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A study protocol to determine heat-related health impacts among primary chsoolchildren in South Africa

- Bidassey-Manilal, Shalin, Wright, Caradee Yael, Kapwata, Thandi, Shirinde, Joyce

  • Authors: Bidassey-Manilal, Shalin , Wright, Caradee Yael , Kapwata, Thandi , Shirinde, Joyce
  • Date: 2020
  • Subjects: Climate change , High temperatures , Primary schoolchildren
  • Language: English
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/436421 , uj:37857 , Bidassey-Manilal, S., Wright, C.Y., Kapwata, T., Shirinde, J. 2020: A study protocol to determine heat-related health impacts among primary chsoolchildren in South Africa.
  • Description: Abstract: , Climate models predict that the global average temperature of Earth will rise in the future. Studies show that high classroom temperatures can affect the ability of the student to learn and function. It is important to understand the impact that heat will have on the health, wellbeing, and academic performance of learners, as they spend a significant amount of time in classrooms compared to any other environment. A follow-up panel study among 20 public primary schools in the Gauteng province (South Africa) will be carried out, in which Grade 4 learners will be selected to complete an hourly heat-health symptom questionnaire. A Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) test will be used to determine their memory and attention span. A nursing practitioner will measure body weight, height, and temperature. Lascar data loggers will beusedtomeasureindoorclassroomtemperature. Schoolprincipalswillcompleteaquestionnaireon existing school coping mechanisms and policies in place that help deal with hot weather conditions. This is the first study to quantitatively assess the effects of heat on learners’ health, well-being and school performance in South Africa. The outcomes of this study will enable policymakers and public officials to develop appropriate school heat adaptation and mitigation measures and will assist in channeling their resources where it is most needed.
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Climatic factors in relation to diarrhoea hospital admissions in rural Limpopo, South Africa

- Ikeda, Takayoshi, Kapwata, Thandi, Behera, Swadhin K., Minakawa, Noboru, Hashizume, Masahiro, Sweijd, Neville, Mathee, Angela, Wright, Caradee Yael

Household fuel use for heating and cooking and respiratory health in a low-income, South African coastal community

- Buthelezi, Sikhumbuzo Archibald, Kapwata, Thandi, Wernecke, Bianca, Webster, Candice, Mathee, Angela, Wright, Caradee Yael

  • Authors: Buthelezi, Sikhumbuzo Archibald , Kapwata, Thandi , Wernecke, Bianca , Webster, Candice , Mathee, Angela , Wright, Caradee Yael
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Respiratory health, Indoor air pollution, Household air pollution
  • Language: English
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/396540 , uj:32931 , Citation : Buthelezi, S.A. et al. 2019. Household fuel use for heating and cooking and respiratory health in a low-income, South African coastal community
  • Description: Abstract : In low-income communities, non-electric fuel sources are typically the main cause of Household Air Pollution (HAP). In Umlazi, a South African coastal, informal settlement, households use electric- and non-electric (coal, wood, gas, paraffin) energy sources for cooking and heating. The study aimed to determine whether respiratory ill health status varied by fuel type use. Using a questionnaire, respondents reported on a range of socio-demographic characteristics, dwelling type, energy use for cooking and heating as well as respiratory health symptoms. Multivariate Poisson regression was used to obtain the adjusted Odds Ratios (ORs) for the effects of electric and non-electric energy sources on prevalence of respiratory infections considering potential confounding factors. Among the 245 households that participated, Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (URTI, n = 27) were prevalent in respondents who used non-electric sources compared to electric sources for heating and cooking. There were statistically significant effects of non-electric sources for heating (adjusted OR = 3.6, 95% CI (confidence interval): 1.2–10.1, p < 0.05) and cooking (adjusted OR = 2.9, 95% CI: 1.1–7.9, p < 0.05) on prevalence of URTIs. There was a statistically significant effect of electric sources for heating (adjusted OR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.1–6.4, p < 0.05) on prevalence of Lower Respiratory Tract Infections (LRTIs) but no evidence for relations between non-electric sources for heating and LRTIs, and electric or non-electric fuel use type for cooking and LRTIs. Energy switching, mixing or stacking could be common in these households that likely made use of multiple energy sources during a typical month depending on access to and availability of electricity, funds to pay for the energy source as well as other socio-economic or cultural factors. The importance of behaviour and social determinants of health in relation to HAP is emphasized.
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Socio-economic, infrastructural and health-related risk factors associated with adverse heat-health effects reportedly experienced during hot weather in South Africa

- Wright, Caradee Yael, Dominick, Friederike, Kapwata, Thandi, Bidassey-Manilal, Shalin, Engelbrecht, Jacobus Christoffel, Stich, Heribert, Mathee, Angela, Matooane, Mamopeli

  • Authors: Wright, Caradee Yael , Dominick, Friederike , Kapwata, Thandi , Bidassey-Manilal, Shalin , Engelbrecht, Jacobus Christoffel , Stich, Heribert , Mathee, Angela , Matooane, Mamopeli
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Climate change , Environmental health , Heat
  • Language: English
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/403710 , uj:33840 , Citation: Wright, C.Y. et al. 2019. Socio-economic, infrastructural and health-related risk factors associated with adverse heat-health effects reportedly experienced during hot weather in South Africa. , DOI:10.11604/pamj.2019.34.40.17569
  • Description: Abstract: Introduction: 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. Methods: this was a crosssectional 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. Results: 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. Conclusion: heathealth 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.
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The incidence of skin cancer in relation to climate change in South Africa

- Wright, Caradee Y., Norval, Mary, Kapwata, Thandi, Du Preez, David Jean, Wernecke, Bianca, Tod, Bianca M., Visser, Willem I.

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