Using data science to identify climate change and health adverse impacts and solutions in Africa: a scoping review
Abstract Africa is experiencing the impacts of climate change. While global epidemiological studies using traditional analytical methods to study the relations between climate change and health exist, studies using data science to tackle these topics are increasing. The aim of this study was to identify how data science is being used to understand climate change impacts on health in Africa. We carried out a scoping review to synthesize the evidence of data science applied to understand health outcomes associated with climate change in Africa. Among 100 included articles, several temporal and spatial analytical tools and models were applied to determine the relationships between climate change factors and health outcomes for morbidity and mortality. For example, early warning systems for malaria were the most studied adaptation intervention. Africa has a wealth of evidence for addressing the health impacts of climate change to inform solutions for Africa and other countries around the world.
Authors
- Sokhna Thiam (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3711-8814)
- Bono Nemukula
- Anderson Gwanyebit Kehbila (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9049-2333)
- Babatunde Awokola (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0361-3625)
- Negussie Beyene (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0529-6667)
- Thandi Kapwata (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2518-6764)
- Natasha Naidoo
- Candice Webster (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7618-1459)
- Benjamin Kofi Nyarko (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6560-9613)
- Suzana Blesić (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4685-3549)
- Rajen Nithiseelan Naidoo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2318-4004)
- Kiros Berhane
- C. Y. Wright
- Anelisa Jaca
- Akinkunmi Paul Okekunle
- Ibrahim Sidi Zakari
- Emile R. Chimusa
- Reginald Qunasah
- Engineer Bainomugisha
- Tolu Oni
Institutions
- National Health Laboratory Service (ZA)
- South African Medical Research Council (ZA)
- Université Abdou Moumouni (NE)
- University of Cape Coast (GH)
- University of Ghana (GH)
- Seoul National University (KR)
- University of Johannesburg (ZA)
- University of Cambridge (GB)
- Northumbria University (GB)
- University of Belgrade (RS)
- National Institute of Ecology (KR)
- West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (SN)
- Stockholm Environment Institute (KE)
- MRC Unit the Gambia (GM)
- MRC Epidemiology Unit (GB)
- Armauer Hansen Research Institute (ET)
- University of Pretoria (ZA)
- Makerere University (UG)
- Columbia University (US)
- University of KwaZulu-Natal (ZA)
Publication Details
- Journal
- npj Health Systems
- Published
- 2026-02-16
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s44401-025-00057-w
- Primary Topic
- Climate Change and Health Impacts
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
- Northumbria University
- National Research Foundation
- South African Medical Research Council
- University of Cape Town
- African Population and Health Research Center
- National Institutes of Health
- Medical Research Council
- Fogarty International Center