Peer-reviewed article
Understanding stakeholders' perceptions of the impact of extractive industries on adolescent health and well-being in Mozambique: a qualitative study.
Cambaco O, Galvão C, Brugger C, Munguambe KR, Utzinger J et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This qualitative study in Mozambique explored how extractive industries affect adolescent health and well-being in mining communities. Researchers conducted interviews with health professionals and civil society representatives, and focus groups with caregivers in districts with coal and mineral sands mining. Stakeholders identified four main health concerns for adolescents: sexually transmitted infections, respiratory tract infections, diarrhoeal diseases and malaria, which they believed mining activities worsened. The study found that mining companies' infrastructure investments were not perceived as adequately addressing adolescents' specific health needs.
Key points
- Four main health concerns identified in mining areas: sexually transmitted infections, respiratory tract infections, diarrhoeal diseases and malaria
- Mining activities were perceived to exacerbate negative health effects among adolescents
- Mining companies invested in public infrastructure but this was not seen as benefiting adolescent health and well-being
- Insufficient priority is given to effective interventions targeting adolescent health in mining communities
- Study involved 21 key informant interviews and 4 focus group discussions in two districts with large industrial mining projects
Limitations
This is a qualitative study based on stakeholder perceptions rather than epidemiological data, so it cannot quantify the actual burden of health conditions or demonstrate direct causal links between mining and specific health outcomes. The study cannot assess whether adolescent health outcomes differ between mining and non-mining areas, or provide evidence of what interventions would be most effective.
Abstract
Objectives Adolescent health is critical for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3, 'health for all at all ages'. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), mining projects hold promise for social and economic development. Yet, the extent to which the health and well-being of adolescents are impacted by industrial mining is poorly understood. In this paper, we aim to investigate how adolescent health and well-being is perceived by key informants and caregivers in communities that have been affected by industrial mining projects in Mozambique. Design and settings A qualitative study was implemented from May-July 2022 in two rural districts in Mozambique's northern and central regions. Both districts have large industrial mining projects: a coal mine in Moatize district and a mineral sands mine in Moma district. Participants A total of 21 key informant interviews (KIIs) were conducted with a range of stakeholders, including health professionals and civil society and private sector representatives. In addition, four focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with adolescents' caregivers. Results Through the combined results from the KIIs and FGDs, four main health concerns affecting adolescents in mining areas were identified: sexually transmitted infections, respiratory tract infections, diarrhoeal diseases and malaria. Mining activities were perceived to exacerbate negative health effects and contribute to poor health outcomes among adolescents. Although mining companies invested in public infrastructure, most participants did not perceive this investment as a positive contribution to the health and well-being of adolescents. Conclusion Our study sheds light on the multifaceted challenges perceived by stakeholders that adolescents residing in mining communities in Mozambique face. Insufficient priority is given to effective interventions that specifically target adolescent health in the two study mining areas. In order to leave no one behind, as stipulated by the sustainable development agenda, more emphasis should be placed on the role and responsibility of mining companies in adequately addressing adolescents' unique health needs in mining settings in SSA.