Climate change and sexual and reproductive health and rights in Africa

Climate change is a global phenomenon with wide-ranging and profound impacts on various aspects of human life. Beyond its well-known environmental consequences, climate change significantly affects human health, including the realm of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHRs). Nowhere are these impacts more pronounced than in Africa, a continent that is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change due to its socio-economic, geographic, and ecological factors. Understanding the intersection between climate change and SRHRs is crucial for developing holistic and effective strategies to address these interconnected challenges.

According to the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), climate change has a significant impact on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHRs) in Africa. The report states that barriers to the realization of SRHR inhibit progress toward gender equality and may impede climate action. At the same time, the impacts of climate change may negatively affect SRHR, for example, through interruptions in sexual and reproductive health services caused by extreme weather events.

Climate Change and Health Impacts on SRHRs 
Climate change issues have negative impacts on maternal health and create conditions that result in increases in gender-based violence, including harmful practices such as child marriage. Climate-related disasters may strain the capacity of health systems and hinder access to SRHR services. The consequences of climate change are diverse, severe, and predicted to worsen over the coming years  Even if temperature changes are maintained in line with the Paris Agreement (that is to limit temperature increases to below 2 °C, and preferably below 1.5 °C, compared to pre-industrial levels), there will be significant impacts on biodiversity, water availability, food security, and health.

Impacts on Women and Girls 
The effects of climate change disproportionately affect women and girls, who often bear the brunt of its consequences. When climate-related disasters strike, women and girls face heightened vulnerabilities, putting them at greater risk of gender-based violence. Displacement from their homes can lead to early marriages for young girls as their families struggle to provide for them. Child marriage exposes girls to higher risks of intimate partner violence due to power imbalances in these relationships.

Climate change has far-reaching consequences for SRHRs, particularly in regions like Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, and the Sahel. Women and girls face specific vulnerabilities, including gender-based violence and limited access to healthcare services during climate-related disasters. The lack of resources, such as clean water and menstrual products, further hampers their ability to manage their health with dignity. Marginalized groups and those with disabilities are disproportionately affected, as climate change exacerbates existing challenges.

Challenges in Accessing SRHR Services 
During climate-related disasters, healthcare services, including sexual and reproductive health services, are often limited or unavailable. This lack of access leaves women without the necessary medical support during childbirth, risking their health and that of their newborns. Additionally, the absence of clean water and menstrual products hinders women's and girls' ability to manage menstruation with dignity, further impacting their SRHRs.

Exacerbation of Vulnerabilities for Marginalized Groups 
For marginalized and vulnerable populations, as well as those with disabilities, the impact of climate change compounds their existing challenges and vulnerabilities. These groups face additional barriers in accessing healthcare, adapting to changing environmental conditions, and recovering from climate-related disasters. The intersectionality of social, economic, and health disparities further exacerbates their vulnerability to the impacts of climate change.

References 

Climate change in Africa
Human rights in Africa