgedula, Ndumo, Makhanisi villages in the uMkhanyakude District (KwaZulu-Natal province)
Botswana: Study sites in the Shakawe and Ngarange villages of the Ngamiland district
Zimbabwe: Study sites in the Buvuma, Ntalale and Selonga villages of the Gwanda District
Research approach
The project followed an ecohealth approach, emphasising transdisciplinarity, systems approach, community participation, gender equity, sustainability and knowledge to action. It applied both qualitative and quantitative methodologies as indicated below;
- Workshops and group discussions to learn from and with community members
Interviews with key informants (e.g. policy makers, traditional leaders and health personnel)
Observations and case studies
Participatory Rural Appraisals (PRA)
Lab and field studies of vector viability under different conditions
Determining vector variations across different climatic zones by using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing
Modelling future impact scenarios and feeding results into National Adaptation Plans
Objectives
Objective 1
To determine the temporal trends of the burden of malaria and schistosomiasis
Objective 2
To determine community perceptions of the influence of climate change on VBDs with special focus on malaria and schistosomiasis
Objective 3
To establish the influence of socio-economic, environmental, climatic and institutional factors on the transmission dynamics of malaria and schistosomiasis
Objective 4
To explore and define stakeholder-driven adaptation strategies to reduce population health vulnerabilities due to malaria and schistosomiasis
Objective 5
To develop and strengthen capacities among research groups and communities to enable them to assess and mitigate population health vulnerabilities related to malaria and schistosomiasis
Publications
Chimbari MJ (2017) Lessons from implementation of ecohealth projects in Southern Africa: A principal investigator’s perspective. Acta Tropica 175: 9-19
Chirebvu E, Chimbari MJ (2016) Characterization of an Indoor-Resting Population of Anopheles arabiensis (Diptera: Culicidae) and the Implications on Malaria Transmission in Tubu Village in Okavango Subdistrict, Botswana. Journal of Medical Entomology 53(3): 569-576. Available from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27018444
Gunda R, Chimbari MJ, Mukaratirwa S (2016) Assessment of burden of malaria in Gwanda District, Zimbabwe, using the disability adjusted life years. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 13(2): 244
Gunda R, Chimbari MJ, Shamu S, Sartorius B, Mukaratirwa S (2017) Malaria incidence trends and their association with climatic variables in rural Gwanda, Zimbabwe, 2005–2015. Malaria Journal16:393
Gunda R, Shamu S, Chimbari MJ, Mukaratirwa S (2017) Economic Burden of Malaria on Rural Households in Gwanda District, Zimbabwe. African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine 9(1): a1317
Gunda R (2017) Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Malaria Interventions using Disability Adjusted Life Years: A Systematic Review. Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation. Accepted for publication
Kabuyaya, M, Chimbari, MJ, Manyangadze, T, Mukaratirwa, S (2017) Efficacy of praziquantel on Schistosoma haematobium and re-infection rates among school-going children in the Ndumo area of uMkhanyakude district, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Infectious Diseases of Poverty 6: 83
Kabuyaya M, Chimbari MJ, Mukaratirwa S (2018) Infection status and risk factors associated with urinary schistosomiasis among school-going children in the Ndumo area of uMkhanyakude district in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: two years post treatment. International Journal of Infectious Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2018.04.002
Kabuyaya M, Chimbari MJ, Mukaratirwa S (2018) Efficacy of praziquantel treatment regimens in pre-school and school-aged children infected with schistosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review. Infectious Diseases of Poverty 7(1):73
Kalinda C, Chimbari MJ, Grant WE, Wang HH, Odhiambo JN, Mukaratirwa S (2018) Simulation of population dynamics of Bulinus globosus: Effects of environmental temperature on production of Schistosoma haematobium cercariae. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 12(8). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0006651
Kalinda C, Chimbari MJ, Mukaratirwa S (2018) Schistosomiasis in Zambia: a systematic review of past and present experiences. Infectious Diseases of Poverty 7:41
Kalinda C, Chimbari M, Mukaratirwa S (2017) Implications of Changing Temperatures on the Growth, Fecundity and Survival of Intermediate Host Snails of Schistosomiasis: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 14(1)
Kalinda C, Mushayabasa S, Chimbari MJ, Mukaratirwa S (2018) Optimal control applied to a temperature dependent schistosomiasis model. Biosystems. 175:47-56.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystems.2018.11.008
Kone V, Oulhote Y, Mustapha A, Olaniyan T, Kuome K, Benmarhnia T, Munyinda N, Basu N, Fobil JN, Etajak S, Annesi-Maesano I, Chevrier J, Ebi K (2019) Environmental health research challenges in Africa. Env Epid. https://doi.org/10.1097/ee9.0000000000000074
