Impact of Desertification on the Livelihood and Health of the Wayuu People of the La Guajira Department, Colombia Douglas Fernandes DaSilva PhD Candidate Education: University of Wisconsin – Madison BSc – Biochemistry University of Zurich MSc – Environmental Sciences PhD Candidate – Human Ecology Professional: Clinical Research (12 years) Pediatric Allergy and Nutrition (Madison, USA) Public Health R&D (3 years) Health Systems Development (Mbale, Uganda) Public Health Education (1 year) Pediatric and Adolescent Health (Kathmandu, Nepal) Empowering Wayuu Women of Colombia Through Fair Fashion @mama.tierra www.mama-tierra.org Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Research Question and Hypothesis 3. Methods 4. Preliminary Findings 5. Future Goals Introduction “Love their land and consider it as their mother. They are born and fed from it, and when they die, the land opens its The Wayuu People arms to receive them once again. They respect their land, demand respect for it and will fight to defend it.” Cecilia Bula (2000) – The Wayuu and their Surroundings La Guajira Department, Colombia Northern La Guajira 2015 Northern La Guajira 2018 2015 Desertification Is a multidimensional phenomenon with ecological, meteorological, and human variables. It is defined as the reduction in the productivity of the land, where it may no longer support the same plant growth it had in the past. Reynolds 2001 Reynolds JF (2001). Desertification. In: Levin, Simon Asher, Encyclopedia of Biodiversity, London: Academic Press, pp. 61-78. Sectors Affected by Desertification Environment • Low Water Supply • Soil Degradation • Biodiversity Loss Economy • Economic Isolation • Poverty Society • Changes in Lifestyle • Public Safety • Public Health Issues Desertification and Public Health The poor access to water and the current state of malnutrition of the population may have influenced the reported deaths of 4’770 Wayúu children in the past 8 years. InterAmerican Commission for Human Rights 2015 1 In Colombia, there is an increased incidence of malnutrition and childhood mortality in regions experiencing desertification. Jaramillo-Mejía et al. 2018 2 1 IACHR - InterAmerican Commission for Human Rights (2015). Precautionary Measure 51/15 [Online]. Available at http://www.oas.org/es/cidh/decisiones/pdf/2015/MC51-15-Es.pdf 2 Jaramillo-Mejía MC, Chernichovsky D (2018). Impact of desertification and land degradation on Colombian children. Int J Public Health. 2018 Jul 17. doi: 10.1007/s00038-018-1144-0 Desertification Gradients of La Guajira Do different gradients of desertification affect the Wayuu? Research - Socio-Demographics - Livelihood Strategies Question - Access to Food, Water and Health Care - Natural Resources - Social Networks Wayuu people living in areas with the highest levels of desertification present the Hypothesis poorest livelihood and health conditions in comparison to people living in areas with lesser levels of desertification Methods 1. Gather data: § Environment Existing data from Colombian and international departments of statistics, meteorology and environmental studies. § Surveys and Field Measurements To assess the livelihood and health of the Wayuu people. 2. Examine data to assess livelihood and health disparities in regions presenting different levels of desertification. Preliminary Findings 3’100 km 3’100 Riohacha 2 1’900 km 1’900 Manaure 2 Climatic Influences on the Environment Climatic 1’800 km 1’800 SPI Z-Scores 3-Month Mean ONI Scores Maicao -7.5 -2.5 -2.5 -1.5 -0.5 -10 2.5 7.5 0.5 1.5 2.5 10 -5 -3 -2 -1 0 5 0 1 2 3 2 1982 km 8’200 1982 Uribia 1983 1983 1984 2 1984 1985 1985 1986 1986 1987 El NiñoandLaNiña 1987 1988 1988 Standard Precipitation Index (6 Index Precipitation Standard 1989 1989 1990 1990 1991 1991 1992 1992 1993 Riohacha 1993 1994 1994 1995 1995 1996 - 1996 Oceanic Niño Index (ONI) 1982 (ONI) Index Niño Oceanic El El Niño 1997 1997 Manaure 1998 1998 1999 1999 2000 2000 2001 2001 La Niña 2002 2002 Maicao - 2003 2003 1982 Month) 2004 2004 2005 2005 2006 2006 Uribia 2007 2007 2008 2008 2009 2009 - 2010 2010 2020 2011 - 2011 2020 2012 2012 2013 2013 2014 2014 2015 2015 IDEAM 2020 NOAA NOAA 2020 2016 2016 2017 2017 2018 2018 2019 2019 2020 2020 Post La Niña: La Niña: La Niña: La Niña: - Less Vegetation Less Moderate Moderate Weak Weak Rain Season ONI = -1.4 ONI = -1.1 ONI = -0.8 ONI = -0.6 Jan 2011 Feb 2011 Mar 2011 Apr 2011 La Niña: La Niña: La Niña: La Niña: Dry Season Weak Very Weak Weak Weak ONI = -0.5 ONI = -0.4 ONI = -0.5 ONI = -0.7 More Vegetation May 2011 Jun 2011 Jul 2011 Aug 2011 La Niña: La Niña: La Niña: La Niña: Rain Season Weak Moderate Moderate Moderate ONI = -0.9 ONI = -1.1 ONI = -1.1 ONI = -1.0 Sep 2011 Oct 2011 Nov 2011 Dec 2011 Post NASA 2020 El Niño: El Niño: El Niño: El Niño: - Weak Weak Weak Weak Rain Season ONI = 0.6 ONI = 0.6 ONI = 0.6 ONI = 0.8 Take Home Message: Jan 2015 Feb 2015 Mar 2015 Apr 2015 El Niño: El Niño: El Niño: El Niño: Dry Season Moderate Moderate Strong Strong Weather patterns in La ONI = 1.0 ONI = 1.2 ONI = 1.5 ONI = 1.8 Guajira are affected by the El Niño Southern May 2015 Jun 2015 Jul 2015 Aug 2015 Oscillation events El Niño: El Niño: El Niño: El Niño: Rain Season Very Strong Very Strong Very Strong Very Strong ONI = 2.1 ONI = 2.4 ONI = 2.5 ONI = 2.6 Stronger El Niño events trigger intense and prolonged droughts Sep 2015 Oct 2015 Nov 2015 Dec 2015 Desertification Gradients IDEAM 2015 No Total Desertification Desertification Low Medium High Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI) Adapted from DFID 1999 and Hahn 2009 SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHICS (SD) - Level of education - Household income - NumBer of dependents SOCIAL NETWORKS (SN) LIVELIHOOD STRATEGIES (LS) - NumBer of single parents - Give/Receive ratio - Income generation activities - Borrow/Lend money ratio - Wages vs. expenditures - Presence of outside assistance - Livelihood diversification index - Conflicts NATURAL RESOURCES (NR) HEALTH (HE) - Average drought months - Average time to health center - Average maximum temperature - Quality of health center - Average monthly precipitation - NumBer of acquired diseases - Farm losses due to drought/disease - Presence of chronic illnesses - Household rates of malnutrition WATER (WA) FOOD (FO) - Average time to water sources - Dependency on family farm - Water quantity and quality - NumBer of months struggling to find food - Water treatment strategies - Dietary diversity index ! ! ! ! ! ��� ��� wSDSDd + wLSLSd + wHEHEd + wFOFOd + wWAWAd + wNRNRd + wSNSNd "#$ LVI Desertification Gradient = ! = wSD + wLS + wHE + wFO + wWA + wNR + wSN Where: ! ��� WM � = weight of sub-components "#$ Md � = index of major components Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI) LVI Low Desertification LVI Medium Desertification LVI High Desertification Socio- Socio- Socio- Demographics Demographics Demographics 1 1 1 0.8 Livelihood 0.8 Livelihood 0.8 Livelihood Social Networks Social Networks Social Networks 0.6 Strategies 0.6 Strategies 0.6 Strategies 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.2 0 0 0 Natural Natural Natural Health Health Health Resources Resources Resources Water Food Water Food Water Food p = 0.008 Take Home Message: The Wayuu have a strong social structure but observe a lack of natural resources, water and basic goods and services to thrive. Such disparities are exacerbated in high desertification areas. Desertification 48% Malnutrition and No Malnutrition Malnutrition 52% All Children Observed (n=197) Severe Malnutrition Signs: Nutritional Edema Severe Malnutrition Signs Kwashiorkor (fluid retention) (protein deficiency) Low n=48 * Medium n=90 High Desertification Level Desertification Vitamin Deficiency n=59 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Percent of Children * p = 0.0002 Body Mass Index (BMI) No Malnutrition Malnutrition Used as risk factor for the development or prevalence p > 0.05 of overweight or underweight health issues Body Mass Ratio Analysis: 14% Severe Malnutrition p > 0.05 Dietary Diversity Source: FAO 2018 Food guide based on nutrient requirements from Ministry of Health of Dietary Diversity Score Colombia Individual Food Groups Colombian Average Daily Dietary Diversity (FAO Standards) Recommended Daily Intake Consumption Estimates for Children (grams) (serving = eat at least once) Fruits and Vegetables Vegetables = 100 g 1 Fruit Serving Fruits = 150 g 1 Vegetable Serving Carbohydrates and Carbohydrates = 120 g 1 Carb Serving Grains Grains = 100 g 1 Grain Serving Dairy Products Dairy = 100 g 1 Dairy Serving Meat Poultry Fish Eggs Meats/Egg = 150 g 1 Meat Serving Legumes Legumes = 100 g 1 Legume Serving Fats and Processed Oils Fats = 50 g 1 Fat Serving Processed Sugars Sugars = 50 g 1 Sugar Serving Dietary Diversity for Individual Food Groups The Wayuu People’s Diet Fruits Grains Dairy Meat VegetaBles CarBs Products Legumes Fats Sugars (n=197) (n=197) (n=197) (n=197) (n=197) (n=197) Food Groups Dietary Diversity and Desertification Children living in high desertification areas have significantly lower dietary diversity scores High Medium Low (n=59) (n=90) (n=48) Desertification Level overall: p < 0.00001 Dietary Diversity and Malnutrition Children with malnutrition have significantly lower dietary diversity scores No Yes (n=103) (n=94) Malnutrition p < 0.00001 Take Home Message: Dietary Diversity Score analysis can be used as a complementary measurement to BMI in order to identify the prevalence of malnutrition in Wayuu children populations. Agricultural Resources Soil Analysis: - Low in Phosphorous and Nitrogen - Low in essential soil minerals and micronutrients (Sulfate, Magnesium, Manganese, Boron)