Knowledge on Selected factors of Global Warming and its impact on health among Urban Residents of Bengaluru South

Laishram Dabashini Devi

Professor, Global college of Nursing, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.

*Corresponding Author Email: roshini999.bk@gmail.com

ABSTRACT:

Introduction: Global warming is one, which affected large portion of the general public health, it can be preventable. WHO says that youths, children’s and also the old age peoples are at risk for Global warming and its health impacts. As studies shown that causes for Global warming found more in urban area. Education plays a vital role in development of the human potential, through which we can achieve control and prevention of Global warming. It is the responsibility of each individual to take care of their health for which they should have adequate knowledge. Educating the urban people regarding prevention of Global warming plays a vital role in improving their knowledge level in preventing the Global warming. So, this study is intended to assess the knowledge of residents regarding Global warming and its prevention with a view to develop information booklet. The objectives are to assess knowledge and associate them with selected demographic variables, develop and provide an information booklet regarding Global warming and its prevention among residents. Methods: Research approach was used is descriptive approach which is an non-experimental design. The target population for the study were selected from Bangarappa Nagar area,PHC, Bengaluru South. This population was selected by convenient sampling technique. The total samples under the study were 200 residents (male and female). The data was collected by structured questionnaire schedule which was designed to assess the knowledge of residents regarding Global warming and it’s prevention. The results were described by using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The major findings of the study show that most (57.5%) of the respondents were in the age group of 20-30 years, followed by 28.5% in the age group of 30-40 years and 14% in the age group above 40 years. Majority (61%) of the respondents were males as compared to 39% of male respondents. Majority (41.5%) of the respondents had studied till lower secondary, followed by 18.5 % had completed primary school, 14% had done other type of education like ITI, Diploma, 10% were graduated,8.5% had done PUC and 7.5 had done higher secondary school. Majority (41.5%) of the respondents were private employee followed by 17% were government employee, 15.5% were having self employment,10.5 were having their own business, 8.5% were working in agriculture field and 7% of the respondents were working as kooli Majority (53%) of the respondents were married and (47%) of the respondents were unmarried. Majority (75%) of the respondents belonged to nuclear family, and 25% of the respondent belongs to joint family indicating the existence of joint families in the community. Majority (39.5%) of the respondents had family monthly income between Rs.1000- 5000, followed by 34.5% had Rs.5001- 10000,followed by 19% had 10001-15000 and 7% had income above 15000. The respondent’s mean knowledge score was 67.4 % in the aspect of general, meaning and causes, 41.5% in prevention aspect, 38.9% in impact on health, Among the demographic variables analyzed in the study, education found to have significant association with knowledge scores. And there was no significant association found between, marital status, per capita income, occupational status, type of family. Conclusion: The overall findings of the study clearly showed that the residents had moderate knowledge score (67.0%). It reveals that, if the residents are provided with some sort of educational interventions such as information booklets, modules on Global warming and it’s prevention will definitely brief up their knowledge, which in turn contributes to improve the total quality of one’s health.

KEYWORDS: Global warming, urban residents.

INTRODUCTION:

The 21^st century, often referred to as the era of globalization, was expected to make tremendous advancements in the field of science, technology and telecommunication. However, it saw an increased threat to global health. Unfortunately, this advanced science has contributed for global warming by diminishing air quality and degradation of food and water supplies to increasing levels of allergens and catastrophic weather events will affect human health. With this ever-increasing gap in the societal revenues, health for all cannot be simply achieved.¹ Global Warming is caused by the build up of gases in the atmosphere such as carbon dioxide and methane, which form a sort of blanket over the Earth, trapping in heat that would normally escape the atmosphere. Record levels of carbon dioxide are having a far reaching effect over our weather, sea levels and climate. Global warming is also sometimes referred to as the most dangerous happenings ever encountered. Global warming is mainly caused by human beings activities¹Most come from the combustion of fossil fuels in cars, factories and electricity production. The gas responsible for the most warming is CO2. Other contributors include methane released from landfills and agriculture (especially from the digestive systems of grazing animals), nitrous oxide from fertilizers, gases used for refrigeration and industrial processes, and the loss of forests that would otherwise store CO2.² India is vulnerable. We do not know what the full affect of radical climate change will be on our environment, but we do know that even a modest rise of 2° - 3° C could have dramatic effects.¹ Some foretell that in some places, temperatures could rise by up to 8 degrees by the end of this century!! Some cities will be in deep trouble. If cities like Delhi, Gwalior and Nagpur and Pune are seeing temperatures in the range of 40-49 degrees centigrade during the summers, just imagine how bad it can get thirty years from now! This summer has been one of Delhi’s hottest April. In April 2005 for example, the temperature in Delhi was not as high as it was this year…in fact Delhi was usually never as hot as it was this April.² The Global Warming has resulted in an increase in the earth’s surface temperatures, which has terrific effect on human health. Rapid melting of snow in the artic, rising of sea levels and erratic climate variations because of Global Warming can cause serious alterations to the eco system, as there would be changes in the vegetation.

