Heat exposure and adaptation strategies of outdoor informal sector workers in urban Bulawayo - Zimbabwe

Ambient temperatures have risen over the past few decades and are expected to increase even further due to climate change impacts. Extreme temperatures, accompanied by high humidity levels, will exacerbate occupational heat stress, heat related illnesses and mortality amongst vulnerable groups, particularly among outdoor workers in developing countries in the tropics. In Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, a large portion of the population work outdoors in the informal sector as street vendors (hawkers) due to a lack of employment opportunities. These hawkers spend long hours in the sun or under makeshift sheds with poorly developed adaptation strategies, and no access to cooling systems both at work and at home. This mixed method study, conducted during the summer of 2015, explored heat exposure and adaptation strategies of informal street vendors in Bulawayo. Study participants were exposed to temperatures above 38°C during heat wave events and they were unable to cool down effectively at night due to the condition of their housing. Focus group discussions with health professionals and policy makers identified a lack of policies, programs and resources for heat prevention at local authority and national levels. It was recommended that the Zimbabwe government develop heat prevention policies and strategies in its National Climate Change Strategy and embrace community-based adaptation responses that will address heat related health impacts, particularly amongst people that work in the informal sector, who are deemed most vulnerable.

Grantor dc:publisher

Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia

Year dc:date

2019

Author dc:creator

• Ngwenya, Bigboy

• Heat stress
• Heat related illnesses
• Street hawkers
• Climate Change
• Zimbabwe
• Informal sector workers
• Business
• Public Health

Repository record dc:identifier

https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/2183

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ro.ecu.edu.au:theses-3185