Effects of Climatic Hazards on the Geogenic Pollution of Groundwater in the Mayo Tsanaga Sub-basin in Cameroon: Gender Inequalities Associated with Dental Fluorosis

A combination of climatic hazards such as violent winds, floods, erosion and drought favours chemical weathering degrades the fluorine-containing rocks to release fluoride that pollutes the groundwater of Mayo Tsanaga sub-basin in Cameroon, thereby causing a geogenic disease called dental fluorosis. The disease affects social interactions between men and women. Thus, this work addresses the problem of gender inequalities linked to dental fluorosis in Meri district in a context of climate change. Our approach was essentially qualitative, based on a documentary analysis of the relevant literature, and primary data from field observation and from 20 focus groups and 138 semi-structured interviews with communities (men, women) and traditional authorities in the cantons of Douvangar, Douroum, Ouazzang, Doulek, Tchéré, Méri and Godola. The main results obtained have demonstrated that dental fluorosis isn’t a hereditary or mystical disease, or one linked to hygiene, as communities used to think; its rather due to the use of drinking water from groundwater polluted by anomalous fluoride concentrations. Fluoride levels in groundwater vary according to climate and are elevated at high temperatures. The prejudice surrounding dental fluorosis, attributing it to women and young women, creates inequalities in gender relations in the communities of the Meri district. As a result, affected young women are stigmatized by young men: insulting remarks, mockery, ostracism, refusal of engagement or marriage. Moreover, they are unable to work in beauty-related professions such as journalism or modeling. In order to ensure that research contributes to Cameroon’s public health policy, GWP-Cameroon has undertaken initiatives to raise awareness and advocacy with the Ministry of Water and Energy to consider dental fluorosis as a public health problem.