Document

Drought and Health: A Messaging Framework for Public Health Professionals & Healthcare Providers

Document Author

Rachel E. Lookadoo, Jesse E. Bell, and Summer Woolsey, University of Nebraska Medical Center

Document File

Drought and Health: A Messaging Framework for Public Health Professionals & Healthcare Providers (21.57 MB)

Document Date

April 23, 2024

Document Type

Reports

Document Description

From worsening water quality to respiratory and metal health impacts, drought can have profound and widespread impacts on the health of communities across the nation. To better prepare health professionals’ response to the health effects of drought, a research team from the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Public Health recently released a new guide to assist healthcare providers and public health officials communicate about the health risks of drought with their patients and broader communities.

This framework was designed to (1) provide a background on drought and its impacts on public health, and (2) help public health professionals and healthcare providers choose messaging and response strategies targeted towards current drought impacts within their individual communities.

The guide is a product of a multi-year effort supported by NOAA’s National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Health & Air Quality Program, and the Claire M. Hubbard Foundation.