Abstract
Climate change is increasingly recognized as a key driver of emerging and re- emerging infectious diseases, particularly in vulnerable regions including Nigeria. This study examined climate change roles on the emerging and re- emerging infectious diseases among children and adolescents in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, involving 400 participants drawn through multistage sampling. Data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, Pearson correlation and multiple regression techniques. Results showed high exposure to climate variability (mean = 3.21) and moderate infectious disease prevalence (mean = 3.05), alongside relatively low psychological development scores (mean = 2.41). Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive association between climate change indicators and infectious disease incidence (r = 0.38, p < 0.05), and a significant negative relationship between infectious diseases and psychological development (r = −0.42, p < 0.05). Regression results indicated that climate change significantly predicts infectious disease outbreaks (β = 0.47, p < 0.01), while infectious diseases significantly predict psychological distress (β = −0.52, p < 0.01). Mediation analysis confirmed that infectious diseases partially mediate the relationship between climate change and psychological outcomes. The study concludes that climate-induced health risks exert both direct and indirect adverse effects on the psychological wellbeing of children and adolescents. This underscores the need to adopt multi-sectoral approach for climate change intervention including school-based mental health programs/policies, psychological support services, disease surveillance systems, and strengthening rural healthcare infrastructure.