What This Means
This research suggests that climate-related extreme weather events — including drought, heavy rains, and flooding — have direct and indirect consequences for the sexual and reproductive health of young refugees living in Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement in Uganda. The study interviewed 32 young people aged 16–24 and 12 service providers through in-depth, walk-along interviews, where participants guided researchers through their living environment while discussing their experiences. The researchers found that when drought reduces food and water supplies, young women in particular face greater pressure to engage in transactional sex to survive, face higher risks of sexual and gender-based violence, and struggle to manage menstruation safely. When heavy rains and flooding occur, damaged or overwhelmed sanitation facilities make menstrual hygiene even more difficult to maintain, and violence risks also increase.
The study highlights that refugee settlements are particularly exposed to these climate-related stressors, yet they are rarely included in research on climate change and health. The findings map out a clear chain of harm: extreme weather events reduce access to food, water, and sanitation, which in turn forces difficult choices and increases vulnerability, ultimately raising risks of STIs, HIV, unplanned pregnancy, and gender-based violence — especially for young women.
This research suggests that humanitarian programs operating in refugee settings need to account for climate change when designing health and protection services. Addressing only immediate health needs without tackling the resource insecurities driven by extreme weather events may leave young refugees, and particularly young women, without adequate support. The authors call for multi-level, climate-informed approaches that integrate sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence prevention, and environmental resilience.