Extreme events-floods, storms, droughts, and uncontained fires-can be devastating for health. Floods spread bacteria, viruses, and chemical contaminants, foster the growth of fungi, and contribute to the breeding of insects. Prolonged droughts interrupted by heavy rains, favor population explosions of both insects and rodents. Extreme weather events have been accompanied by new appearances of harmful algal blooms in Asia. Latin America and Asia by outbreaks of malaria and various water-borne diseases, such as typhoid, hepatitis A, bacillary dysentery, and cholera.³ Finally, changing temperatures and patterns of rainfall are expected to alter the geographical distribution of insect vectors that spread infectious diseases. Of these diseases, malaria and dengue are of greatest public health concern.³ What bothers me is how will a developing country like India cope with rising temperatures that will invariably affect food production? We may not have caused these greenhouse emissions, but its us who will have to cope with it. Is the government prepared at all? At this point of time we find it difficult to even dispose off our garbage… how in the world are we going to manage global warming?³The solution to this problem is by cultivating and encouraging the consumption of organic foods. Organic crops are grown without the addition of harmful pesticides, fertilizers, sewage sludge and human wastes. Encouraging the consumption of organic crops could reduce green house gas emissions to a considerable level, there by improving global health.¹The only thing I can think of as a layman is to start a strong people’s movement to create a greater awareness. And as to the real solutions, I am not sure I know. But its not something that India can do alone. Global warming is the phenomenon in which there has been an increase in the average temperature of the earth's atmosphere and oceans in last few decades, and its predictable extension. The increase in the earth’s average temperature can further cause other alterations, including an increasing sea level and alterations in the quantity and model of precipitation. These alterations may raise the incidence and concentration of tremendous weather proceedings, such as floods, famines, heat waves, storms, and cyclones.⁴ The rise in temperature is attributed to the effects of global warming has resulted in an increase in the earth’s surface temperatures, which has terrific effect on human health. Pollution from vehicles and power plants contribute a greater proportion of green house gases to the atmosphere. These green house gases acts as a thick blanket, trapping much of the sun’s heat, thus warming the earth. These pollutants also cause respiratory and cardio-vascular diseases in humans. Climate change may be to blame for some 150,000 deaths each year, with tropical places and poor countries being the most vulnerable. WHO estimated that by 2030, climate change could cause 300,000 deaths annually. Weather and climate have many effects on human health. Over 600,000 people died in weather-related disasters in the 1995 to 2008. Temperature and rainfall influence the frequency and rates of diseases such as diarrhoea, vector-borne infections and malnutrition, which together kill over 3.5 million a year.⁴ So the investigator rightly felt that the residents in this area should be adequately informed about global warming and its prevention.⁵

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

· To assess the knowledge of urban residents regarding selected factors of global warming and its impact on health.

· To find out the association between the knowledge of urban residents regarding selected factors of global warming and its impact on health and selected socio-demographic variables.

METHODOLOGY:

The descriptive design was used to assess the knowledge of residents regarding Global warming and its prevention in selected urban area of Bengaluru south. The study subjects were selected from Bangarappa Nagar PHC area, Bangalore south. The target population for the present study was people above the age group of 20 years, Bangarappa Nagar PHC area, Bengaluru south Sample. A sample consists of people above the age group of 20 (male and female) residing at Bangarappa Nagar PHC area, Bengaluru south. The sample size comprises of 200 peoples. The convenient sampling type was adopted for selecting samples for the present study. The tool consists of a structured questionnaire schedule. It is divided into 2 parts, they are as follows. Part I: This part of the tool consists of questions related to demographic data and it consists of 7 items. Part II: This part of the tool consists of items related to knowledge of resident regarding Global warming and its prevention. It consists of 31 items and those are objective type multiple choice questions that help in assessing their knowledge. Scoring of the Items. Each correct answer was given a score of ‘one’ and wrong answer a score of ‘zero’ respectively.

