Chronic Stress and Severe Water Insecurity During the Historic 2022 Drought in Northern Kenya Were Associated With Inflammation Among Daasanach Seminomadic Pastoralists.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Extreme climatic events, like droughts, are increasing in frequency and severity. Droughts disrupt community livelihoods and resources with serious implications for human biology. This study investigated how chronic stress, measured by fingernail cortisol concentration (FCC), and water insecurity status were predictive of C-reactive protein (CRP), a biomarker of inflammation, during a historic drought among Daasanach seminomadic pastoralists.

Methods

Data were collected at the height of the 2022 drought from 128 Daasanach household heads aged 16-80 years in northern Kenya using household surveys, anthropometric measurements, and dried blood spots to assess CRP levels and fingernails to assess FCC. We employed mixed-effects linear and logistic regression models to e

SUBMITTER: Roba KT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11803130 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature