Water-Energy-Food Security and Health in South Africa: A Scoping Review - Report - MDSpire
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Interconnections Between Water, Energy, Food Security, and Health in South Africa: A Comprehensive Review

  • By

  • Eli Dearden

  • Kei Otsuki

  • Willem J. J. Assendelft

  • Joost Hopman

  • Floor van der Hilst

  • July 16, 2026

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Interconnections Between Water, Energy, Food Security, and Health in South Africa

Overview

This comprehensive review explores the interconnections between water, energy, and food security (WEF) in South Africa.

Background

The WEF nexus is crucial as it shapes human health through environmental, socioeconomic, and infrastructural pathways. In South Africa, significant insecurities in these systems contribute to various health challenges.

Data Highlights

No numerical data or trial data presented in the article.

Key Findings

  • Approximately 2.11 million people in South Africa lack access to safe water.
  • 3.5 million households rely on biomass for cooking or heating.
  • An estimated 14 million people experience food insecurity in South Africa.
  • Population growth, urbanization, and climate change exacerbate existing WEF insecurities.

Clinical Implications

Healthcare professionals should be aware of the interconnected nature of WEF insecurities.

Conclusion

The review highlights the importance of understanding the pathways through which WEF insecurities influence health in South Africa.

Related Resources & Content

  1. Dearden et al., JAMA Network Open, 2023 -- Water, Energy, and Food Insecurities as Determinants of Health
  2. Chen et al., European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 2023 -- From silent surge to urgent priority: hypertension in sub-Saharan Africa
  3. The Analytical Scientist, 2023 -- A Global Wake-Up Call on Chemical Water Quality
  4. NICD, 2024 -- Cholera Diagnosis and Case Management Summary
  5. WHO, 2023 -- Guideline on the prevention and management of wasting and nutritional oedema in infants and children under 5 years
  6. BMJ Health & Care Informatics — Barriers associated with the implementation, adoption, scale-up and sustainability of mHealth in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review guided by the NASSS Framework
  7. https://www.nicd.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Cholera-Diagnosis-and-Case-Management_v2_January_2024.pdf
  8. WHO guideline on the prevention and management of wasting and nutritional oedema (‎acute malnutrition)‎ in infants and children under 5 years
  9. Liquefied Petroleum Gas or Biomass Cooking and Severe Infant Pneumonia | New England Journal of Medicine

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