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

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 13; no. 6; p. 566
• Main Authors: Bidassey-Manilal, Shalin, Wright, Caradee Y, Engelbrecht, Jacobus C, Albers, Patricia N, Garland, Rebecca M, Matooane, Mamopeli
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 07-06-2016; MDPI
• Subjects: Adolescent; Africa; Air conditioning; Asbestos; Classrooms; Climate change; Cold; Construction materials; Correlation analysis; Corrugated sheet; Councils; Environmental conditions; Ethics; Female; Health; Heat; Heat Stress Disorders - etiology; Heat Stress Disorders - physiopathology; Heatstroke; Hot Temperature - adverse effects; Humans; Indoor air quality; Iron; Learning; Longitudinal studies; Male; Prefabrication; Schools; Sleepiness; Statistical analysis; Students; Students - psychology; Temperature; Time of use; Ventilation; United States > US; South Africa; Africa; temperature; South Africa; health; school; climate change
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph13060566

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.