Structural Heat Adaptation and Education in Urban Setting

Structural Heat Adaptation and Education in Urban Setting (SHAPES Trial)

This study aims to understand whether simple, low-cost interventions, such as improved home cooling, practical advice, and minor home modifications, can help protect people's health and improve quality of life during periods of extreme heat in densely populated, low-income neighborhoods of Karachi, Pakistan.

Key Questions the Study Seeks to Answer:

1. Can these interventions reduce heat-related health problems such as dizziness, headaches, and heatstroke and improve the quality of life?
2. Can they lower indoor temperatures and improve sleep quality, comfort, and daily functioning?

To answer these questions, researchers will compare communities where families receive heat-related support and information with similar communities that do not, to assess any differences in health and well-being.

What Participants Can Expect:

• Answer questions about their health, living conditions, and how they cope with heat
• Have small temperature sensors placed inside their homes
• Some participants may wear a lightweight wristband that tracks sleep and heart rate
• In selected households, cooling improvements will be made, such as adding shade, applying reflective roof paint, or enhancing airflow

Purpose:

This study seeks to identify affordable and effective strategies to help families stay safe during extreme heat, and to use these insights to support other vulnerable communities facing similar challenges.

Inclusion Criteria:

• All households within the selected clusters who provide consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Households planning to move away from the study site within the next 6 months
• Individuals with severe mental or physical health conditions that preclude participation