Socio-economic, infrastructural and health-related risk factors associated with adverse heat-health effects reportedly experienced during hot weather in South Africa

• Published in: The Pan African medical journal 2019, Vol.34 (40), p.40
• Main Authors: Wright, Caradee Yael, Dominick, Friederike, Kapwata, Thandi, Bidassey-Manilal, Shalin, Engelbrecht, Jacobus Christoffel, Stich, Heribert, Mathee, Angela, Matooane, Mamopeli
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptation; Age Factors; Classrooms; Climate Change; Consent; Councils; Cross-Sectional Studies; Educational technology; Environmental health; Ethics; Family Characteristics; Female; Heat; High temperature; Hot Temperature - adverse effects; Households; Housing - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Male; Medical research; Middle Aged; Morbidity; Mortality; Older people; Parents; Poverty; Public health; Questionnaires; Risk Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; South Africa; Surveys and Questionnaires; temperature exposure; Urban Population; Weather; Well being
• ISSN: 1937-8688; 1937-8688
• DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2019.34.40.17569

Poor urban communities are likely to bear the brunt of climate change impacts on health and well-being. The City of Johannesburg, South Africa, is predicted to experience an average increase in ambient temperature of 4°C by 2100. Focusing on the urban environment, this study aimed to determine socio-economic, infrastructural and health-related risk factors for heat-related adverse health effects. This was a cross-sectional study. Data of interest were collected using a pretested and validated questionnaire administered to parents of children attending schools participating in a school heat study. Information related to demographic, socio-economic and household-level determinants of health, which has an impact on the individual prevalence of adverse heat-health effects associated with hot weather, was collected for 136 households and 580 individuals. Sweating (n = 208 individuals; 35%), headache and nausea (n = 111; 19%) and weakness, fatigue and dizziness (n = 87; 15%) were the most common heat-health effects reportedly experienced by individuals (n = 580) during hot weather. Individuals who suffered from hypertension (OR = 2.32, 95% CI: 1.34 - 4.05, p = 0.003) and individuals older than 60 years (OR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.27-1.99, p < 0.001) compared to other age groups were more likely to experience 'any heat-health effects'. Living in government-sponsored detached housing and in houses with asbestos roofs were associated with an increase in reported experience of 'any heat-health effects' compared to living in other housing types. Heat-health awareness campaigns should target people suffering from pre-existing diseases and the elderly, as these groups are especially vulnerable to heat. Focus should also be given to appropriate roofing and insulation in government-sponsored housing since summertime temperatures are projected to increase.