HIGH Horizons (Heat Indicators for Global Health) Study

HIGH Horizons: Heat Indicators for Global Health.  Monitoring, Early Warning Systems and health facility interventions for pregnant and postpartum women, infants and young children and health workers.

Rationale

The HIGH Horizons Study is designed to address critical knowledge gaps regarding the direct and indirect effects of heat exposure on maternal, newborn, and child health. As climate change exacerbates heat risks, pregnant women, infants, and healthcare workers are identified as particularly vulnerable. The study aims to quantify and monitor these impacts, developing strategies to protect these populations. By focusing on these groups as sentinel populations, the project tracks climate change’s effects, adaptations, and co-benefits, ensuring the health of future generations.

Study Overview

The HIGH Horizons Study investigates the effects of extreme heat on vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, postpartum women, infants, young children, and healthcare workers. The project focuses on developing an Early Warning System (EWS) using a smartphone app to deliver individualized heat stress warnings. The study also aims to raise awareness about climate change adaptation strategies and implement health facility interventions to protect those at greatest risk.

Primary Objectives

• Identify cost-effective, integrated adaptation and mitigation interventions to alleviate the impact of heat on health workers and reduce healthcare-associated carbon emissions.
• Develop and implement a monitoring system to assess the global, national, and district-level health impacts of extreme heat on pregnant women and infants, specifically in Europe and sub-Saharan Africa.
• Create and test an Early Warning System (EWS) through a smartphone app to deliver real-time heat stress warnings, specifically targeting pregnant women, infants, and healthcare workers.

Secondary Objectives

• Evaluate the effectiveness of interventions in improving health outcomes for pregnant women, infants, and health workers by reducing heat exposure.
• Raise awareness about climate change adaptation strategies and improve community responses to heat-related health risks.