Thandi Kapwata
Biographic Data
| ID | 6054008 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Thandi Kapwata |
| GIVEN NAMES | Thandi |
| FAMILY NAME | Kapwata |
| SIGNATURE | KAPWATA T |
| AFFILIATIONS | South African Medical Research Council |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-2518-6764 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 15 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 0 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 15 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2018 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 0 |
Heat Adaptation Benefits for Vulnerable groups In Africa (Habvia)
Pan African Clinical Trials Registry (PACTR) PACTR202401521630856, version 1. Retrospectively registered on January 12, 2024
Analyzing the effects of drought at different time scales on cause-specific mortality in South Africa
South Africa (SA) is highly vulnerable to the effects of drought on the environment, economy, and society. However, its effect on human health remains unclear. Understanding the mortality risk associated with different types of droughts in different population groups and by specific causes would help clarify the potential mechanisms involved. The study aims to comprehensively assess the effect of droughts of varying time scales on cause-specific …
Social-ecological-resilience enablers among youth residing in the air polluted Highveld Priority Area of South Africa
Young people living in low-income settlements face numerous challenges ranging from violence to polluted environments. However, many of them find ways in which to overcome these challenges for their own growth and development. These 'ways' are known as resilience-enablers. We studied the resilience enablers of 240 adolescents living in the highly air polluted area in South Africa. Using the draw-and-write technique, this qualitative study entaile…
Developing a Healthy Environment Assessment Tool (Heat) to Address Heat-Health Vulnerability in South African Towns in a Warming World
Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can cause heat-related illnesses and accelerate death, especially in the elderly. We developed a locally-appropriate Healthy Environment Assessment Tool, or 'HEAT' tool, to assess heat-health risks among communities. HEAT was co-developed with stakeholders and practitioners/professionals from the Rustenburg Local Municipality (RLM), a setting in which heat was identified as a risk in an earlier study. Feedb…
The Association between Apparent Temperature and Hospital Admissions for Cardiovascular Disease in Limpopo Province, South Africa
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have a high disease burden both globally and in South Africa. They have also been found to be temperature-sensitive globally. The association between temperature and CVD morbidity has previously been demonstrated, but little is known about it in South Africa. It is important to understand how changes in temperature in South Africa will affect CVD morbidity, especially in rural regions, to inform public health interv…
Applying a Wash Risk Assessment Tool in a Rural South African Setting to Identify Risks and Opportunities for Climate Resilient Communities
Climate change threatens the health and well-being of populations. We conducted a risk assessment of two climate-related variables (i.e., temperature and rainfall) and associated water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)-related exposures and vulnerabilities for people living in Mopani District, Limpopo province, South Africa. Primary and secondary data were applied in a qualitative and quantitative assessment to generate classifications of risk (i.e.…
Respiratory health among adolescents living in the Highveld Air Pollution Priority Area in South Africa
Adolescents living in air polluted areas experience adverse health impacts Future research should interrogate long-term exposure and health outcomes among adolescents living in the air polluted environment
Perceptions of thermal comfort and coping mechanisms related to indoor and outdoor temperatures among participants living in rural villages in Limpopo province, South Africa
Global heating is considered one of the greatest threats to human health and well-being. Supporting human resilience to heating threats is imperative, but under-investigated. In response, this article reports a study that drew together results from quantitative data on perceptions of thermal comfort and mechanisms for coping with thermal discomfort among 406 households in a study in Giyani, Limpopo province. Indoor dwelling and outdoor temperatur…
Classroom Temperature and Learner Absenteeism in Public Primary Schools in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
Children spend a significant proportion of their time at school and in school buildings. A healthy learning environment that supports children should be thermally conducive for learning and working. Here, we aimed to study the relations between indoor classroom temperatures and learner absenteeism as a proxy for children's health and well-being. This one-year prospective study that spanned two calendar years (from June 2017 to May 2018) entailed …
Lagged Association between Climate Variables and Hospital Admissions for Pneumonia in South Africa
Pneumonia is a leading cause of hospitalization in South Africa. Climate change could potentially affect its incidence via changes in meteorological conditions. We investigated the delayed effects of temperature and relative humidity on pneumonia hospital admissions at two large public hospitals in Limpopo province, South Africa. Using 4062 pneumonia hospital admission records from 2007 to 2015, a time-varying distributed lag non-linear model was…
