Students’ Perceived Heat-Health Symptoms Increased with Warmer Classroom Temperatures

Shalin Bidassey-Manilal, Caradee Y. Wright, Jacobus C. Engelbrecht, Patricia N. Albers, Rebecca M. Garland and Mamopeli Matooane
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Shalin Bidassey-Manilal: Department of Environmental Health, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
Caradee Y. Wright: Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, 1 Soutpansberg Road, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
Jacobus C. Engelbrecht: Department of Environmental Health, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
Patricia N. Albers: Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, 1 Soutpansberg Road, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
Rebecca M. Garland: Natural Resources and the Environment, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
Mamopeli Matooane: Tlhoeko Environmental Consultants, Maseru 100, Lesotho

IJERPH, 2016, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-20

Abstract: Temperatures in Africa are expected to increase by the end of the century. Heat-related health impacts and perceived health symptoms are potentially a problem, especially in public schools with limited resources. Students ( n = 252) aged ~14–18 years from eight high schools completed an hourly heat-health symptom log over 5 days. Data loggers measured indoor classroom temperatures. A high proportion of students felt tired (97.2%), had low concentration (96.8%) and felt sleepy (94.1%) during at least one hour on any day. There were statistically significant correlations, when controlling for school cluster effect and time of day, between indoor temperatures ?32 °C and students who felt tired and found it hard to breathe. Consistently higher indoor classroom temperatures were observed in classrooms constructed of prefabricated asbestos sheeting with corrugated iron roof and converted shipping container compared to brick classrooms. Longitudinal studies in multiple seasons and different classroom building types are needed.

Keywords: temperature; health; school; South Africa; climate change (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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