Dr. Huynh Cong Minh – VIce Dean of the Becamex Business School – Lead author of the study
How Does Climate Change Affect Children’s Health?
Based on data from 63 provinces in Vietnam between 2006 and 2023, the research team analyzed the impact of climate change (measured by disaster-related losses and deaths) on child mortality rates, focusing on two key indicators: the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and the Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR). The findings reveal that:
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Climate change increases poverty, particularly in coastal provinces, rural areas, and regions dependent on agriculture. High poverty rates lead to significant health inequality among children, limiting access to healthcare, immunization, clean water, and nutrition.
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Poverty acts as a mediator: Climate change not only directly affects children’s health but also indirectly increases child mortality through community impoverishment.
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The impact is stronger among children under five, who are particularly vulnerable to environmental and living condition changes.
An Interdisciplinary Approach Is Needed to Protect Children from Natural Disasters
“To reduce child health inequality in the context of climate change, health, environmental, and poverty reduction policies must work in close coordination. Investment in vaccination, healthcare infrastructure, and clean water systems is key. In addition, to mitigate the indirect impact through poverty, policies should focus on promoting economic growth, improving governance quality, expanding access to education, and creating employment opportunities,” emphasized Dr. Huynh Cong Minh.
Beyond the main findings, the authors also recommend prioritizing poverty reduction in areas most vulnerable to climate change, strengthening local healthcare systems, and expanding immunization programs to protect children from disease and malnutrition. Moreover, climate adaptation policies should be designed based on social equity principles, focusing on supporting the most vulnerable populations—especially children and women.
The study was published in the journal Economic Change and Restructuring (SSCI Q1) in September 2024.
