November 2024 — Climate change is significantly impacting Mozambique, leading to increased frequency and severity of climate disasters. Since 2019, these disasters have caused extensive damage to infrastructure and displaced over 1.3 million people. The aim of this study is to evaluate the baseline preparedness to vector-borne and water-borne infections among households and internally displaced people exposed to climate disasters in Mozambique.

Methods

This cross-sectional, community-based survey assessed the preparedness for infectious disease outbreaks among individuals exposed to climate disasters in six districts in Mozambique. The structured form was administered face-to-face between October 15th and November 7th, 2022. The study outcome was a seven-point score of preparedness to infectious disease outbreaks, analyzed using Conway-Maxwell-Poisson regression.

Results

The study included 2,140 households and 11,239 people, with internally displaced persons (IDPs) making up 30% of the population. Over half (55.4%) of the households were overcrowded. The median preparedness score was 3 points (IQR 2–4), with districts such as Montepuez and Mueda showing lower preparedness levels. Factors associated with higher preparedness included family planning, access to primary education for all children in the household, and possession of a birth certificate for children under 5 years old. Preparedness varied significantly among districts. Surprisingly, households with IDPs did not have lower preparedness scores.

Conclusions

In climate-vulnerable communities in Mozambique, households that practiced family planning, provided access to primary education, and possessed birth certificates for children were less vulnerable to water-borne and vector-borne infectious disease outbreaks. Given that family planning and childcare are often the responsibility of women, these findings are crucial for informing policymakers and practitioners on the importance of addressing women's roles in mitigating the impact of climate disasters and reducing the risk of infectious disease outbreaks.

This study sheds light on the importance of proactive measures in enhancing preparedness for infectious disease outbreaks in areas exposed to climate disasters. By focusing on key factors such as family planning, education access, and documentation for children, communities can better protect themselves from the health risks associated with climate-related disasters.