Macherera M, Chimbari MJ. Developing a community-centred malaria early warning system based on indigenous knowledge: Gwanda District, Zimbabwe. Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies8(1): a289
Macherera M, Chimbari M (2016) A review of studies on community based early warning systems. Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies 8(1): a206
Macherera M, Chimbari MJ, Mukaratirwa S (2017) Indigenous environmental indicators for malaria: A district study in Zimbabwe. Acta Tropica 175: 50-59
Manyangadze T, Chimbari MJ, Gebreslasie M, Ceccato P, Mukaratirwa S (2016) Modelling the spatial and seasonal distribution of suitable habitats of schistosomiasis intermediate host snails using Maxent in Ndumo area, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. Parasites and Vectors 9:572
Manyangadze T, Chimbari MJ, Gebreslasie M, Mukaratirwa S (2016) Risk factors and micro-geographical heterogeneity of Schistosoma haematobium in Ndumo area, uMkhanyakude district, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Acta Tropica 159: 176-184
Manyangadze T, Chimbari MJ, Macherera M, Mukaratirwa S. Micro-spatial distribution of malaria cases and control strategies at ward level in Gwanda district, Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe. Malaria Journal. Accepted for publication
Manyangadze T, Chimbari MJ, Mukaratirwa S, Gabriselaise M (2015) Application of geo-spatial technology in schistosomiasis modelling in Africa: A Review. Geospatial Health 10(326): 99-110
Maphane D, Ngwenya BN, Motsholapheko MR, Kolawole OD, Magole L (2017) Rural Livelihoods and Community Local Knowledge of Risk of Malaria Transmission in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. Botswana Notes and Records, 49: 136-152 2017
Mbereko A, Chimbari MJ, Mukaratirwa S (2018) The political ecology of stakeholder-driven climate change adaptation: Case study from Ntalale war, Gwanda district in Zimbabwe. JAMBA 20(2):419
Mbereko A, Mukamuri BB, Chimbari MJ (2015) Exclusion and contests over wetlands used for farming in Zimbabwe: a case study of broad-ridge and broad-furrow tillage system on Zungwi Vlei. Journal of Political Ecology 21: 322-338
Musesengwa R, Chimbari MJ (2016) Community engagement practices in Southern Africa: Review and thematic synthesis of studies done in Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Acta Tropica 175: 20-30 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27005396/
Musesengwa R, Chimbari MJ. Experiences of community members and researchers on community engagement in an Eco-health project in South Africa and Zimbabwe. BMC Medical Ethics. Accepted for publication
Musesengwa R, Chimbari MJ, Mukaratirwa S (2018) A framework for community and stakeholder engagement: Experiences from a multicenter study in southern Africa. Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics. Available from https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1556264618769002
Mutegeki E, Chimbaria MJ, Mukaratirwa S (2017) Assessment of individual and household malaria risk factors among women in a South African village. Acta Tropica 175: 71-77
Ngwenya BN, Thakadua OT, Magolea L, Chimbari MJ (2017) Memories of environmental change and local adaptations among molapo farming communities in the Okavango Delta, Botswana—A gender perspective. Acta Tropica 175: 31-41
Nyati-Jokomo Z, Chimbari M (2017) Risk factors for schistosomiasis transmission among school children in Gwanda district, Zimbabwe. Acta Tropica 175: 84-90
Ramolefhe GT, Ngwenya BN, Ama NO, Nnyepi MS, Chimbari MJ (2017) Perceptions of Safe Water and Accessibility by Rural Farming Communities Residing Along the Fringes of the Okavango Delta, Botswana. Botswana Notes and Records 49: 117-135
Rubaba O, Chimbari MJ, Soko W, Mangangadze T, Mukaratirwa S (2018) Validation of a urine circulating cathodic antigen cassette test for detection of Schistosoma haematobium in uMkhanyakude district of South Africa. Acta Tropica 182:161-165.
Rubaba O, Chimbari MJ, Mukaratirwa S (2016) The role of snail aestivation in transmission of schistosomiasis in changing climatic conditions. African Journal of Aquatic Science
Sacolo J, Chimbari MJ, Kalinda C (2018) Knowledge, attitudes and practices on schistosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review. BMC Infect Dis 18(1):46
Soko W, Chimbari MJ, Mukaratirwa S (2015) Insecticide resistance in malaria-transmitting mosquitoes in Zimbabwe: A review. Infectious Diseases of Poverty 4(46)
Policy brief
What are the research gaps impeding control, prevention and elimination of VBDs of public health importance (malaria and schistosomiasis) in arid regions of southern Africa in the advent of climate change? Download PDF
Partners
University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)
Durban, South Africa
Okovango Research Institute, University of Botswana (UB)
Maun, Botswana
University of Zimbabwe (UZ)
Harare, Zimbabwe
National University of Science and Technology
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen
Copenhagen, Denmark
Additional partners are:
- Country departments of health
- Country ministries of education
- Country ministries of environment
- Community leadership
- NGOs operating in project sites
- Country departments of meteorology