Investigating Gender Aspects of the Health Impacts of Climate Change in the Lake Chilwa Basin, Malawi

Climate change affects human health and well-being directly through physical effects and indirectly through a myriad of interconnected pathways. Although global in nature, local impacts of climate change differ immensely based on a multitude of social, economic, and environmental factors, and often the poor and the vulnerable suffer incomprehensively without assistance. The Chilwa Basin in southern Malawi is one such region where climate change is playing a significant role in intensifying the already burgeoning pressures of population growth and acute poverty with severe consequences on human health and well-being. Women are impacted by climate change and variability at a disproportionately higher rate than men because of complex social contexts and adaptive capacities. Physical constraints due to reproductive demands, socio-economic inequalities and cultural norms limit women’s choices and enhance their vulnerabilities. This is further exacerbated in rural areas by poor healthcare services and lack of access to family planning. Women are particularly vulnerable to environmental factors related to climate change, such as natural disasters and droughts, as they are not just directly impacted by diseases but also burdened with looking after sick family members. The objective of this qualitative study is to identify gender-specific variables, their relationships and resulting health impacts in the Lake Chilwa basin in the climate change scenario using systems dynamic. The results will be used to develop systems diagrams (Rich pictures and Influence diagrams) that will act as visual tools to better facilitate inclusion and diversity during future validation stages with local communities.