TY - JOUR

T1 - Health institutional dynamics in the management of malaria and bilharzia in Zimbabwe in the advent of climate change

T2 - A case study of Gwanda district

AU - Mbereko, A.

AU - Chimbari, M. J.

AU - Furu, P.

AU - Mukaratirwa, S.

N1 - Funding Information: We would like to acknowledge the following institutions: WHO/TDR initiative for funding the research; Biomedical Research and Training Institute and University of KwaZulu-Natal for administering the research grant. Our heartfelt thanks goes to all the study participants. Due appreciation goes to Dr. R. Musesengwa who assisted in logistics for data collection. Funding Information: The work was supported by the This paper is a product of a project that was funded by TDR/WHO. We would like to acknowledge the following institutions: WHO/TDR initiative for funding the research; Biomedical Research and Training Institute and University of KwaZulu-Natal for administering the research grant. Our heartfelt thanks goes to all the study participants. Due appreciation goes to Dr. R. Musesengwa who assisted in logistics for data collection. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - Climate change impacts on the transmission and epidemics of vector-borne diseases (VBDs), hence an understanding of the institutional determinants that influence the response of national health systems is important. This study explored how institutional determinants influence health outcomes of malaria and bilharzia using the case study of Gwanda district, Zimbabwe, in the advent of climate change. Qualitative data were collected using in-depth interviews from representatives of public and private institutions; and organisations involved in the prevention and control of malaria and bilharzia. Results from the study showed that the Ministry of Health and Child Care of Zimbabwe and other relevant government ministries and departments involved in environmental and social issues, constituted the primary network in the control and prevention of malaria and bilharzia. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) formed the secondary network that mainly mobilized resources or complimented the primary networks in the delivery of services. It was noted that there was an institutional structure primarily responsible for responding to malaria and bilharzia but it was not adequately prepared to address climate change-induced VBDs changes. Based on our findings, a framework for reducing vulnerability and enhancing resilience among populations affected by VBDs in the context of climate change was developed.

AB - Climate change impacts on the transmission and epidemics of vector-borne diseases (VBDs), hence an understanding of the institutional determinants that influence the response of national health systems is important. This study explored how institutional determinants influence health outcomes of malaria and bilharzia using the case study of Gwanda district, Zimbabwe, in the advent of climate change. Qualitative data were collected using in-depth interviews from representatives of public and private institutions; and organisations involved in the prevention and control of malaria and bilharzia. Results from the study showed that the Ministry of Health and Child Care of Zimbabwe and other relevant government ministries and departments involved in environmental and social issues, constituted the primary network in the control and prevention of malaria and bilharzia. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) formed the secondary network that mainly mobilized resources or complimented the primary networks in the delivery of services. It was noted that there was an institutional structure primarily responsible for responding to malaria and bilharzia but it was not adequately prepared to address climate change-induced VBDs changes. Based on our findings, a framework for reducing vulnerability and enhancing resilience among populations affected by VBDs in the context of climate change was developed.

KW - bilharzia

KW - climate change

KW - health governance

KW - Malaria

KW - political ecology of health

KW - Zimbabwe

U2 - 10.1080/23311886.2023.2215632

DO - 10.1080/23311886.2023.2215632

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85162970824

VL - 9

JO - Cogent Social Sciences

JF - Cogent Social Sciences

SN - 2331-1886

IS - 1

M1 - 2215632

ER -