Floods in Sub-Saharan Africa; Causes, Determinants and Health Consequences

Abstract

Climate change has become a global issue and affects various regions at different levels. The hydro-climatic conditions and the natural  fragility of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) make it prone to floods. The review was intended to comprehensively explore the determinants of  floods in the continent and their effects on public health. An extensive systematic literature search in English was conducted for peer- reviewed papers, abstracts and internet articles, grey literature, and official Government documents and analysed to identify common themes, findings, and outcomes. Finally, the findings were categorized into common themes. The review revealed that the frequency and  intensity of precipitations have increased in recent decades in SSA. This is worsened by anthropogenic activities including urban sprawl,  population growth, and land use changes. The health effects of floods are diverse, varied, and specific to a particular context which can  be immediate and long-term. The economic losses due to the flood events in the continent are huge. In conclusion, Governments across  the continent need to give flood management a top priority as part of national disaster preparedness, response, and mitigation. Floods  cannot be managed in isolation; it has to be incorporated into national urban planning with urbanization to make cities resilient and  sustainable.