Monitoring of Selected Health Indicators in Children Living in a Copper Mine Development Area in Northwestern Zambia

Abstract

The epidemiology of malaria, anaemia and malnutrition in children is potentially altered in mining development areas. In a copper extraction project in northwestern Zambia, a health impact assessment (HIA) was commissioned to predict, manage and monitor health impacts. Two cross-sectional surveys were conducted: at baseline prior to project development (2011) and at four years into development (2015). Prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum, anaemia and stunting were assessed in under-five-year-old children, while hookworm infection was assessed in children aged 9–14 years in communities impacted and comparison communities not impacted by the project. P. falciparum prevalence was significantly higher in 2015 compared to 2011 in both impacted and comparison communities (odds ratio (OR) = 2.51 and OR = 6.97, respectively). Stunting was significantly lower in 2015 in impacted communities only (OR = 0.63). Anaemia was slightly lower in 2015 compared to baseline in both impacted and comparison communities. Resettlement due to the project and migration background (i.e., moving into the area within the past five years) were generally associated with better health outcomes in 2015. We conclude that repeated cross-sectional surveys to monitor health in communities impacted by projects should become an integral part of HIA to deepen the understanding of changing patterns of health and support implementation of setting-specific public health measures.

The impact of industrial activities on vector-borne disease transmission

“…Baseline data collected from children under five-years-of-age in both mine-impacted and comparison sentinel sites, before project development, were compared with data collected four years later when the mine had become operational. The study showed that whilst there was a significantly greater malaria prevalence in the follow-up survey, this was observed both in the impacted and comparison sites (Knoblauch et al, 2017). The overall trend of higher infection rates at this site may have been associated with prevailing temperature and precipitation at the time.…”

“…However, malaria control interventions implemented by the mine project and district health management teams in the impacted areas, including indoor residual spraying, distribution of ITNs, health awareness campaigns, and active case detection, were generally associated with lower odds (risk) of acquiring infection. In particular, the resettlement of families in new housing with closed eaves and window screens was associated with significantly lower infection rates (Knoblauch et al, 2017).…”

“…In addition to an open pit mine and processing plant, an entire infrastructure base may be created that can include an airstrip, multiple access roads, maintenance and administrative facilities, and new residential settlements for the workforce and their families. Moreover, as a result there are direct and indirect ecological, social, economic, and health impacts on the surrounding communities (Knoblauch et al, 2017;Attuquayefio et al, 2017;Jacobi et al, 2011;Richards and VanWey, 2015;Hilson and Laing, 2017;Gibb and O'Leary, 2014;Bauch et al, 2015;Arrifano et al, 2018,). Examples of primary vectors of malaria include Anopheles darlingi in South America (Hiwat and Bretas, 2011;Ahumada et al, 2016;Pimenta et al, 2015), An.…”

Mining is bad for health: a voyage of discovery

“…But mining companies can improve health (Davey 2018). For example, corporate social responsibility (Meier et al 2014) in Zambian copper and nickel mining, encouraged by the financial backers, has resulted in improved health in children and women living near the mines, although, yet again, the poor have disproportionally lost out (Knoblauch et al 2017(Knoblauch et al , 2018.…”

Health impact assessment for promoting sustainable development: the HIA4SD project

“…Firstly, upgraded public infrastructures, such as health facilities and schools (SDG11), foster good health and well-being (SDG3), better education (SDG4), and improved access to clean water and sanitation (SDG6) (Carter and Danert 2003;Knoblauch et al 2014a). Secondly, the creation of employment and income can reduce poverty (SDG1) and malnutrition rates (SDG2) on one hand, and improve health insurance coverage (SDG3) on the other hand (Bradley et al 2013;Langston et al 2015;Knoblauch et al 2017a). Thirdly, public-private partnerships can synergise efforts for disease control and elimination programmes (SDG3) (Asante et al 2011;Drewry et al 2017;Knoblauch et al 2017b;Saric et al 2019).…”