Heat Adaptation Benefits for Vulnerable groups In Africa (HABVIA): a study protocol for a controlled clinical heat adaptation trial
Abstract Background Temperatures across Africa are expected to rise at up to twice the rate of mean global temperatures, posing significant health threats to vulnerable communities. Prolonged exposure to high day- and night-time temperatures has been implicated in a myriad of adverse health outcomes...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22757-6 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850277871047671808 |
|---|---|
| author | Michaela Deglon Chad Africa Larske Marit Soepnel Thandi Kapwata Ama de-Graft Aikins Kweku Bedu-Addo Guy Howard Estelle Victoria Lambert Dale Elizabeth Rae Martha Sibanda Christopher Gordon Mark New Lara Ruth Dugas |
| author_facet | Michaela Deglon Chad Africa Larske Marit Soepnel Thandi Kapwata Ama de-Graft Aikins Kweku Bedu-Addo Guy Howard Estelle Victoria Lambert Dale Elizabeth Rae Martha Sibanda Christopher Gordon Mark New Lara Ruth Dugas |
| author_sort | Michaela Deglon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Temperatures across Africa are expected to rise at up to twice the rate of mean global temperatures, posing significant health threats to vulnerable communities. Prolonged exposure to high day- and night-time temperatures has been implicated in a myriad of adverse health outcomes. The built environment and inadequate housing can exacerbate these consequences, prompting the need to evaluate heat adaptation interventions as a sustainable adaptation strategy for low-income and informal settlement dwellers. The Heat Adaptation Benefits for Vulnerable groups In Africa (HABVIA) study aims to assess the impact of passive cooling interventions in homes on several key physiologic and mental health outcomes, as well as building internal thermal conditions. Methods HABVIA is a 3-year prospective controlled study to identify, implement and assess heat adaptation solutions in four low-income communities in one urban and one rural site in Ghana and South Africa, respectively. In each site, N=240 participants (N=60 per site) will be assigned to intervention or control groups. The intervention is focused on lowering the nighttime temperature of the home environment. Health and biometric data will be collected through a combination of physiological measurements, questionnaires, and biochemical measures taken at 3 time points during the hot season. Clinical outcomes include objective sleep behaviour, core body temperature, physical activity, blood pressure, blood glucose, anthropometrics, and body composition. Indoor and outdoor environmental data will be collected continuously using fixed indoor sensors and automatic weather stations. Housing and community characteristics, and socio-economic information will be collected. Quantitative comparisons will be made between intervention and control conditions using generalised linear mixed models. Qualitative data from consultive workshops will be used to assess the acceptability and feasibility of the adaptations. Discussion Robust evaluation of the environmental and health outcomes of heat adaptations are limited for Africa, despite high climate vulnerability. HABVIA will address some of these gaps by assessing low-cost passive cooling interventions to promote heat resilience and improve health outcomes, providing real-world evidence for the feasibility of readily implementable and scalable adaptations in local contexts. Trial registration Pan African Clinical Trials Registry (PACTR) PACTR202401521630856, version 1. Retrospectively registered on January 12, 2024. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-452ec1ef930943fc9f09626db40bcf68 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-452ec1ef930943fc9f09626db40bcf682025-08-20T01:49:43ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-05-0125111510.1186/s12889-025-22757-6Heat Adaptation Benefits for Vulnerable groups In Africa (HABVIA): a study protocol for a controlled clinical heat adaptation trialMichaela Deglon0Chad Africa1Larske Marit Soepnel2Thandi Kapwata3Ama de-Graft Aikins4Kweku Bedu-Addo5Guy Howard6Estelle Victoria Lambert7Dale Elizabeth Rae8Martha Sibanda9Christopher Gordon10Mark New11Lara Ruth Dugas12African Climate and Development Initiative, University of Cape TownDivision of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Cape TownDivision of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Cape TownEnvironment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research CouncilRegional Institute for Population Studies, University of GhanaDepartment of Physiology, SMS, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyUniversity of Bristol, Cabot Institute for the Environment, Royal Fort HouseResearch Centre for Health through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport (HPALS), Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape TownResearch Centre for Health through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport (HPALS), Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape TownSlum Dwellers InternationalInstitute for Environment and Sanitation Studies, University of GhanaAfrican Climate and Development Initiative, University of Cape TownDivision of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Cape TownAbstract Background Temperatures across Africa are expected to rise at up to twice the rate of mean global temperatures, posing significant health threats to vulnerable communities. Prolonged exposure to high day- and night-time temperatures has been implicated in a myriad of adverse health outcomes. The built