Population Perception of Climate Change and its Effects on Health in the Biyem Assi Health District, Cameroon
Abstract:
Climate change is posing growing threats to global public health and security of the vulnerable population. The adverse effects on human health are enormous and understanding factors associated with awareness and its health impacts is essential for effective public health communication and intervention. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to assess population perception of climate change and its effects on human health in the Biyem Assi Health District. Sociodemographic variables, environmental factors, and access to information and resources were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential tests, including chi-square and multivariate logistic regression. Majority of respondents (96.2%) were aware of climate change. Awareness was significantly higher among individuals under 40 years (p = 0.003), those with higher education levels, and those exposed to climate-related health or environmental effects. Awareness was also significantly associated with understanding of its consequences, such as heatwaves, flooding, water scarcity, and local weather variability (all p < 0.05). Perception that climate change affects health was significantly associated with gender (p = 0.000), with all male respondents affirming the link compared to 81% of females. Respondents who believed in the health impacts of climate change were significantly more likely to report issues such as respiratory diseases, vector-borne illnesses, and diarrhoea (all p = 0.000). Climate change awareness in the study population is high but shaped more by informed perception, trusted information sources than by demographic characteristics. Public health strategies should prioritize accessible, community-based education that links climate change to health outcomes.References:
[1]. Romanello, M., Di Napoli, C., Drummond, P., et al., 2023, The 2023 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: the imperative for a health-centred response in a world facing irreversible harms. *Lancet*, 402(10417), 2346–2394, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01859-7
[2]. World Health Organization, 2008, Protecting health from climate change: World Health Day 2008. *Geneva: WHO*, https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2008/04/07/default-calendar/world-health-day-2008
[3]. Neira, M., Ballester, F., Bono, R., 2008, Climate change and public health: the known and the unknown. *European Journal of Public Health*, 18(3), 221, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckn060
[4]. IPCC, 2021, Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. *Cambridge: Cambridge University Press*, https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/
[5]. Masson-Delmotte, V., Zhai, P., Pirani, A., et al., 2021, Summary for Policymakers. In: Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. *Cambridge: Cambridge University Press*, https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_WGI_SPM_final.pdf
[6]. Ebi, K. L., Hess, J. J., 2020, Health risks due to climate change: Inequity in causes and consequences. *Health Affairs*, 39(12), 2056–2062, https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.01125
[7]. Watts, N., Amann, M., Arnell, N., et al., 2018, The 2018 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change. *Lancet*, 392(10163), 2479–2514, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)32594-7
[8]. World Health Organization, 2021, Climate change and health. *WHO Fact Sheet. Geneva: WHO*, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/climate-change-and-health
[9]. Van der Linden, S., Leiserowitz, A., Feinberg, G. D., Maibach, E., 2015, The scientific consensus on climate change as a gateway belief: Experimental evidence. *PLoS ONE*, 10(2), e0118489, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0118489
[10]. World Bank, 2022, Cameroon Climate Risk Country Profile. *Washington, DC: The World Bank Group*, https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/country/cameroon
[11]. Tchindjang, M., 2012, Climate risks in Cameroon: Vulnerability and adaptation options for the central African region. *Synthesis Report for UNDP Cameroon*, https://climatechange.cameroon.org/uploads/media/UNDP_Climate_Risk_Report_Cameroon.pdf
[12]. Haque, A., Ellahi, A., Usman, M., 2012, Impact of climate change on women: A case study of rural areas of Punjab, Pakistan. *World Applied Sciences Journal*, 16(4), 519–523.
[13]. Chevillard, J., Le Moullec, A., 2020, Mediatisation of climate change in Cameroon: a study of the media coverage of the COP21. *African Journalism Studies*, 41(4), 14–30, https://doi.org/10.1080/23743670.2020.1812177
[14]. Ndifon, N., Baysen, J., 2024, Awareness and Perception of Climate Change in Cameroon: A Case Study. *E-Palli Environmental Journal*, 4(2), 12–24.
