Dynamics of Communicable and Non-Communicable Health Shocks in the Campo Ma’an National Park: Implications on Natural Resources Dependent Livelihoods

Abstract

Issues of health shocks continue to gain traction in the global scientific discourse, with established evidence on its severe impacts on livelihoods and well-being especially in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the relative absence of a comparative analysis on the effects of communicable and non-communicable diseases on natural resources dependent communities still beg for scientific attention in the context of the Campo Ma’an National Park.  This study sought to examine the determinants and dynamics of health shocks, and their implications on natural resource-dependent communities of the Campo Ma’an National Park.  Data was collected through interviews with key informants, experts, and a survey of 200 households. The results indicate that health shock dynamics are primarily influenced by socio-demographic factors, followed by ecological and economic variables. Communicable diseases such as malaria and COVID-19, and non-communicable diseases such as cancer and hypertension, reveal distinct risk patterns. These diseases have affected more than 70% of the population over the past five years. These shocks exacerbate poverty, hunger, and economic stagnation, leading to death and job loss. Furthermore, health shocks have shaped livelihood strategies leading to diversification, intensification and business as usual scenarios. The logistic regression disclosed gender, education, age, income, occupation, proximity to park, as the variables that significantly predict livelihood dynamics during health shocks. The findings inform the vulnerability dimension of the sustainable livelihoods framework and underscores the need for policy interventions to develop resilient livelihood.