Water, Health, and Social Technologies: One Million Cisterns Programme Case Study

Area of Science:

• Environmental science and public health research.
• Climate change adaptation and social technology.
• Ecosystem health and human well-being.

Background:

• Climate change significantly impacts vulnerable ecosystems and population health.
• The semi-arid region of Brazil serves as a case study for climate adaptation.
• Cisterns, a low-cost technology, mitigate drought's health effects, especially in rural areas.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the health impacts of the "One Million Cisterns Program" (P1MC).
• To model interactions between climate, environment, and health using the DPSEEA framework.
• To synthesize literature on P1MC's association with health outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A multidisciplinary approach combining literature synthesis and conceptual framework development.
• Literature search focused on P1MC and its health impact connections.
• Utilizing the Driving Force-Pressure-State-Exposure-Effect-Action (DPSEEA) framework to model climate-health relationships.

Main Results:

• A notable gap exists in the literature regarding P1MC and specific health outcomes.
• Cisterns address root causes of drought-related health issues by influencing contextual factors.
• The DPSEEA framework facilitates inter-sectoral collaboration for water security and health.

Conclusions:

• A multidisciplinary framework aids in developing adaptive social technologies for climate change.
• The framework supports exploration of environmental, social, and health perspectives.
• Facilitates qualitative and quantitative health and well-being assessments for climate adaptation strategies.