High indoor temperatures increase reporting of acute symptoms: finding mitigating solutions for the climate-vulnerable of Bangladesh
Abstract Background Bangladesh is already prone to extreme weather events like heatwaves, leaving millions vulnerable. High ambient temperatures are associated with increased morbidity and mortality by infectious diseases, but the effect of these high temperatures indoors remains to be studied. Obje...
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2025-06-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21597-8 |
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| author | Alba McGirr Srizan Chowdhury Md Fozla Rabbi Md Mehedi Hasan Md Sharoardy Sagar Nabilah Ibnat Syed Manzoor Ahmed Hanifi |
| author_facet | Alba McGirr Srizan Chowdhury Md Fozla Rabbi Md Mehedi Hasan Md Sharoardy Sagar Nabilah Ibnat Syed Manzoor Ahmed Hanifi |
| author_sort | Alba McGirr |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Bangladesh is already prone to extreme weather events like heatwaves, leaving millions vulnerable. High ambient temperatures are associated with increased morbidity and mortality by infectious diseases, but the effect of these high temperatures indoors remains to be studied. Objective This study investigated the effect of high indoor temperatures on the feelings of illness and heat coping mechanisms in vulnerable populations without heat mitigation. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 490 houses in rural villages in the coastal area of Chakaria, Bangladesh chosen through stratified cluster sampling. It assessed the feelings of illness and their adaptative behaviour to high temperatures. There were 49 temperature and humidity monitors placed indoors to obtain accurate measurements of these parameters in different areas and with different house materials. This information was used to determine the effect of high indoor temperatures on the symptoms that vulnerable populations reported. Results People living in hotter houses reported overall more symptoms, notably, diarrhoea, local site infections and sore throat. Temperatures were higher in houses made of bamboo compared to cement and having shade significantly decreased indoor temperature. Most women in the study reported performing adequate heat coping mechanisms. However, these did not show a protective effect against illness. Conclusion This paper showed that high indoor temperatures could be associated with an increase in symptoms. Housing characteristics (material and environment) decreased indoor temperature. Having shading and a house made from cement was protective to reporting symptoms. Further studies into the compliance of coping behaviours are needed to assess their potential protective effect. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-705152c8310e4eb5a0232c2319eeedd9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-705152c8310e4eb5a0232c2319eeedd92025-08-20T03:25:19ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-06-0125111210.1186/s12889-025-21597-8High indoor temperatures increase reporting of acute symptoms: finding mitigating solutions for the climate-vulnerable of BangladeshAlba McGirr0Srizan Chowdhury1Md Fozla Rabbi2Md Mehedi Hasan3Md Sharoardy Sagar4Nabilah Ibnat5Syed Manzoor Ahmed Hanifi6Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineHealth System and Population Studies Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (Icddr, B)Health System and Population Studies Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (Icddr, B)Health System and Population Studies Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (Icddr, B)Health System and Population Studies Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (Icddr, B)Health System and Population Studies Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (Icddr, B)Health System and Population Studies Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (Icddr, B)Abstract Background Bangladesh is already prone to extreme weather events like heatwaves, leaving millions vulnerable. High ambient temperatures are associated with increased morbidity and mortality by infectious diseases, but the effect of these high temperatures indoors remains to be studied. Objective This study investigated the effect of high indoor temperatures on the feelings of illness and heat coping mechanisms in vulnerable populations without heat mitigation. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 490 houses in rural villages in the coastal area of Chakaria, Bangladesh chosen through stratified cluster sampling. It assessed the feelings of illness and their adaptative behaviour to high temperatures. There were 49 temperature and humidity monitors placed indoors to obtain accurate measurements of these parameters in different areas and with different house materials. This information was used to determine the effect of high indoor temperatures on the symptoms that vulnerable populations reported. Results People living in hotter houses reported overall more symptoms, notably, diarrhoea, local site infections and sore throat. Temperatures were higher in houses made of bamboo compared to cement and having shade significantly decreased indoor temperature. Most women in the study reported performing adequate heat coping mechanisms. However, these did not show a protective effect against illness. Conclusion This paper showed that high indoor temperatures could be associated with an increase in symptoms. Housing characteristics (material and environment) decreased indoor temperature. Having shading and a house made from cement was protective to reporting symptoms. Further studies into the compliance of coping behaviours are needed to assess their potential protective effect.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21597-8Extreme temperaturesHeat indexClimate changeAcute symptomsMitigating measuresVulnerable populations |
| spellingShingle | Alba McGirr Srizan Chowdhury Md Fozla Rabbi Md Mehedi Hasan Md Sharoardy Sagar Nabilah Ibnat Syed Manzoor Ahmed Hanifi High indoor temperatures increase reporting of acute symptoms: finding mitigating solutions for the climate-vulnerable of Bangladesh BMC Public Health Extreme temperatures Heat index Climate change Acute symptoms Mitigating measures Vulnerable populations |
| title | High indoor temperatures increase reporting of acute symptoms: finding mitigating solutions for the climate-vulnerable of Bangladesh |
| title_full | High indoor temperatures increase reporting of acute symptoms: finding mitigating solutions for the climate-vulnerable of Bangladesh |
| title_fullStr | High indoor temperatures increase reporting of acute symptoms: finding mitigating solutions for the climate-vulnerable of Bangladesh |
| title_full_unstemmed | High indoor temperatures increase reporting of acute symptoms: finding mitigating solutions for the climate-vulnerable of Bangladesh |
| title_short | High indoor temperatures increase reporting of acute symptoms: finding mitigating solutions for the climate-vulnerable of Bangladesh |
| title_sort | high indoor temperatures increase reporting of acute symptoms finding mitigating solutions for the climate vulnerable of bangladesh |
| topic | Extreme temperatures Heat index Climate change Acute symptoms Mitigating measures Vulnerable populations |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21597-8 |
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