Abstract:
Temperature extremes vary across Africa. A continent-wide examination of the impacts of heat on
health in Africa, and a synthesis of Africa-informed evidence is, however, lacking. A systematic review
of articles published in peer-reviewed journals between January 1992 and April 2019 was conducted.
To be eligible, articles had to be Africa-specific, in English, and focused on how heatwaves and high
ambient temperatures affect morbidity and mortality. A secondary systematic analysis on policies and
interventions comprising 17 studies was also conducted, and the findings synthesised together with those
of the 20 primary studies. Eleven studies showed that high ambient temperatures and heat waves are
linked with increased mortality rates in Africa. These linkages are characterised by complex, linear and
non-linear (J or U) relationships. Eight of the nine primary studies of morbidity outcome reported that an
increase in temperature was accompanied by raised disease incidence. Children and the elderly were the
population groups most vulnerable to extreme heat exposure. Location-specific interventions and policy
suggestions include developing early warning systems, creating heat-health plans, changing housing
conditions and implementing heat-health awareness campaigns. In summary, this review demonstrates
that, while heat-health relationships in Africa are complex, extreme temperatures are associated with high
mortality and morbidity, especially amongst vulnerable populations. As temperatures increase across
Africa, there is an urgent need to develop heat-health plans and implement interventions. Future studies
must document intervention effectiveness and quantify the costs of action and inaction on extreme heatrelated mortality and morbidity.
SIGNIFICANCE :
• Empirical evidence shows that the relationship between heat and human health is complex in the African
context. This complexity has implications for the development of interventions and policies for heathealth on the continent.
• This review is important for African policymakers, practitioners and others who support Africa’s
adaptation to climate change. Through this review, a compendium of Africa-specific and relevant empirical
information is aggregated and made readily available to various interested and affected parties.
