A spatial analysis of climate-related child malnutrition in the Lake Victoria Basin

Abstract

Despite growing research into the socio-economic aspects of vulnerability [1-3], relatively little work has linked population dynamics with climate change. Understanding the role of population dynamics remains critical. How a given number of people, in a given location and with varying population characteristics may exacerbate or mitigate the impacts of climate change or how, conversely, they may be vulnerable to climate change impacts are basic questions that remain largely unresolved [4]. This paper explores where and to what extent population dynamics intersect with high exposure to climate change. Specifically, in Eastern Africa's Lake Victoria Basin (LVB), a climate change/health vulnerability hotspot we have identified in prior research [5], we model child malnutrition vulnerability indices based on climate variables at a 5km spatial resolution.