Waste Disposal Practices in Low-Income Settlements of South Africa
Domestic solid waste is rapidly increasing due to accelerated population growth and urbanization. Improper waste disposal poses potential health risks and environmental concerns. Here, we investigated waste disposal practices in relation to household/dwelling characteristics in South African low-income communities. Data for 2014 to 2019 from a community-orientated primary care program were analyzed using logistic regression. Families who reported…
A Study Protocol to Determine Heat-Related Health Impacts among Primary Schoolchildren in South Africa
Climate models predict that the global average temperature of Earth will rise in the future. Studies show that high classroom temperatures can affect the ability of the student to learn and function. It is important to understand the impact that heat will have on the health, wellbeing, and academic performance of learners, as they spend a significant amount of time in classrooms compared to any other environment. A follow-up panel study among 20 …
Household Fuel Use for Heating and Cooking and Respiratory Health in a Low-Income, South African Coastal Community
In low-income communities, non-electric fuel sources are typically the main cause of Household Air Pollution (HAP). In Umlazi, a South African coastal, informal settlement, households use electric- and non-electric (coal, wood, gas, paraffin) energy sources for cooking and heating. The study aimed to determine whether respiratory ill health status varied by fuel type use. Using a questionnaire, respondents reported on a range of socio-demographic…
Diarrhoeal Disease in Relation to Possible Household Risk Factors in South African Villages
Diarrhoeal disease is a significant contributor to child morbidity and mortality, particularly in the developing world. Poor sanitation, a lack of personal hygiene and inadequate water supplies are known risk factors for diarrhoeal disease. Since risk factors may vary by population or setting, we evaluated the prevalence of diarrhoeal disease at the household level using a questionnaire to better understand household-level risk factors for diarrh…
Current and Potential Future Seasonal Trends of Indoor Dwelling Temperature and Likely Health Risks in Rural Southern Africa
Climate change has resulted in rising temperature trends which have been associated with changes in temperature extremes globally. Attendees of Conference of the Parties (COP) 21 agreed to strive to limit the rise in global average temperatures to below 2 °C compared to industrial conditions, the target being 1.5 °C. However, current research suggests that the African region will be subjected to more intense heat extremes over a shorter time peri…
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Diarrhoeal Disease in Relation to Possible Household Risk Factors in South African Villages
Diarrhoeal disease is a significant contributor to child morbidity and mortality, particularly in the developing world. Poor sanitation, a lack of personal hygiene and inadequate water supplies are known risk factors for diarrhoeal disease. Since risk factors may vary by population or setting, we evaluated the prevalence of diarrhoeal disease at the household level using a questionnaire to better understand household-level risk factors for diarrh…
Current and Potential Future Seasonal Trends of Indoor Dwelling Temperature and Likely Health Risks in Rural Southern Africa
Climate change has resulted in rising temperature trends which have been associated with changes in temperature extremes globally. Attendees of Conference of the Parties (COP) 21 agreed to strive to limit the rise in global average temperatures to below 2 °C compared to industrial conditions, the target being 1.5 °C. However, current research suggests that the African region will be subjected to more intense heat extremes over a shorter time peri…
Household Fuel Use for Heating and Cooking and Respiratory Health in a Low-Income, South African Coastal Community
In low-income communities, non-electric fuel sources are typically the main cause of Household Air Pollution (HAP). In Umlazi, a South African coastal, informal settlement, households use electric- and non-electric (coal, wood, gas, paraffin) energy sources for cooking and heating. The study aimed to determine whether respiratory ill health status varied by fuel type use. Using a questionnaire, respondents reported on a range of socio-demographic…
A Study Protocol to Determine Heat-Related Health Impacts among Primary Schoolchildren in South Africa
Climate models predict that the global average temperature of Earth will rise in the future. Studies show that high classroom temperatures can affect the ability of the student to learn and function. It is important to understand the impact that heat will have on the health, wellbeing, and academic performance of learners, as they spend a significant amount of time in classrooms compared to any other environment. A follow-up panel study among 20 …
Classroom Temperature and Learner Absenteeism in Public Primary Schools in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
Children spend a significant proportion of their time at school and in school buildings. A healthy learning environment that supports children should be thermally conducive for learning and working. Here, we aimed to study the relations between indoor classroom temperatures and learner absenteeism as a proxy for children's health and well-being. This one-year prospective study that spanned two calendar years (from June 2017 to May 2018) entailed …
