Assessing Household Adaptive Capacity to Heatwaves in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Abstract

Background: Heat waves represent a growing climate risk in Sahelian cities, where households' adaptive capacities remain severely constrained by socioeconomic inequalities and housing conditions. Aim: This study analyses the adaptation strategies implemented, as well as the levels and determinants of households' adaptive capacity to extreme heat in the city of Ouagadougou. Study Design: Household survey combined with quantitative statistical analysis. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the City of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, year 2025. Methodology: The data come from a survey of 421 households. A composite adaptive capacity index was constructed using principal component analysis (PCA) followed by hierarchical clustering (HAC), supplemented by multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) to identify household profiles. Results: Adaptation strategies are dominated by behavioural responses, used by more than 80% of households, such as modifying activity schedules, increasing water consumption, or using outdoor spaces for sleeping. Conversely, material strategies remain limited due to economic constraints, as more than 54% of households have less than 100,000 FCFA per month. The analysis highlights that nearly two-thirds of households have a low to moderate adaptive capacity, reflecting high vulnerability to extreme heat events. Conclusion: The study highlights that adaptation to heat waves in Ouagadougou relies largely on reactive rather than structural strategies, heavily constrained by socioeconomic inequalities. The determinants of adaptive capacity are strongly linked to income, education, age, employment status, and type of neighbourhood.