RESULTS:

Table 1: Distribution of respondents by age and gender N=200

Characteristics	Category	Respondents
Characteristics	Category	Number	Percent
Age Group	20-30	115	57.5
	30-40	57	28.5
	Above 40	28	14.0
Gender	Male	122	61.0
Gender	Female	78	39.0
Educational status	Primary	37	18.5
	Lower Secondary	83	41.5
	High school	15	7.5
	PUC	17	8.5
	Graduation and above	20	10
	Others	28	14
Occupational status	Agriculture	17	8.5
	Government	34	17
	Private	83	41.5
	Self employed	31	15.5
	Business	21	10.5
	Others	14	7.5
Marital status	Unmarried	94	47
Marital status	Married	106	53
Type of family	Nuclear	150	75
	Joint	50	25
	Extended	0	0
Family monthly income	Rs.1000-5000	79	39.5
	Rs.5001-10000	69	34.5
	Rs.10001-15000	38	19
	Above Rs.15000	14	17

Table 1 gives a description of classification of respondents by age and gender. Out of 200 respondents 57.5% (115) of the respondents are in the age of 20-30 years, 28.5% (57) of the respondents are in between the age of 30-40 years where as 14.0% (28) of the respondents are in between the age of above 40. Gender- Out of 200 respondents 61.0% (122) of the respondents were males as compared to 39% (78) of female respondents. (fig.3) Table 2 shows classification of respondents by educational status and occupation. Out of 200 respondents 8.5 % (17) of the respondents have studied up to PUC, 18.5% (37) up to primary school, 41.5% (83) up to lower school. 10.0% (20) were graduated and 7.5% (14) of the respondent had high school education, 14.0% (28) of the respondents had other type of education (Diploma, ITI), respondents by marital status, type of family and family monthly income. Out of 200 respondents 47% (94) of the respondents were unmarried and 53% (106) respondents were married, Out of 200 respondents Majority 75% (150) of the respondents were from nuclear family followed by 25 % (50) were from nuclear family, Further out of 200 respondents majority 39.5% (79) of the respondents had family monthly income of Rs. 1000-5000, 34.5 % (69) had family income between Rs.5001-10000, 19% (38) had family income between 10001-15000 and 7% (14) had family income above 15000.

Table 2: Classification of Respondents by overall knowledge level on global warming and its prevention

Knowledge Level	Category	Respondents
Knowledge Level	Category	Number	Percent (%)
Adequate	< 50% score	42	21.0
Moderate	50% - 75% score	141	70.5
Inadequate	>75% score	17	8.5
Total		200	100.0

Table 2 depicts classification of respondents by knowledge level on global warming and its prevention. It represents that out of 200 respondents 21.0(42) % of the respondents had adequate knowledge, 70.5(141) % of the respondents had moderate knowledge and 8.5%(17) of the respondents had inadequate knowledge on global warming and its prevention.

Table 3: Overall and Aspect wise mean knowledge scores of respondents on global warming and its prevention N =200

No.	Knowledge Aspects	Statements	Max. Score	Respondents Knowledge
No.	Knowledge Aspects	Statements	Max. Score	Mean	SD	Mean (%)	SD (%)
I	General, Meaning and causes	14	14	9.44	1.6	67.42	41.55
II	Impact on Health	07	07	3.8	1.5	54.28	38.96
III	Prevention	10	10	7.1	1.6	16.00	41.55
	OVER ALL	31	31	20.48	3.85	67.09	40.56

Table – 4: Association between age group and knowledge level of respondents on global warming and its prevention N=200

Age in Years	Sample (N)	Knowledge Level						Χ ²Value
		Adequate		Moderate		Inadequate
		N	%	N	%	N	%
20-30	115	25	21.7	82	71.3	8	6.9	3.69^NS
30-40	57	12	21	41	71.9	4	7
Above 40	28	5	17	18	64.2	5	17.8
Total	200	42		141		17

NS- Not Significant at 5% level X ² (0.05, 4df) = 9.49

Table 5: Association between gender and knowledge level of respondents on global warming and its prevention N=200

Gender	Sample (N)	Knowledge Level						X²value
		Adequate		Moderate		Inadequate
		N	%	N	%	N	%
Male	122	27	22.1	85	69.6	10	8.1	0.25^NS
Female	78	15	19.2	56	71.7	7	8.9
Total	200	42		141		17

NS- Not Significant at 5% level X ²(0.05, 2 df) = 5.99

TABLE 6: Association between educational status and knowledge level of respondents on global warming and its Prevention N=200

Educational Status	Sample (N)	Knowledge Level						X²value
		Adequate		Moderate		Inadequate
		N	%	N	%	N	%
Primary	37	10	27	25	67.5	2	5.4	19.2^*
Lower Secondary	83	20	24	52	62.6	11	13.2
High school	15	3	20	09	60	3	20.0
PUC	17	3	17.6	14	82.3	0	0
Graduation and above	20	2	10	18	90	0	0
Others	28	4	14.2	23	82	1	0.003
Total	200	42		141		17

