Heat Stress in Early Childhood Development Centres in an Urban Informal Settlement in Tshwane, South Africa: Emerging Risks in a Warming Climate
1
School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
2
Department of Architecture,Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A370
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT:
Backround: Children living in informal settlements are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, such as rising temperatures, which can lead to heat stress and associated health risks.
METHODS:
This study was conducted at eight early childhood development centres at an urban informal settlement in Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa. The indoor thermal conditions were monitored for a period of 12-month using factory calibrated SSN-22-USB data loggers. The sensors were located in two classrooms in each of the ECDs, on the southern or internal walls, 1200-1800mm above floor level. The data collection started in May 2023. The analysis period focused on the summer period, October 2023 to March 2024, specifically included a heatwave that was experienced in Tshwane in March 2024. The heat stress exposure was calculated using an Apparent Temperature Metric.
RESULTS:
The empirical data reflect concerning outdoor temperatures and indoor temperatures in all the monitored ECDs. In terms of the outdoor conditions mean temperatures of 24.2 °C were documented over this period. As a CwA Köppen-Geiger climate region, the summer period is generally very hot, as a result maximum temperature of 46.2 °C were measured in November. During the same period the ECDs performed similarly with mean indoor temperatures ranging from 24.6 °C to 25.9 °C. In terms of maximum indoor temperatures, a range of between 40.6 °C to 51.4 °C were measured.
CONCLUSIONS:
The study findings indicate that children attending early childhood development centres are exposed to extremely high temperatures, which may negatively affect their health. In collaboration with the Department of Environmental Health, a community engagement and health promotion session was conducted with pre-school teachers and principals to identify practical strategies to protect children from heat exposure, particularly during heatwaves. Participants explored feasible, context-appropriate actions to reduce indoor heat stress, protecting children’s well-being.
Backround: Children living in informal settlements are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, such as rising temperatures, which can lead to heat stress and associated health risks.
METHODS:
This study was conducted at eight early childhood development centres at an urban informal settlement in Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa. The indoor thermal conditions were monitored for a period of 12-month using factory calibrated SSN-22-USB data loggers. The sensors were located in two classrooms in each of the ECDs, on the southern or internal walls, 1200-1800mm above floor level. The data collection started in May 2023. The analysis period focused on the summer period, October 2023 to March 2024, specifically included a heatwave that was experienced in Tshwane in March 2024. The heat stress exposure was calculated using an Apparent Temperature Metric.
RESULTS:
The empirical data reflect concerning outdoor temperatures and indoor temperatures in all the monitored ECDs. In terms of the outdoor conditions mean temperatures of 24.2 °C were documented over this period. As a CwA Köppen-Geiger climate region, the summer period is generally very hot, as a result maximum temperature of 46.2 °C were measured in November. During the same period the ECDs performed similarly with mean indoor temperatures ranging from 24.6 °C to 25.9 °C. In terms of maximum indoor temperatures, a range of between 40.6 °C to 51.4 °C were measured.
CONCLUSIONS:
The study findings indicate that children attending early childhood development centres are exposed to extremely high temperatures, which may negatively affect their health. In collaboration with the Department of Environmental Health, a community engagement and health promotion session was conducted with pre-school teachers and principals to identify practical strategies to protect children from heat exposure, particularly during heatwaves. Participants explored feasible, context-appropriate actions to reduce indoor heat stress, protecting children’s well-being.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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