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Urban thermal perception and self-reported health effects in Ibadan, south west Nigeria

  • Special Issue: Biometeorological Insights from the Students & New Professionals of the ISB
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Abstract

The ability of poor urban populations in developing countries to adapt to rapid increase in surface temperature and likely health effect of a 1.5 °C increase in global temperature is uncertain. Rapid urbanization and poor socio, economic, and technological development may increase heat vulnerabilities of poor urban populations in tropical cities. This study examines the thermal perception of urban populations in Ibadan, south western Nigeria, and sociodemographic characteristics of individuals that influence thermal perception, self-reported health effects, and coping strategies to heat stress using a purposefully designed questionnaire and interviews with aged individuals in the five local government areas of Ibadan metropolis. Differences in sociodemographic characteristics of respondents such as inequalities in monthly income, occupation, ethnicity, housing characteristics, and length of stay in Ibadan significantly influence thermal perception, self-reported health effects of heat exposure, and coping strategies adopted. Perceived thermal conditions reported were warmer temperatures during the day and night (43.75%), warmer day-time temperatures (40.25%), and warmer night-time temperatures (16%). Dehydration and sweating (56%): heat rash, heat exhaustion, headaches, sleep disturbances and dehydration (15.25%), and sleep disturbance and sweating (12.25%) were major combinations of self-reported health effects. Other effects include fainting, diarrhea, raised blood pressure, and restlessness. Temperature variations (minimum and maximum) examined from 1971 to 2018 shows that warmer conditions are being experienced in Ibadan. Increased heat-health awareness and urban designs that respond to people’s thermal perception should be encouraged in developing thermally comfortable environments in Ibadan.

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Acknowledgements

The author wishes to thank all the people who participated in this research especially the graduate students who assisted in data collection. The author also wishes to thank Prof. Ibidun O. Adelekan for her academic guidance. The author is responsible for the research design, methods and data collection, writing, and presentation of findings.

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  1. Department of Geography, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

    Betty O. Adegebo

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  1. Betty O. Adegebo
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Correspondence to Betty O. Adegebo.

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Adegebo, B.O. Urban thermal perception and self-reported health effects in Ibadan, south west Nigeria. Int J Biometeorol 66, 331–343 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-021-02168-z

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