[15]. Mordecai, E. A., Cohen, J. M., Evans, M. V., Gudapati, P., Johnson, L. R., Lippi, C. A., et al., 2017, Detecting the impact of temperature on transmission of Zika, dengue, and chikungunya using mechanistic models. *PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases*, 11(4), e0005568, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0005568
[16]. Associated Press, 2024, Cameroon landslide kills at least 27 after heavy rains. *AP News*, https://apnews.com/article/cameroon-landslide-2024
[17]. Lee, T. M., Markowitz, E. M., Howe, P. D., Ko, C.-Y., Leiserowitz, A. A., 2015, Predictors of public climate change awareness and risk perception around the world. *Nature Climate Change*, 5(11), 1014–1020, https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate2728
[18]. Milfont, T. L., 2012, The interplay between knowledge, attitudes, and behavior in environmental psychology. In: Steg, L., Van den Berg, A. E., De Groot, J. I. M., editors. *Environmental Psychology: An Introduction*. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, p. 151–160, https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119241072
[19]. Corner, A., Roberts, O., Chiari, S., Völler, S., Mayrhuber, E. S., Mandl, S., Monson, K., 2015, How do young people engage with climate change? The role of knowledge, values, message framing, and trusted communicators. *Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change*, 6(5), 523–534, https://doi.org/10.1002/wcc.353
[20]. Shi, J., Visschers, V. H. M., Siegrist, M., 2016, Public perception of climate change: The importance of knowledge and cultural worldviews. *Risk Analysis*, 36(2), 318–333, https://doi.org/10.1111/risa.12406
[21]. McCright, A. M., Dunlap, R. E., 2011, Cool dudes: The denial of climate change among conservative white males in the United States. *Global Environmental Change*, 21(4), 1163–1172, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2011.06.003
[22]. Zahran, S., Brody, S. D., Grover, H., Vedlitz, A., 2006, Climate change risk perception and policy preferences: The role of affect, imagery, and values. *Climatic Change*, 77(1), 45–72, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-005-0633-3
[23]. Myers, T. A., Maibach, E. W., Roser-Renouf, C., Akerlof, K., Leiserowitz, A. A., 2012, The relationship between personal experience and belief in the reality of global warming. *Nature Climate Change*, 2(7), 332–335, https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate1754
[24]. Maibach, E. W., Roser-Renouf, C., Leiserowitz, A., 2010, Communication and marketing as climate change–intervention assets. *American Journal of Preventive Medicine*, 35(5), 488–500, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2008.08.016
[25]. Watts, N., Amann, M., Arnell, N., et al., 2021, The 2021 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: Code red for a healthy future. *Lancet*, 398(10311), 1619–1662, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01787-6
[26]. Van der Linden, S., 2015, The social-psychological determinants of climate change risk perceptions: Towards a comprehensive model. *Journal of Environmental Psychology*, 41, 112–124, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2014.11.012
[27]. Corner, A., Lewandowsky, S., Phillips, M., Roberts, O., 2014, The uncertainty handbook: A practical guide for climate change communicators. *University of Bristol and Climate Outreach*, https://climateoutreach.org/reports/the-uncertainty-handbook/
[28]. Berry, H. L., Bowen, K., Kjellstrom, T., 2010, Climate change and mental health: A causal pathways framework. *International Journal of Public Health*, 55(2), 123–132, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-009-0112-0
[29]. Leiserowitz, A., Ballew, M., Rosenthal, S., Kotcher, J., Goldberg, M., Gustafson, A., 2020, Climate change in the American mind: December 2020. *Yale University and George Mason University*, https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/climate-change-in-the-american-mind-december-2020/
[30]. Sampei, Y., Aoyagi-Usui, M., 2009, Mass-media coverage, its influence on public awareness of climate-change issues, and implications for Japan’s national campaign to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. *Global Environmental Change*, 19(2), 203–212, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2008.10.005