Lagged Association between Climate Variables and Hospital Admissions for Pneumonia in South Africa
Pneumonia is a leading cause of hospitalization in South Africa. Climate change could potentially affect its incidence via changes in meteorological conditions. We investigated the delayed effects of temperature and relative humidity on pneumonia hospital admissions at two large public hospitals in Limpopo province, South Africa. Using 4062 pneumonia hospital admission records from 2007 to 2015, a time-varying distributed lag non-linear model was…
Waste Disposal Practices in Low-Income Settlements of South Africa
Domestic solid waste is rapidly increasing due to accelerated population growth and urbanization. Improper waste disposal poses potential health risks and environmental concerns. Here, we investigated waste disposal practices in relation to household/dwelling characteristics in South African low-income communities. Data for 2014 to 2019 from a community-orientated primary care program were analyzed using logistic regression. Families who reported…
The Association between Apparent Temperature and Hospital Admissions for Cardiovascular Disease in Limpopo Province, South Africa
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have a high disease burden both globally and in South Africa. They have also been found to be temperature-sensitive globally. The association between temperature and CVD morbidity has previously been demonstrated, but little is known about it in South Africa. It is important to understand how changes in temperature in South Africa will affect CVD morbidity, especially in rural regions, to inform public health interv…
Applying a Wash Risk Assessment Tool in a Rural South African Setting to Identify Risks and Opportunities for Climate Resilient Communities
Climate change threatens the health and well-being of populations. We conducted a risk assessment of two climate-related variables (i.e., temperature and rainfall) and associated water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)-related exposures and vulnerabilities for people living in Mopani District, Limpopo province, South Africa. Primary and secondary data were applied in a qualitative and quantitative assessment to generate classifications of risk (i.e.…
Respiratory health among adolescents living in the Highveld Air Pollution Priority Area in South Africa
Adolescents living in air polluted areas experience adverse health impacts Future research should interrogate long-term exposure and health outcomes among adolescents living in the air polluted environment
Perceptions of thermal comfort and coping mechanisms related to indoor and outdoor temperatures among participants living in rural villages in Limpopo province, South Africa
Global heating is considered one of the greatest threats to human health and well-being. Supporting human resilience to heating threats is imperative, but under-investigated. In response, this article reports a study that drew together results from quantitative data on perceptions of thermal comfort and mechanisms for coping with thermal discomfort among 406 households in a study in Giyani, Limpopo province. Indoor dwelling and outdoor temperatur…
Developing a Healthy Environment Assessment Tool (Heat) to Address Heat-Health Vulnerability in South African Towns in a Warming World
Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can cause heat-related illnesses and accelerate death, especially in the elderly. We developed a locally-appropriate Healthy Environment Assessment Tool, or 'HEAT' tool, to assess heat-health risks among communities. HEAT was co-developed with stakeholders and practitioners/professionals from the Rustenburg Local Municipality (RLM), a setting in which heat was identified as a risk in an earlier study. Feedb…
Analyzing the effects of drought at different time scales on cause-specific mortality in South Africa
South Africa (SA) is highly vulnerable to the effects of drought on the environment, economy, and society. However, its effect on human health remains unclear. Understanding the mortality risk associated with different types of droughts in different population groups and by specific causes would help clarify the potential mechanisms involved. The study aims to comprehensively assess the effect of droughts of varying time scales on cause-specific …
Social-ecological-resilience enablers among youth residing in the air polluted Highveld Priority Area of South Africa
Young people living in low-income settlements face numerous challenges ranging from violence to polluted environments. However, many of them find ways in which to overcome these challenges for their own growth and development. These 'ways' are known as resilience-enablers. We studied the resilience enablers of 240 adolescents living in the highly air polluted area in South Africa. Using the draw-and-write technique, this qualitative study entaile…
Heat Adaptation Benefits for Vulnerable groups In Africa (Habvia)
Pan African Clinical Trials Registry (PACTR) PACTR202401521630856, version 1. Retrospectively registered on January 12, 2024
Medicine (13 works) · Environmental health (12 works) · Geography (10 works) · Climate Change and Health Impacts (9 works) · Environmental Science (9 works) · Air Quality and Health Impacts (5 works) · Socioeconomics (5 works) · Confidence interval (4 works) · Ecology (4 works) · Environmental resource management (4 works)