A Study Protocol to Determine Heat-Related Health Impacts among Primary Schoolchildren in South Africa.

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

doi:10.3390/ijerph17155531

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 be used to measure indoor classroom temperature. School principals will complete a questionnaire on 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.

Highlights

Many high-income countries have addressed the issue of vulnerability to heat and its associated health impacts among schoolchildren; limited data are available for low- and middle-income countries [1]
Previous studies predicted that temperature across the African continent, which will likely be most affected by the effects of climate change, will rise by 2 to 6 ◦ C over the 100 years [2,3]
Gaps still exist in the knowledge of heat-related health impacts among schoolchildren and in the context of climate change and predicted rising temperatures, the urgency to fill these gaps is pressing

Summary

Introduction

Many high-income countries have addressed the issue of vulnerability to heat and its associated health impacts among schoolchildren; limited data are available for low- and middle-income countries [1]. Previous studies predicted that temperature across the African continent, which will likely be most affected by the effects of climate change, will rise by 2 to 6 ◦ C over the 100 years [2,3]. There is currently an absence of guidelines to deal with indoor thermal comfort in school classrooms. A review of the literature shows that researchers, scientists, architects, and engineers are currently using existing occupational building standards to compare it to educational settings [5,6,7,8]. A review of literature on thermal comfort inside classrooms revealed that there are studies available on thermal comfort in educational settings; the majority of these studies have been carried out at tertiary institutions [9]. There are few studies that have been administered at secondary schools

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Conclusion