Inclusion of Health in Impact Assessment: A Review of Current Practice in Sub-Saharan Africa.

ABSTRACT: Natural resource extraction projects, including those in the mining sector, have various effects on human health and wellbeing, with communities in resource-rich areas in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) being particularly vulnerable. While impact assessments (IA) can predict and mitigate negative effects, it is unclear whether and to what extent health aspects are included in current IA practice in SSA. For collecting IA reports, we contacted 569 mining projects and 35 ministries regulating the mining sector. The reports obtained were complemented by reports identified in prior research. The examination of the final sample of 44 IA reports revealed a heavy focus on environmental health determinants and included health outcomes were often limited to a few aspects, such as HIV, malaria and injuries

SUBMITTER: Dietler D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7312242 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature