The Swiss Center for Scientific Research (CSRS) in Ivory Coast hosted the closing session of the project "Social media and public perceptions of heat in the city of Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire," funded by the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits Rhi), based in Johannesburg, South Africa. 

Led by Dr. Iba DELY, the project aims to understand people's perceptions through the frequency and effects of heat waves in the city of Abidjan as reported on social media. The ultimate goal is to define the temperature thresholds at which people are likely to heed heat alerts. 

Heat waves are considered a health risk and are likely to increase in frequency, intensity, and duration due to climate change. One solution to limit the health effects of heat waves is prevention through early warning systems. However, implementing this type of system requires a good understanding of people's perceptions, knowledge, attitudes, practices, and beliefs about heat. 

However, in Africa, research on public perceptions of the impact of heat waves on health is scarce, and studies using social media data are sorely lacking.

At the outset, the Director General of the CSRS, Prof. Koné Inza, expressed his enthusiasm for the workshop, whose theme—global warming—is a reality that affects the well-being and health of populations. He also congratulated the technical and financial partners, as well as the team led by Prof. Cissé Guéladio, head of the HE²AT project, which is part of a drive for excellence. He added: “Excellence is not just a distinction, it is hard work, perseverance, and ethics! Excellence is not achieved, it is strived for!” He expressed his hope that the conclusions of this project would fuel reflection and, above all, lead to resilient actions. 

Following on from this, Dr. DElY Iba, who led the study, presented the different stages of the project, the methodology, and the results obtained.

 The findings show that the first signs of high heat on social media users are:

- Complaints of discomfort (difficulty sleeping, etc.)

•         Difficulty sleeping (heat-related insomnia)
•         Feelings of suffocation 
•         Excessive sweating causing constant discomfort
•        Recurrent headaches and migraines during hot periods
•        Fatigue 
•        Irritability and anxiety

-Concerns about high temperatures 

-Fear of an increase in heat-related illnesses (dehydration, hypertension).

-Concern for vulnerable groups (children, the elderly, people with chronic illnesses).

-Concern about disruption to daily and professional activities.

-Concerns about increased water and electricity bills

-Humorous messages and advertising messages

Analysis of social media data indicates that the period between January and May corresponds to the hottest months of the year. This trend is corroborated by the results of the household survey, reinforcing the validity of the observations.

The vigilance threshold is set at a perceived temperature of 37.2°C. The alert threshold is reached at 38.5°C, the enhanced alert threshold at 39.2°C, and finally the emergency threshold is reached at 39.9°C.

The compelling results of this study elicited strong reactions from the audience, which included community stakeholders, researchers, and representatives from the Ministry of Communication, the Ministry of Digital Transition and Digitalization, and institutions such as SODEXAM, INS, and WHO Africa, who were present both in the room and online during the question-and-answer session. 

Several proposals have emerged, including extending the study to enhance its relevance by broadening the analysis to include the impact on certain diseases such as diabetes and HIV/AIDS. 

Indeed, it is becoming increasingly clear that analyzing social media data and online search behavior can provide useful information on the link between heat and health. Some studies, including one in India, have shown that increased heat-related exchanges on social media correlate with heat-related mortality much better than traditional climate-based indicators. The daily volume of Twitter users and messages has proven to be a valuable indicator of the impact of heat waves at the local level in urban areas.

For Professor Cissé Guéladio, data from SODEXAM, a key partner in the fight against climate change in Côte d'Ivoire, is an essential source. However, he emphasized that social media is also a relevant means of gathering information, as it reflects people's perceptions. He confirmed that this study is part of a broader effort to develop various tools and carry out several simultaneous actions to establish an effective warning system, which is a key objective of the HE²AT project. 

This project illustrates a model of collaboration between the Swiss National Science Foundation and Péléforo Gon Coulibaly University, represented at the workshop by Professor Vanga.

The closing remarks were delivered by Professor Cissé Gueladio, project leader of HE²AT. 

In the general context of climate change, an increase in heat waves is projected, which could impact the health of populations in Côte d'Ivoire. These results will ultimately contribute to the development of an early warning system for heat in the city of Abidjan.

K3A