Barriers to climate change and health research in India: A qualitative study

Almost a quarter of the global burden of disease and mortalities is attributable to environmental causes, the magnitude of which is projected to increase in the near future. Evidence informed policies and interventions are a key element in the adaptation response for countries. However, in many low- and middle-income settings, there remains a large gap in the synthesis of evidence on climate-sensitive health outcomes. In India, now the worlds most populous country, little remains known about the impacts of climate change on various health outcomes. In light of Indias vulnerability to climate change, the growing population and the high burden of disease, it is imperative for public health professionals to engage in the climate action, and to understand the challenges they face, particularly with regard to barriers in conducting environmental health research. In this study, we employed key informant interviews to understand the perceived research barriers amongst health professionals, including medical researchers, and professionals involved in environmental policies and planning in Puducherry, India. The findings were analysed using data driven qualitative thematic analysis to elaborate the major perceived barriers to conducting environmental health research. Challenges in data collection systems and accessing data was the major barrier along with the need for strengthening technical and methodological research capacity. Participants described working in the backdrop of insufficient prioritization and knowledge on the wide range of impacts of climate change on health, both in the policy context and amongst scientists, which was also perceived to be a challenge in conducting environmental health research. Finally, limited resources to conduct research and the tendency to focus on conventional climate related health outcomes were also seen as challenges to advancing research on this topic. In the context of the paucity of data on environmental health from India, despite recognised climate change related health vulnerabilities, these findings could contribute to the development and improvement of relevant interventions conducive to a strong research environment. Key messageO_ST_ABSWhat is already known on this topic?C_ST_ABSClimate change has been linked to a range of adverse health outcomes globally. There is a growing body of research studying the associations between climate variables and various health outcomes. However, it remains poorly studied in India, which has a high vulnerability to climate impacts. It is important to understand what public health professionals perceive as barriers on the matter and their needs in order to better elucidate the health risks of climate change and improve the public health response to adapt to them. What this study adds?We identify three key barriers faced by public health professionals as key stakeholders, namely: (i) political and institutional barriers;(ii) education and awareness barriers; and (iii) technical research barriers. We show there is a need, from the professionals perspective, to improve community and political awareness on climate change and health; improve technical research capacity and collaboration amongst researchers; and improve health surveillance and access to health data for research. How this study might affect research, practice or policyThis study identifies crucial challenges faced in conducting environmental health research by public health professionals. Therefore, the findings can be used to further elaborate and address these challenges, in order to further motivate the professionals, strengthen the environmental health research capacity and improve understanding of health vulnerabilities and risks attributed to climate change in India.