Flood and Wellbeing – What is the Evidence?
1
Civil Eng, Future Water research institute - Civil - EBE, Cape Town, South Africa
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Lack of access to clean, safe water is a global health crisis affecting billions of people. Evidence suggests an increase in diseases attributable to climate change, especially in low-income countries where limited budgets and infrastructure create challenges in responding to extreme climate or weather events (EWEs). Climate change impacts water-related diseases and healthcare concerns, however, data on climate-impacted, water-associated public health concerns are not often consolidated and synthesized. Research suggests that climate change is contributing to increased frequency and severity of EWEs. This requires understanding the extent to which these events may impact wellbeing, human health and ecosystems around us (OneHealth). A team of researchers have reviewed flood-related events since 2020 to understand the landscape on available research and map the evidence base.
METHODS:
In May 2025, four databases (SCOPUS [140], PubMed [883], Africa Wide [239] and Web of Science [2054]) were searched using the original search string from the first health vulnerability indicator (HVI) flooding study (available upon request). Our data extraction and analysis enables us to report on emergent topics, as well as offering an evidence base to understand health impacts linked to flooding.
RESULTS:
Studies from databases/registers were extracted with n = 2978 studies. Thereafter, 133 duplicates were removed, and 2845 studies were moved into Covidence for initial screening (title and abstract screening). Two thousand five hundred twenty-six (2526) studies were excluded at title abstract screening. In August three hundred nineteen (319) studies remained for full-text review. In December 64 studies remained for data extraction. Data extraction has been completed. Data analysis is underway to identify and report on the research landscape and the available evidence base.
CONCLUSIONS:
Early analysis indicates that disease that incidence of studies exploring these topics, as well as the geographic spread of such studies has increased over time.
Lack of access to clean, safe water is a global health crisis affecting billions of people. Evidence suggests an increase in diseases attributable to climate change, especially in low-income countries where limited budgets and infrastructure create challenges in responding to extreme climate or weather events (EWEs). Climate change impacts water-related diseases and healthcare concerns, however, data on climate-impacted, water-associated public health concerns are not often consolidated and synthesized. Research suggests that climate change is contributing to increased frequency and severity of EWEs. This requires understanding the extent to which these events may impact wellbeing, human health and ecosystems around us (OneHealth). A team of researchers have reviewed flood-related events since 2020 to understand the landscape on available research and map the evidence base.
METHODS:
In May 2025, four databases (SCOPUS [140], PubMed [883], Africa Wide [239] and Web of Science [2054]) were searched using the original search string from the first health vulnerability indicator (HVI) flooding study (available upon request). Our data extraction and analysis enables us to report on emergent topics, as well as offering an evidence base to understand health impacts linked to flooding.
RESULTS:
Studies from databases/registers were extracted with n = 2978 studies. Thereafter, 133 duplicates were removed, and 2845 studies were moved into Covidence for initial screening (title and abstract screening). Two thousand five hundred twenty-six (2526) studies were excluded at title abstract screening. In August three hundred nineteen (319) studies remained for full-text review. In December 64 studies remained for data extraction. Data extraction has been completed. Data analysis is underway to identify and report on the research landscape and the available evidence base.
CONCLUSIONS:
Early analysis indicates that disease that incidence of studies exploring these topics, as well as the geographic spread of such studies has increased over time.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