environment and inadequate housing can exacerbate these consequences, prompting the need to evaluate heat adaptation interventions as a sustainable adaptation strategy for low-income and informal settlement dwellers. The Heat Adaptation Benefits for Vulnerable groups In Africa (HABVIA) study aims to assess the impact of passive cooling interventions in homes on several key physiologic and mental health outcomes, as well as building internal thermal conditions. Methods HABVIA is a 3-year prospective controlled study to identify, implement and assess heat adaptation solutions in four low-income communities in one urban and one rural site in Ghana and South Africa, respectively. In each site, N=240 participants (N=60 per site) will be assigned to intervention or control groups. The intervention is focused on lowering the nighttime temperature of the home environment. Health and biometric data will be collected through a combination of physiological measurements, questionnaires, and biochemical measures taken at 3 time points during the hot season. Clinical outcomes include objective sleep behaviour, core body temperature, physical activity, blood pressure, blood glucose, anthropometrics, and body composition. Indoor and outdoor environmental data will be collected continuously using fixed indoor sensors and automatic weather stations. Housing and community characteristics, and socio-economic information will be collected. Quantitative comparisons will be made between intervention and control conditions using generalised linear mixed models. Qualitative data from consultive workshops will be used to assess the acceptability and feasibility of the adaptations. Discussion Robust evaluation of the environmental and health outcomes of heat adaptations are limited for Africa, despite high climate vulnerability. HABVIA will address some of these gaps by assessing low-cost passive cooling interventions to promote heat resilience and improve health outcomes, providing real-world evidence for the feasibility of readily implementable and scalable adaptations in local contexts. Trial registration Pan African Clinical Trials Registry (PACTR) PACTR202401521630856, version 1. Retrospectively registered on January 12, 2024.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22757-6Climate changeAdaptationHeat exposureHealth impactsPassive coolingControlled trial |
| spellingShingle | Michaela Deglon Chad Africa Larske Marit Soepnel Thandi Kapwata Ama de-Graft Aikins Kweku Bedu-Addo Guy Howard Estelle Victoria Lambert Dale Elizabeth Rae Martha Sibanda Christopher Gordon Mark New Lara Ruth Dugas Heat Adaptation Benefits for Vulnerable groups In Africa (HABVIA): a study protocol for a controlled clinical heat adaptation trial BMC Public Health Climate change Adaptation Heat exposure Health impacts Passive cooling Controlled trial |
| title | Heat Adaptation Benefits for Vulnerable groups In Africa (HABVIA): a study protocol for a controlled clinical heat adaptation trial |
| title_full | Heat Adaptation Benefits for Vulnerable groups In Africa (HABVIA): a study protocol for a controlled clinical heat adaptation trial |
| title_fullStr | Heat Adaptation Benefits for Vulnerable groups In Africa (HABVIA): a study protocol for a controlled clinical heat adaptation trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Heat Adaptation Benefits for Vulnerable groups In Africa (HABVIA): a study protocol for a controlled clinical heat adaptation trial |
| title_short | Heat Adaptation Benefits for Vulnerable groups In Africa (HABVIA): a study protocol for a controlled clinical heat adaptation trial |
| title_sort | heat adaptation benefits for vulnerable groups in africa habvia a study protocol for a controlled clinical heat adaptation trial |
| topic | Climate change Adaptation Heat exposure Health impacts Passive cooling Controlled trial |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22757-6 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT michaeladeglon heatadaptationbenefitsforvulnerablegroupsinafricahabviaastudyprotocolforacontrolledclinicalheatadaptationtrial AT chadafrica heatadaptationbenefitsforvulnerablegroupsinafricahabviaastudyprotocolforacontrolledclinicalheatadaptationtrial AT larskemaritsoepnel heatadaptationbenefitsforvulnerablegroupsinafricahabviaastudyprotocolforacontrolledclinicalheatadaptationtrial AT thandikapwata heatadaptationbenefitsforvulnerablegroupsinafricahabviaastudyprotocolforacontrolledclinicalheatadaptationtrial AT amadegraftaikins heatadaptationbenefitsforvulnerablegroupsinafricahabviaastudyprotocolforacontrolledclinicalheatadaptationtrial AT kwekubeduaddo heatadaptationbenefitsforvulnerablegroupsinafricahabviaastudyprotocolforacontrolledclinicalheatadaptationtrial AT guyhoward heatadaptationbenefitsforvulnerablegroupsinafricahabviaastudyprotocolforacontrolledclinicalheatadaptationtrial AT estellevictorialambert heatadaptationbenefitsforvulnerablegroupsinafricahabviaastudyprotocolforacontrolledclinicalheatadaptationtrial AT daleelizabethrae heatadaptationbenefitsforvulnerablegroupsinafricahabviaastudyprotocolforacontrolledclinicalheatadaptationtrial AT marthasibanda heatadaptationbenefitsforvulnerablegroupsinafricahabviaastudyprotocolforacontrolledclinicalheatadaptationtrial AT christophergordon heatadaptationbenefitsforvulnerablegroupsinafricahabviaastudyprotocolforacontrolledclinicalheatadaptationtrial AT marknew heatadaptationbenefitsforvulnerablegroupsinafricahabviaastudyprotocolforacontrolledclinicalheatadaptationtrial AT lararuthdugas heatadaptationbenefitsforvulnerablegroupsinafricahabviaastudyprotocolforacontrolledclinicalheatadaptationtrial |