Research Summary
By the end of 2024, more than 120 million people worldwide had been forced to leave their homes, communities or countries due to political violence, armed conflict or climate change. Forced displacement has a negative impact on pregnancy outcomes, early childhood development and family well-being. But the influence of the intersections among climate change, conflict and displacement—or the “climate-conflict-displacement nexus”—during the perinatal period is not well-understood. As Canada Research Chair in Global Adversity and Well-Being, Dr. Bree Akesson aims to fill this knowledge gap.
She and her research team are investigating parenting and home dynamics during the perinatal period and within the climate-conflict-displacement nexus. In particular, they are examining the experience of Rohingya refugee families living in Bangladesh. By prioritizing refugee voices, their research will produce impactful practice and policy recommendations that are grounded in the everyday experiences of Rohingya families.