Grant: Catalyst Grant: CPHO Report - Institute of Gender & Health

Adverse health outcomes related to heat exposure are a growing public health concern. While everyone is susceptible to heat, certain populations are more vulnerable to its effects. Recently, research has turned to constructing heat vulnerability indices (HVI) to assess heat risk from a vulnerability perspective. These indices combine information on heat exposure and population vulnerability to map areas of highest risk and prioritize mitigation efforts. However, previous HVIs have largely overlooked the impact of sex and gender on heat vulnerability. Our proposed project aims to address this gap in knowledge by constructing a sex and gender-informed HVI using a hierarchical spatial Bayesian model for the urban area of Montreal. The study will assess the effect modification of the HVI on the association between heat and mortality, explore any sex differences in the results obtained from the HVI analysis and determine the relative importance of gender-related indicators in assessing heat risk. We will consider a wide range of structural, social, and environmental determinants of health, including household status, income, and green spaces. The proposed research has significant public health implications, as it will inform policy and interventions to reduce the risk of adverse health outcomes related to heat exposure, particularly for vulnerable populations. By identifying the sex and gender differences in heat vulnerability, we will provide a more nuanced understanding of the differential effects of heat exposure on men and women. Furthermore, by using a hierarchical spatial Bayesian model, we will overcome some of the limitations of previous HVIs that have used principal component analysis, such as the inability to account for hierarchical structures and gender-specific indicators.