Submission ID 118343
| Issue/Objective | Climate change (CC) is one of the most significant contemporary global health threats. It disturbs the resilience of health systems, including access to health services. CC also affects the health of various population groups, especially those in situations of vulnerability, such as people with disabilities (PWD), who represent one in six people globally, as well as their animals (whether companion, service, or livestock). To date, there is limited knowledge about the intersection of access to human and animal health services and CC across countries of all income levels. Our study explored the perspectives of intersectoral actors, including PWD, on access to health services for themselves and their animals in the context of CC in Québec (Canada) and Gulu (Uganda). |
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| Methodology/Approach | Guided by the intersectional and One Health approaches, we conducted 15 in-depth semi-structured interviews on both sites with experts from the sectors of human and animal health, climate/environment, disability, and agriculture. We also held five focus groups with hearing and non-hearing PWD, as well as intersectoral service providers, and organised two thematic end-of-project workshops to identify future research priorities (total: 67 people attended). |
| Results | The following themes emerged from the analysis. 1) CC, illustrated by events such as heatwaves and floods, impacts both the physical and mental health of PWD, many of whom consider their animals to be their "lifeline". 2) The health of animals owned by PWD, mostly companion and service animals in Québec and small livestock in Gulu, is also affected by climate events. 3) Despite being directly impacted by CC, PWD and their animals face numerous communication, financial, attitudinal, physical, and structural barriers and discrimination in accessing human and animal health services. 4) The intersection between access to health services, disability, and CC is recognised, although significant challenges to inclusive integration remain. 5) Despite these challenges, study participants proposed several actionable solutions and recommendations to address health inequities encountered by PWD and their animals in the context of climate-related access to health services. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | Advancing global health amid CC requires inclusive adaptation measures that ensure equitable access to human and animal health services for PWD in all their diversity. |
| Presenters and affiliations | Muriel Mac-Seing School of Public Health, Université de Montréal Muriel Mac-Seing School of Public Health, Université de Montréal Adolphe Yemtim Institut national pour l'équité, l'égalité et l'inclusion des personnes en situation de handicap Molly Mintor Institut national pour l'équité, l'égalité et l'inclusion des personnes en situation de handicap Bryan Eryong Gulu Disabled Persons Union Emma Ajok Gulu Disabled Persons Union Patrick Ojok Gulu Disabled Persons Union Hélène Carabin Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and School of Public Health, Université de Montréal Selma Kouidri Institut national pour l'équité, l'égalité et l'inclusion des personnes en situation de handicap |
