Written by:
Dr. Salima Meherali, PhD: Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, University of Alberta.
Yared Asmare Aynalem: (PhD Student), School of Nursing, University of Alberta
Saba Nisa: (MN Student), School of Nursing, University of Alberta.
Zohra Lassi, PhD: Associate Professor and NHMRC Emerging Leader-2 (EL2) Fellow at Robinson Research Institute and the School of Public Health of University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Climate change, a global crisis, significantly affects various aspects of human life. While the direct environmental impacts of climate change are widely recognized, its hidden impact on teenagers receives less attention but is just as worrying. The term “hidden impacts” of climate change refers to the less obvious or often overlooked impacts that may not receive as much attention as more visible or immediate impacts. These impacts can manifest in different ways in different sectors and ecosystems, often with profound and long-term effects. [1,2]. The pervasive nature of climate change has made it a critical global concern, affecting various aspects of human existence. Despite the focus on environmental and economic consequences, the impact of climate change on health, and specifically on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes among adolescents, remains relatively understudied. This blog aims to shed light on the hidden consequences of climate change on adolescent SRH and highlight the urgent need for comprehensive and collaborative action and intervention.
Cross-cutting impact of climate change on adolescent SRH:
Adolescents aged 10–19 years face unique SRH challenges during their critical developmental phase, making them particularly vulnerable to external stressors such as climate change. During adolescence, which is a pivotal developmental period marked by the exploration of sexuality and initiation of sexual activity, adverse climatic events exacerbate existing vulnerabilities. Research suggests that climate change significantly affects adolescent SRH outcomes, potentially hindering their access to basic health services and influencing their reproductive decisions [3]. Climate-related disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires disrupt health care infrastructure and services, thereby limiting adolescent access to critical sexual health resources such as contraception, STI/HIV testing, and reproductive health care; including abortion care [4]. In addition, displacement resulting from environmental disasters increases the risk of sexual violence, gender-based violence and exploitation, leaving adolescents more vulnerable to abuse [5,6]. Collapse of social support systems during crises can further isolate vulnerable people, increasing susceptibility to harmful practices [7]. Economic challenges such as reduced household incomes, food insecurity and displacement may push adolescents to resort to early marriage or sexual relationships as coping mechanisms, limiting their autonomy and power in shaping their future. [8].
Building Resilience Among Adolescents:
Promoting resilience among adolescents amidst SRH issues and climate change challenges requires a multifaceted approach. This includes providing comprehensive SRH training, empowering young people through engagement in decision-making processes and ensuring access to youth-friendly SRH services and safe spaces. In addition, it includes building coping skills and emotional resilience, educating about climate change, promoting climate action and promoting gender equality and social justice. Collaborative efforts among policymakers, health care providers, educators, researchers, community organizations, and youth groups are necessary to effectively implement these strategies and empower adolescents to respond to these complex challenges successfully. .
Strategies to address SRH and climate change:
Addressing adolescent sexual and reproductive health (SRH) in the context of climate change requires a multifaceted approach that includes interventions at individual, institutional and societal levels. It is important to provide comprehensive sexuality education to adolescents with accurate information about SRH, including the links between climate change and SRH, such as how environmental factors influence SRH outcomes. Equip adolescents with the skills and confidence to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health, including negotiating safer sexual practices and advocating for their rights. Policymakers and government leaders should prioritize adolescent SRH by allocating resources for comprehensive sexual health education and youth-friendly health care. They need to integrate climate resilience into adolescent health policies and involve young people in decision-making processes on SRH and climate change. Health care providers should offer youth-friendly services and empower adolescents with accurate information about the effects of sexual health and climate change. Educators and school leaders should advocate for inclusive sexuality education and foster a school culture that promotes respect and open dialogue about SRH and climate change. Community leaders and organizations should mobilize resources and raise awareness about the intersection of climate change and SRH, empowering young people to advocate for their health and the planet. Collaboration between stakeholders from different sectors is crucial to developing holistic solutions to complex challenges. Various strategies could be implemented to achieve this goal, such as youth climate action workshops, online platforms, interdisciplinary collaboration, social media campaigns, community-based advocacy events, and policy advocacy campaigns. Through these integrated efforts, teenagers have the potential to address the challenges of SRH in the face of climate change and contribute to building a healthier and more sustainable future.
Conclusion:
By prioritizing collaborative efforts among policymakers, health care providers, educators, researchers, community organizations, and youth groups, we can effectively implement strategies to empower adolescents and help them successfully address these complex challenges.
Author(s)
Dr. Salima Meherali, PhD: Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, University of Alberta.
Yared Asmare Aynalem: (PhD Student), School of Nursing, University of Alberta
Saba Nisa: (MN Student), School of Nursing, University of Alberta.
Zohra Lassi, PhD: Associate Professor and NHMRC Emerging Leader-2 (EL2) Fellow at the Robinson Research Institute and School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Competitive interest: No one.
bibliographical references
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- Husaini, S., & Davies, SE (2022). Case Report: Another Burden to Bear: The Impact of Climate Change on Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights and Services in Bangladesh. Frontiers in Climate, 4, 875515.
- Ahmed, KJ, Haq, SMA, & Bartiaux, F. (2019). The relationship between extreme weather events, sexual violence and early marriage: a study of vulnerable populations in Bangladesh. Population and Environment, 40, 303-324.
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