Planned Relocation and Health: A Case Study from Fiji.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Sociology
• Climate Change Adaptation

Background:

• Low-lying coastal villages in Fiji are relocating due to climate change impacts like erosion and saltwater intrusion.
• Planned relocation is a last resort adaptation strategy, but its health impacts are not well understood.
• This study focuses on the Indigenous Fijian village of Vunidogoloa to understand health outcomes of relocation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the health impacts and quality of life experiences of residents undergoing planned relocation.
• To identify facilitators and challenges to health following relocation.
• To understand how relocation alters the social determinants of health.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative research using in-depth interviews and group discussions with Vunidogoloa residents over four time points (2015, 2016, 2019, 2020).
• Analysis of interview transcripts using qualitative analytic software (NVivo) to identify key themes.
• Involved 27 participants for interviews and 6 group discussions with 8-12 participants each.

Main Results:

• Relocation brought health benefits including better drinking water, sanitation, food security, and access to services.
• Health challenges emerged, such as increased consumption of processed foods and alcohol, and disruption to social ties.
• Mental wellbeing was affected by the loss of connection to ancestral coastal lands and traditional practices.

Conclusions:

• Planned relocation presents complex, dual impacts on the social determinants of health, offering both opportunities and risks.
• Effective adaptation programs require context-specific planning with community involvement and consideration of evolving health determinants.
• Understanding the multifaceted health consequences is crucial for supporting communities navigating climate-induced relocation.