Heat Adaptation Through Community-based Approaches and Research at SEACO: Structural and Behavioural Interventions (Heat Care)

Description

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if structural and behavioral interventions can mitigate the health effects of extreme heat in rural Malaysian communities. The study focuses on implementing cool roofs (a passive cooling system) and heat literacy education to improve heat adaptation behaviors. The study is funded by Wellcome (Heat Adaptation award - 226737\_Z\_22\_Z) The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does the implementation of cool roofs reduce indoor temperatures and related heat stress in rural households? * Does heat literacy education improve community awareness and behaviors related to coping with extreme heat? Researchers will compare four groups: one receiving both cool roofs and heat literacy interventions, one receiving only the cool roof intervention, one receiving only heat literacy education, and a control group receiving neither intervention. Participants will be asked to: * Have their roofs painted with UV-resistant white paint (for cool roof intervention groups). * Participate in educational sessions and training on heat-related health risks and coping strategies (for heat literacy intervention groups). * Participants will undergo assessments at baseline (T0), first follow-up (T1), second follow-up (T2), and third follow-up/endline (T3). The T1 assessment occurs after completion of behavioral intervention and prior to the structural intervention. * Wear a Garmin Vivosmart 5 sensor for two weeks during each data collection period to monitor heart rate, physical activity, and sleep patterns.

Interventions

• Heat Literacy Intervention (Behavioral)
  The behavioral intervention aims to improve heat literacy among participants through an 8-12 week education and training program. It includes four main modules: enhancing community awareness of hot weather, identification of high risk groups, recognizing and responding to heat-related illnesses, and teaching personal cooling strategies. Participants will use SwitchBot meters to monitor indoor temperature and humidity, access real-time weather information, and learn about heat wave warnings. They will receive educational materials, including infographics, videos, and one-to-one training from field staff. The content of intervention and delivery methods will be refined through co-design workshops with stakeholders and community members to ensure they are practical and culturally appropriate. The goal is to equip participants with the knowledge and skills to protect themselves from extreme heat, resulting in better heat adaptation behaviors and improved health outcomes.
• Structural (Cool Roof) Intervention (Other)
  The structural intervention in this study involves implementing cool roofs to reduce indoor temperature and mitigate the effects of extreme heat in rural Malaysian communities. Selected households will have their roofs painted with UV-resistant paint, which reflects direct sunlight and reduces thermal absorption. This intervention aims to decrease the amount of solar energy absorbed by the roof, thereby lowering indoor temperature and reducing the physiological heat strain on residents. By maintaining cooler indoor environment, the cool roof intervention seeks to alleviate the health risks associated with prolonged exposure to high temperature.

Eligibility criteria

Conditions

Locations

• South East Asia Community Observatory, Monash University Malaysia — Segamat, Johor, Malaysia