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Extreme Heat and Health: Perspectives from Health Service Providers in Rural and Remote Communities in South Australia

Author

Listed:
  • Susan Williams

    (Discipline of Public Health, School of Population Health, The University of Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia)

  • Peng Bi

    (Discipline of Public Health, School of Population Health, The University of Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia)

  • Jonathan Newbury

    (Discipline of Rural Health, School of Population Health, The University of Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia)

  • Guy Robinson

    (Centre for Regional Engagement, University of South Australia, 111 Nicolson Avenue, Whyalla South Australia 5608, Australia)

  • Dino Pisaniello

    (Discipline of Public Health, School of Population Health, The University of Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia)

  • Arthur Saniotis

    (Discipline of Public Health, School of Population Health, The University of Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia)

  • Alana Hansen

    (Discipline of Public Health, School of Population Health, The University of Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia)

Abstract

Among the challenges for rural communities and health services in Australia, climate change and increasing extreme heat are emerging as additional stressors. Effective public health responses to extreme heat require an understanding of the impact on health and well-being, and the risk or protective factors within communities. This study draws on lived experiences to explore these issues in eleven rural and remote communities across South Australia, framing these within a socio-ecological model. Semi-structured interviews with health service providers ( n = 13), and a thematic analysis of these data, has identified particular challenges for rural communities and their health services during extreme heat. The findings draw attention to the social impacts of extreme heat in rural communities, the protective factors (independence, social support, education, community safety), and challenges for adaptation (vulnerabilities, infrastructure, community demographics, housing and local industries). With temperatures increasing across South Australia, there is a need for local planning and low-cost strategies to address heat-exacerbating factors in rural communities, to minimise the impact of extreme heat in the future.

Suggested Citation

  • Susan Williams & Peng Bi & Jonathan Newbury & Guy Robinson & Dino Pisaniello & Arthur Saniotis & Alana Hansen, 2013. "Extreme Heat and Health: Perspectives from Health Service Providers in Rural and Remote Communities in South Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-19, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:10:y:2013:i:11:p:5565-5583:d:29965
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Smoyer, Karen E., 1998. "Putting risk in its place: methodological considerations for investigating extreme event health risk," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 47(11), pages 1809-1824, December.
    2. Harlan, Sharon L. & Brazel, Anthony J. & Prashad, Lela & Stefanov, William L. & Larsen, Larissa, 2006. "Neighborhood microclimates and vulnerability to heat stress," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(11), pages 2847-2863, December.
    3. Alana Hansen & Peng Bi & Monika Nitschke & Dino Pisaniello & Jonathan Newbury & Alison Kitson, 2011. "Perceptions of Heat-Susceptibility in Older Persons: Barriers to Adaptation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 8(12), pages 1-15, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Alina Herrmann & Rainer Sauerborn, 2018. "General Practitioners’ Perceptions of Heat Health Impacts on the Elderly in the Face of Climate Change—A Qualitative Study in Baden-Württemberg, Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-21, April.
    2. Jan C. Semenza, 2014. "Climate Change and Human Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-7, July.
    3. An Vu & Shannon Rutherford & Dung Phung, 2019. "Heat Health Prevention Measures and Adaptation in Older Populations—A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-22, November.
    4. Katarzyna Kocur-Bera & Szymon Czyża, 2023. "Socio-Economic Vulnerability to Climate Change in Rural Areas in the Context of Green Energy Development—A Study of the Great Masurian Lakes Mesoregion," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-24, February.

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