Identifying globally relevant learnings from Africa's challenges and solutions to climate change and air pollution-related health impacts: a data science scoping review protocol

Caradee Yael Wright; Anelisa Jaca; Thandi Kapwata; Natasha Naidoo; Babatunde Awokola; Engineer Bainomugisha; Kiros T Berhane; Suzana Blesic; Anderson Kehbila; Rajen Naidoo; Bono Nemukula; Benjamin Kofi Nyarko; Akinkunmi Paul Okekunle; Tolu Oni; Reginald Quansah; Sokhna Thiam; Ibrahim Sidi Zakari; Negussie Beyene

doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2023-076941

Identifying globally relevant learnings from Africa's challenges and solutions to climate change and air pollution-related health impacts: a data science scoping review protocol

BMJ Open. 2024 May 20;14(5):e076941. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-076941.

Authors

Caradee Yael Wright¹, Anelisa Jaca², Thandi Kapwata³, Natasha Naidoo⁴, Babatunde Awokola⁵, Engineer Bainomugisha⁶, Kiros T Berhane⁷, Suzana Blesic⁸, Anderson Kehbila⁹, Rajen Naidoo¹⁰, Bono Nemukula¹¹, Benjamin Kofi Nyarko¹², Akinkunmi Paul Okekunle¹³, Tolu Oni¹⁴, Reginald Quansah¹⁵, Sokhna Thiam¹⁶, Ibrahim Sidi Zakari¹⁷, Negussie Beyene¹⁸

Affiliations

¹ Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa Caradee.Wright@mrc.ac.za.
² South African Medical Research Council, Tygerberg, South Africa.
³ Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.
⁴ Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa.
⁵ Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, Gambia.
⁶ Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
⁷ Columbia University, New York, New York, USA.
⁸ University of Belgrade, Beograd, Serbia.
⁹ Stockholm Environment Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.
¹⁰ University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
¹¹ Environment and Health Directorate, National Department Of Health, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.
¹² University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Central, Ghana.
¹³ University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
¹⁴ University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
¹⁵ University of Ghana, Legon, Greater Accra, Ghana.
¹⁶ African Population and Health Research Center, Dakar, Senegal.
¹⁷ Abdou Moumouni University, Niamey, Niger.
¹⁸ Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Introduction: Leveraging data science could significantly advance the understanding of the health impacts of climate change and air pollution to meet health systems' needs and improve public health in Africa. This scoping review will aim to identify and synthesise evidence on the use of data science as an intervention to address climate change and air pollution-related health challenges in Africa.

Methods and analysis: The search strategy will be developed, and the search will be conducted in the Web of Science, Scopus, CAB Abstracts, MEDLINE and EMBASE electronic databases. We will also search the reference lists of eligible articles for additional records. We will screen titles, technical reports, abstracts and full texts and select studies reporting the use of data science in relation to the health effects and interventions associated with climate change and air pollution in Africa.

Ethics and dissemination: There are no formal ethics requirements as we are not collecting primary data. Results, once published, will be disseminated via conferences and shared with policy-makers and public health, air pollution and climate change key stakeholders in Africa.

Keywords: Climate Change; Decision Making; EPIDEMIOLOGY; Health policy; INFECTIOUS DISEASES; Public health.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Africa
Air Pollution* / adverse effects
Climate Change*
Humans
Public Health*
Research Design