Population health and social impacts

Climate change will have considerable social and economic impacts particularly in rural communities. This program, headed by Dr Peng Bi, consists of the following projects which are looking into various health implications of climate change.

Heatwaves, population health, and emergency management in Australia: A qualitative study

This ground-breaking qualitative study on emergency management mechanisms to heatwaves in Australia explores adaptation strategies in different population settings. Results inform government policy-making in terms of public service and resource allocation, infrastructure establishment, disaster prevention and response. They also support the establishment of a national heatwaves response system and help relevant industries (e.g., aged care and energy) adapt to heatwaves. The study benefits local communities, especially indigenous and aged populations.

Project team
Peng Bi; Dino L Pisaniello; Monika Nitschke; Arthur Saniotis; Kevin A Parton; Phil Weinstein; Gil-Soo Han

Funding
ARC Linkage

Climate variability and Ross River Virus infections in South Australia

This project has studied the relationship between climate variability and RRV infections, the most notified vector-borne disease in Australia, in different regions of South Australia over past 15 years. Models have been developed for disease prediction and the study results have provided important guidance to South Australian Department of Health for disease prevention and control.

The initial study was funded by a South Australian Department of Health HSRIP Grant. The next phase of the project, similar work at a national level, is under construction.

Project team
Peng Bi, Scott Cameron, Janet Hiller (University of Adelaide), Rod Giveny (South Australian Department of Health)

Selected publications
Bi P, Zhang Y. 2006. Vector-borne diseases in Australia. Public Health Bulletin South Australia 4: 9 -11.

Horwood C, Bi P. 2005. The incidence of RRV infections in South Australia. Communicable Diseases Intelligence 29 (3): 291-96.

Climate Variability and Ross River Virus Infections in Queensland

The relationship between climate variability and RRV infections has also been studied in different regions of Queensland over the past 15 years. Models have been developed for disease prediction and the study results have provided important information to Queensland Health for the disease prevention and control.

The inital studies were funded by a Queensland Health Arboviral Disease Control Grant and similar work at national level is under construction.

Project team
Peng Bi (University of Adelaide), Shilu Tong, Beth Newman (Queensland University of Technology)

Selected publications
Bi P, Parton KA, Donald K. 2004. Climate variability and transmission of RRV in coastal regions of Queensland. Environmental Health 4 (2): 90-96.

Bi P, Parton KA. 2003. Climate variations and the transmission of Ross River virus infection in coastal and inland regions of Queensland: an analysis from Townsville and Toowoomba. Environmental Health 3 (4): 73-79.

Tong S, Bi P, Donald K, McMichael A. 2002. Climate variability and Ross River virus infection. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 56 (8): 617-21.

Climate Variability, Air Pollution and Population Health in Adelaide

This project studied the relationship among climate variability, air pollution and population health (mortality and morbidity rates in different diseases among different sub-popultions) in Adelaide over the past 10-15 years. The most vulnerable populations have been identified and models have been developed for disease prediction. The findings are applicable to the Department of Health, Environment Protection Authority, and Emergency Service and Ambulance Service.

The project was funded by a University of Adelaide Faculty of Health Research Funding. Grant applications have been prepared to support a national level project in early 2007.

Project team
Peng Bi, Phil Rayn (University of Adelaide), Jian Wang (Shandong University of China)

Selected publications
Bi P. 2005. Climate change and population health: What do we know and what can we do? Environmental Health 5 (3): 17-19 Invited Editorial.

Heatwaves and Population Health in Adelaide

This project studied the relationship between extreme weather (especially heatwaves) and population health (mortality and morbidity rates in different diseases among different subpopulations) in Adelaide over the past 10-15 years. The most vulnerable populations have been identified and models have been developed for disease prediction. The findings are applicable to the Department of Health, Environment Protection Authority, and Emergency Service and Ambulance Service.

The project is currently supported by an ARC Grant and an application for further funding for a national level project has been submitted.

Project team
Peng Bi, Phil Rayn, Dino Pisaniello, Alana Hansen (University of Adelaide), Beth Curran (Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology), Monika Nitschke (South Australian Department of Health)

Selected publications
Zhang Y, Bi P, Hiller JE. Climate Variation and Salmonellosis Transmission in Adelaide, Australia: A Comparison between Regression Models. International Journal of Biometeorology (Acceptance date 8 May 2007).

Bi P, Cameron S, Zhang Y. Epidemiology of Campylobacteriosis and its relationship with weather in Adelaide, South Australia. Environmental Research (Provisional acceptance).

Climate Variability and Population Health in Jinan, China

This project studied the relationship between extreme weather (especially heatwaves and cold spells) and population health (mortality and morbidity rates in different diseases among different sub-populations) in Jinan, China over the past 15 years. The most vulnerable populations will be identified and models will be developed for disease prediction.

The project is supported by an AusAID grant and a national level project will be developed in China.

Project team
Peng Bi, Phil Rayn, Dino Pisaniello (University of Adelaide), Jian Wang (Shandong University of China).

Selected publications
Bi P, Zhang Y, Parton KA. Weather Variables and Japanese Encephalitis in the Metropolitan Area of Jinan City, China. Journal of Infection (Acceptance date 10 July 2007).

Zhang Y, Bi P, Hiller JE. Climate Variation and the Transmission of Bacillary Dysentery in Jinan, Northern China: A Time-Series Analysis. Public Health Reports (Acceptance date 16 July 2007).

Bi P, Wang J, Hiller JE. 2007. Climatic Variables: Driving Force Behind the Transmission of SARS in China? Internal Medicine Journal 50 (8): 550-54.

New Information and Communication Technologies and The Elderly: Practice, Problems and Potential

Accessing services, isolation and loneliness are significant problems for older Australians and compromise their wellbeing. They are likely to increase with the doubling of the population aged 75+ in the next 23 years. This study investigates the extent to which older people currently use Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in their daily lives and identifies the barriers to greater take up of ICT, which could enhance their access to networks and services. The study focuses on a large local government area, which includes representations of most socio economic, ethnic and living-situation sub groups among Australia's metropolitan based older populations.

Project team
Prof GJ Hugo (University of Adelaide)

Funding
ARC Linkage