Project Background
Climate change has a broad impact on health through direct and indirect pathways. Temperature is likely to have subtle effects on health, identifiable through epidemiological studies and health surveillance. Children are vulnerable to the effects of climate change, from conception until early childhood, the period of organ development. The impacts of heat on the respiratory health of the growing child are poorly understood. Emerging studies suggest an increased acute risk, but the chronic effects over a period of time are likely to emerge as an invisible epidemic, presenting only in early adulthood. There is growing evidence that heat and air pollution are likely to have synergistic effects.
The CHI2 Project intends to investigate this invisible effects and develop interventions to protect child health, working in three sites in Africa, and with collaborators across five countries
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Durban, South Africa
In Durban, South Africa, the Mother and Child in the Environment (MACE) (University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)) birth cohort continues assessment of over 300 children, focused on ambient pollution and respiratory outcomes since 2013.
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Haramaya, Ethiopia
Haramaya University’s Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) was established in 2007, consisting of 350,000 participants in 59,000 households. This survey evaluates maternal and child health, including environmental health.
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Harare, Zimbabwe
In Harare, the Biomedical Research and Training Institute (BRTI), as part of the HIGH Horizons initiative addresses national-level heat indicators and developing strategies to mitigate the impact of heat stress on maternal and child health.
