CASCADING VULNERABILITIES: THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON WOMEN’S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Abstract

Sub-Saharan Africa may be contributing very little globally in terms of greenhouse gases(GHG) but is worst affected by climate change effects. This brings various environmental shocks such as floods, droughts and heat stress which are very bad for health and add gender-vulnerabilities already present. Here, we examined effects of climate variability on women's reproductive health in agrarian communities in Sub-Saharan Africa; using a multi-stage mixed methods study that incorporates a household survey of 650 reproductive age women and 24 key informant interviews(KIIs).  Climate shocks negatively impacted women's attempts at seeking safe antenatal, safe delivery, and family planning services. Thermal stresses and an increase in vector-borne illnesses contribute directly to health risks for women, such as preterm birth,low birth weight andpre-eclampsia. Climate shocks contributed to food scarcity and poor coping strategies which undermined nutritional status of women and increased women's expenditures especially when there are obstetric emergencies. Women's reproductive health vulnerability must be directly incorporated into adaptation and environmental disaster plans with comprehensive gender sensitive sexual & reproductive health strategies.