Chronic Stress and Severe Water Insecurity During the Historic 2022 Drought in Northern Kenya Were Associated With Inflammation Among Daasanach Seminomadic Pastoralists

IF 1.6 4区医学 Q1 ANTHROPOLOGY American Journal of Human Biology Pub Date : 2025-02-06 DOI:10.1002/ajhb.70009

Kedir Teji Roba, Hannah Jacobson, Amanda McGrosky, Srishti Sadhir, Leslie B. Ford, Marcela Pfaff, Elizabeth Y. Kim, Rosemary Nzunza, Matthew Douglass, David R. Braun, Emmanuel Ndiema, Samuel S. Urlacher, Herman Pontzer, Asher Y. Rosinger

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective

Extreme climatic events, like droughts, are increasing in frequency and severity. Droughts disrupt community livelihoods and resources with serious implications for human biology. This study investigated how chronic stress, measured by fingernail cortisol concentration (FCC), and water insecurity status were predictive of C-reactive protein (CRP), a biomarker of inflammation, during a historic drought among Daasanach seminomadic pastoralists.

Methods

Data were collected at the height of the 2022 drought from 128 Daasanach household heads aged 16–80 years in northern Kenya using household surveys, anthropometric measurements, and dried blood spots to assess CRP levels and fingernails to assess FCC. We employed mixed-effects linear and logistic regression models to examine the relationships between log-transformed FCC, high water insecurity status measured via the Household Water Insecurity Experiences (HWISE ≥ 24) scale, and serum-equivalent CRP (log-transformed and dichotomized at mild, low-grade inflammation ≥ 1 mg/L) adjusted for covariates.

Results

The mean serum-equivalent CRP was 4.1 mg/L and 56.3% of Daasanach adults had at least mild, low-grade inflammation. Linear models indicated that ln(FCC) was positively associated with ln(CRP) (β = 0.56, SE = 0.12; p < 0.001). Further, logistic models demonstrated that ln(FCC) (OR = 2.69, 95% CI: 1.84–3.95; p < 0.001) and high water insecurity (OR = 2.23, 95% CI: 1.34–3.72; p = 0.002) were both associated with greater odds of low-grade inflammation.

Conclusion

This study provides evidence for how chronic stress and severe water insecurity may impact inflammation levels among pastoralists during drought. Since inflammation is central to cardiometabolic disease etiology, this is an additional reason to mitigate the negative health impacts of droughts and water insecurity exacerbated by climate change.

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来源期刊

American Journal of Human Biology 生物-生物学

CiteScore

4.80

自引率

13.80%

发文量

124

审稿时长

4-8 weeks

期刊介绍： The American Journal of Human Biology is the Official Journal of the Human Biology Association. The American Journal of Human Biology is a bimonthly, peer-reviewed, internationally circulated journal that publishes reports of original research, theoretical articles and timely reviews, and brief communications in the interdisciplinary field of human biology. As the official journal of the Human Biology Association, the Journal also publishes abstracts of research presented at its annual scientific meeting and book reviews relevant to the field. The Journal seeks scholarly manuscripts that address all aspects of human biology, health, and disease, particularly those that stress comparative, developmental, ecological, or evolutionary perspectives. The transdisciplinary areas covered in the Journal include, but are not limited to, epidemiology, genetic variation, population biology and demography, physiology, anatomy, nutrition, growth and aging, physical performance, physical activity and fitness, ecology, and evolution, along with their interactions. The Journal publishes basic, applied, and methodologically oriented research from all areas, including measurement, analytical techniques and strategies, and computer applications in human biology. Like many other biologically oriented disciplines, the field of human biology has undergone considerable growth and diversification in recent years, and the expansion of the aims and scope of the Journal is a reflection of this growth and membership diversification. The Journal is committed to prompt review, and priority publication is given to manuscripts with novel or timely findings, and to manuscripts of unusual interest.