Climate Change Effects on Health and Coping Strategies of the Indigenous People: A Case Study of the Santal Community in Bangladesh

Small ethnic groups in Bangladesh are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Climate disasters, both natural and anthropogenic, have made their lives difficult and dangerous, endangering their way of life. Increases in respiratory and cardiovascular disease, injuries, premature deaths caused by severe climate events, and shifts in the spatial distribution of food- and water-borne illnesses and other infectious diseases are among the health effects of these disruptions. With qualitative data, this study examines how the Santal community in Bangladesh, experiences climate-induced health vulnerabilities and develops coping strategies. While previous studies have often emphasized biophysical consequences of climate change. This study followed a political ecology framework to present how ecological stress interacts with institutional neglect and social exclusion to shape health impacts. The study employed a qualitative approach combining narrative interviews (NIs), focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs) conducted in a Santal village in Dinajpur district. Data were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns and unique insights into community perceptions of climate change, health impact and adaptation. Our findings indicate that the Santal community views climate change as legitimate in physical and spiritual terms. Decreased rainfall, drought and increased temperature are seen not only as changes in the environment itself, but also as evidence of the anger of God and the disequilibrium of society. This leads to increased malnutrition, disease and mental strain. Women and children in particular are affected. Santal people draw on a diversity of indigenous approaches, such as herbal medicines, rain jars, mud-house construction, to a limited extent, and selected modern methods. However, their adaptive capacity remains constrained by structural inequalities including landlessness, lack of health infrastructure and exclusion. Effective adaptation requires justice-oriented policies that integrate indigenous knowledge, protect fundamental rights, and strengthen community participation in climate change and health governance. In this context, our study contributes to understanding the impacts of climate change, the health conditions of ethnic groups, local health-related knowledge and community-based climate solutions.