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. 2021 Dec 21;19(1):35.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph19010035.

Health Disparities and Climate Change: The Intersection of Three Disaster Events on Vulnerable Communities in Houston, Texas

Omolola E Adepoju  1   2 , Daikwon Han  3 , Minji Chae  2 , Kendra L Smith  4 , Lauren Gilbert  1 , Sumaita Choudhury  2 , LeChauncy Woodard  1   2
Affiliations

Health Disparities and Climate Change: The Intersection of Three Disaster Events on Vulnerable Communities in Houston, Texas

Omolola E Adepoju et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Although evidence suggests that successive climate disasters are on the rise, few studies have documented the disproportionate impacts on communities of color. Through the unique lens of successive disaster events (Hurricane Harvey and Winter Storm Uri) coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic, we assessed disaster exposure in minority communities in Harris County, Texas. A mixed methods approach employing qualitative and quantitative designs was used to examine the relationships between successive disasters (and the role of climate change), population geography, race, and health disparities-related outcomes. This study identified four communities in the greater Houston area with predominantly non-Hispanic African American residents. We used data chronicling the local community and environment to build base maps and conducted spatial analyses using Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping. We complemented these data with focus groups to assess participants' experiences in disaster planning and recovery, as well as community resilience. Thematic analysis was used to identify key patterns. Across all four communities, we observed significant Hurricane Harvey flooding and significantly greater exposure to 10 of the 11 COVID-19 risk factors examined, compared to the rest of the county. Spatial analyses reveal higher disease burden, greater social vulnerability, and significantly higher community-level risk factors for both pandemics and disaster events in the four communities, compared to all other communities in Harris County. Two themes emerged from thematic data analysis: (1) Prior disaster exposure prepared minority populations in Harris County to better handle subsequent disaster suggesting enhanced disaster resilience, and (2) social connectedness was key to disaster resiliency. Long-standing disparities make people of color at greater risk for social vulnerability. Addressing climate change offers the potential to alleviate these health disparities.

Keywords: COVID-19; climate change; disasters; environment; health disparities.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Conceptual Framework depicting the hypothesized relationships between successive disasters (and role of climate change), population geography and race, and health disparities related outcomes.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Location of four predominantly African American population communities located within Harris County, TX.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Spatial patterns of community risk factors for disease burden—Diabetes Prevalence (%) (Four AA communities indicated by red border on top of Harris County census tracts).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Spatial patterns of community risk factors—Social Vulnerability Index (Four AA communities indicated by red border on top of Harris County census tracts).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Spatial patterns of community risk factors for disaster—Population in Poverty (%) (Four AA communities indicated by red border on top of Harris County census tracts).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. City of Houston City of Houston, Texas. [(accessed on 15 October 2021)]; Available online: https://www.houstontx.gov/abouthouston/houstonfacts.html.
    1. United States Census Quick Facts: Houston City, Texas. [(accessed on 15 October 2021)]; Available online: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/houstoncitytexas.
    1. Cooper R. Poverty in Texas: Million Texans Live in Poverty. The Center for Public Policy Priorities; Austin, TX, USA: 2019.
    1. Understanding Houston . Understanding Disasters in Houston. Understanding Houston; Houston, TX, USA: 2020.

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