Climate Change and Primary Health Care

Overview

Journal Aust Fam Physician

Specialty Public Health

Date 2007 Dec 14

PMID 18075618

Citations 21

Authors

Grant Blashki

Tony McMichael

David J Karoly

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Climate change and rising average global temperatures threaten to disrupt the physical, biological and ecological life support systems on which human health depends.

Objective: This article overviews the evidence for human induced climate change, the predicted health impacts, and the role of primary health care professionals in managing these impacts.

Discussion: Climate change has substantial potential health effects. These include heat stress related to heatwaves; injuries related to extreme weather events such as storms, fires and floods; infectious disease outbreaks due to changing patterns of mosquito borne and water borne diseases; poor nutrition from reduced food availability and affordability; the psychosocial impact of drought; and the displacement of communities. Primary health care has an important role in preparing for and responding to these climate change related threats to human health.

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Progress with the Learning Health System 2.0: a rapid review of Learning Health Systems' responses to pandemics and climate change.

Smith C, Fisher G, Dharmayani P, Wijekulasuriya S, Ellis L, Spanos S BMC Med. 2024; 22(1):131.

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Climate change, disaster management and primary health care in Zimbabwe.

Ray S, Goronga T, Chigiya P, Madzimbamuto F Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med. 2022; 14(1):e1-e3.

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Ventres W, Frankel R Front Psychiatry. 2021; 12:716486.

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