vulnerability in the south african context presented at csir innovation conference juanette john...
TRANSCRIPT
Vulnerability in the South African context
Presented at
CSIR Innovation Conference
Juanette John
Environmental Health Scientist
28 February 2006
Slide 2 © CSIR 2006 www.csir.co.za
Our focus
Air pollution
Exposure
Impacts/Health effects on humans
Externalfactors
Externalfactors
Slide 3 © CSIR 2006 www.csir.co.za
Vulnerability: an introduction
• What is vulnerability?’characteristics of a person or group in terms of their capacity to anticipate, cope with, resist and recover from the impact of natural or man made hazards’
• The important question: Vulnerable to what?
• Why is vulnerability significant in the air pollution context?
Slide 4 © CSIR 2006 www.csir.co.za
What is the focus of the presentation?
• Risk vs vulnerability• Categories of vulnerability• Some Vulnerability factors affecting SA communities in
relation to air pollution.• A conceptual framework for integrating health risk
assessment and vulnerability• Challenges associated with integrating these concepts
Slide 5 © CSIR 2006 www.csir.co.za
Risk vs vulnerability
• Risk: likelihood of an event following exposure• Determination of health impacts of air pollution through
• Epidemiology and toxicological studies• Health risk assessments• Environmental health impacts studies
• Data on risk factors lacking risk management• Realisation that risks cannot be considered within the
boundaries of traditional risk assessment framework• Risk = f{Hazard, Vulnerability}
Slide 6 © CSIR 2006 www.csir.co.za
Categories associated with vulnerability
• Susceptibility/sensitivity• Differential exposure• Differential preparedness • Differential ability to recover
Slide 7 © CSIR 2006 www.csir.co.za
Categories and factors associated with vulnerability
Susceptibility Differentialexposure
Differential abilityto
recover/copeIntrinsic Acquired
Life/developmentalstage
Nutrition Occupation Access to health careImmunisation
Genetics Drug/alcohol use Cultural/behaviouralpractices
Education
Race Fitness Backgroundexposure
Socio-economicstatus
Gender Obesity Body burden Cultural practices
Disease state Disease Fuel use Employment
Slide 9 © CSIR 2006 www.csir.co.za
Susceptibility factors
• Life/developmental stage (age)• Genetics• Race• Gender• Disease state
• Respiratory diseases• HIV/AIDS and opportunistic
infections• Nutritional status
Slide 10 © CSIR 2006 www.csir.co.za
Gender
The Prevalence of Chronic Conditions by Sex, South Africa (1998)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Diabetes Ischaemic Heart Disease Hypertension ChronicBronchitis/Emphysema
Cancer
%
Men Women
Source: DoH, MRC & MacroInt, 2001
Slide 11 © CSIR 2006 www.csir.co.za
Differential exposure factors
• Fuel use• Occupation• Cultural and behavioural practices• Background exposure• Body burden
Slide 12 © CSIR 2006 www.csir.co.za
Behavioural practices
Source: DoH, MRC & MacroInt, 2001
The Prevalence of Smoking by Population Group and Sex, South Africa (1998)
0
20
40
60
80
African Coloured White Asian Total
%
Men Women
Slide 13 © CSIR 2006 www.csir.co.za
Differential ability to recover/cope
• Education• Access to health care• Socio-economic status• Cultural practices• Employment
Slide 14 © CSIR 2006 www.csir.co.za
Education
Source: DoH, MRC & MacroInt, 2001
Percentage of Household Population Education Levels by gender, South Africa (1998)
0
5
10
15
No School Std 10 Std 10+
%
Male Female
Slide 15 © CSIR 2006 www.csir.co.za
Integration of vulnerability and risk: a methodological framework