PERCEPTIONS ABOUT THE HEALTH IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN A RURAL NEPALESE COMMUNITY: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
AMRIT BANSTOLA *
Department of Research and Training, Public Health Perspective Nepal, Milan Chowk, Hemja-8, Kaski, Nepal and Department of Public Health, School of Health and Allied Sciences, Pokhara University, Lekhnath, Kaski, Nepal
MUNI RAJ CHHETRI
Department of Public Health, School of Health and Allied Sciences, Pokhara University, Lekhnath, Kaski, Nepal
MARGARET STEBBING
Department of Research and Training, Public Health Perspective Nepal, Milan Chowk, Hemja-8, Kaski, Nepal and Department of Rural and Indigenous Health, School of Rural Health, Monash University, Australia
ASHIK BANSTOLA
Department of Research and Training, Public Health Perspective Nepal, Milan Chowk, Hemja-8, Kaski, Nepal and Department of Pharmacy, Valley College of Technical Sciences, Kathmandu, Nepal
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: The populations most vulnerable to climate change in Nepal are the poor living on the banks of rivers and in remote areas. Because rural communities closely observe local climatic patterns their perceptions of climate change and the associated health effects can be an important source of information for policy makers and communities to better anticipate, mitigate and adapt to the risks of changes in climate and climate events. The purpose of this research was to explore perceptions of climate change as a health risk among rural Nepalese of Kaski District.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 195 randomly selected respondents using a semi-structured questionnaire in wards number one, eight, and nine under the Sardikhola Village Development Committee (VDC) of Kaski District between September and December 2012.
Results: A large majority of respondents said that climate change poses a very serious or rather serious danger to health of their family (93%), followed by a serious danger/health impact to people in their community (92%). Increasing rates of serious disease (worldwide, 91%) and declines in the standard of living (worldwide, 88%) were viewed by respondents as the most likely consequences of climate change. Overall, 58% respondents perceived a lower risk of health impacts from climate change. Female respondents (57.1%) perceived higher risk than did male respondents (42.9%). Similarly, respondents aged under 24 years (45.2%), who were literate (97.6%) described other than agriculture as their occupation (54.8%) and had high income (61.9%) perceived greater risk of climate change on human health.
Conclusion: This study shows that respondents of the survey in Sardikhola perceive lower risk of health impacts due to climate change. Based on this initial study, it appears that it would be useful for the government and non-governmental organizations to build on this perception and promote actions that the populations can adopt to mitigate and adapt to the health effects of climate change. Surveys of rural populations and other-at risk populations in other districts could be conducted to compare their awareness of the health effects of climate change with that reported for Kaski District as a base for expanding adaptation and mitigation activities.
Keywords: Climate change, health risks, Nepal, perception, public health