*Significant at 5% level X ²(0.05, 10 df) = 18.31

Table 6 depicts the association between education and knowledge level of respondents on global warming and its prevention. Among 37 respondents educated till primary school, 27.6% (10) had adequate knowledge, 67.5% (25) had moderate knowledge and 5.4% (2) had inadequate knowledege. Among 83 respondents educated till lower secondary school, 24% (20) had adequate knowledge level, 62.6% (52) respondents had moderate knowledge level and 13.2% (11) had inadequate knowledge. Among 15 respondents with high school qualification, 20 % (03) had adequate knowledge level, 60.0% (9) had moderate knowledge level and 20.0% (3) had inadequate knowledge level. Among 17 respondents with PUC qualification, 17.6% (3) had adequate knowledge, 82.3% (14) had moderate knowledge. Further, 20 graduated respondents 10% (10) had adequate knowledge, 90.0% (18) had moderate knowledge. Among 28 respondents with other qualification, 14.2% (4) had adequate knowledge 82.0% (23) had moderate knowledge and 0.003% (01) had inadequate knowledge level. Hence, the value of X² is found to be significant at 5% level (X² = 19.2* P<0.05). It indicates that there is significant association between knowledge and the respondent’s education. (fig.11).

Table 7 depicts the association between occupation and knowledge level of respondents global warming and its Prevention. Among 17 respondents with Agriculture occupation, 5.8% (01) had adequate knowledge, 88.2% (15) had moderate knowledge and 5.8%(1) had inadequate knowledge level. Among 34 respondents with Government occupation, 20.5% (07) had adequate knowledge, 76.4% (26) had moderate knowledge and 2.9%(1) had inadequate knowledge. Among 83 respondents with private job 24.0% (20) had adequate knowledge level, 65.0 % (54) respondents had moderate knowledge level and 10.8% (9) and inadequate knowledege. Among 31 self employed respondents 22.5% (07) had adequate knowledge level, 67.7% (21) had moderate knowledge level and 9.6% (3) had inadequate knowledge. In case of 21 respondents with business as occupation, 14.2% (03) had inadequate knowledge and 71.4% (15) had moderate knowledge and 14.2% (3) had inadequate knowlede. Further, among 14 unemployed respondents, 57.7% (15) inadequate knowledge level and 42.3% (11) had moderate knowledge level. among 14 other working group respondents, 57.7% (15) adequate knowledge level and 42.3% (11) had moderate knowledge level. Hence, the value of X² is found to be non- significant at 5% level (X² = 5.60^NS, P>0.05). It indicates that there is no significant association between knowledge and the respondent’s income.

Table 8 depicts Association between marital status and knowledge level of respondents on global warming and its prevention. Among 94 unmarried respondents 23.4% (22) respondents were found to be having adequate knowledge level, 69.1% (65) of unmarried respondents possessed moderate knowledge level and 7.4% (7) of unmarried respondents possessed inadequate. Further among 106 married respondents 18.8% (20) respondents who possessed adequate knowledge while 71.6% (76) of married respondents found to have moderate knowledge and 9.4% (10) of married respondents possessed inadequate. Hence, the value of X² is found to be not significant at 5% level (X² = 4.38* P>0.05). It indicates that there is no significant association between knowledge and the respondent’s marital status.

Table 7: Association between occupational status and knowledge level of respondents on global warming and its prevention N=200

Occupational status	Sample (N)	Knowledge Level						X ²value
		Adequate		Moderate		Inadequate
		N	%	N	%	N	%
Agriculture	17	1	5.8	15	88.2	1	5.8	8.39^NS
Government	34	7	20.5	26	76.4	1	2.9
Private	83	20	24	54	65	9	10.8
Self employed	31	7	22.5	21	67.7	3	9.6
Business	21	3	14.2	15	71.4	3	14.2
Others	14	4	28.5	10	71.4	0	0
Total	200	42		141		17

NS: Non-Significant at 5% level, X ² (0.05, 10 df) = 18.31

Table 8: Association between marital status and knowledge level of respondents on global warming and its prevention N=200

Marital Status	Sample (N)	Knowledge Level						χ ²value
		Adequate		Moderate		Inadequate
		N	%	N	%	N	%
Unmarried	94	22	23.4	65	69.1	7	7.4	0.76^NS
Married	106	20	18.8	76	71.6	10	9.4
Total	200	42		141		17

NS: Not Significant at 5% level X ²(0.05, 2 df) = 5.99

Table 9: Association between type of family and knowledge level of respondents on global warming and its prevention N=200

Type of Family	Sample	Knowledge Level						X ²value
		Adequate		Moderate		Inadequate
		N	%	N	%	N	%
Nuclear	150	31	20.6	106	70.6	13	8.6	0.05^NS
Joint	50	11	22	35	70	4	8
Extended	00	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	200	42		141		17

NS: Non-Significant at 5% level, X ² (0.05, 2 df ) = 5.99

Table 10: Association between family monthly income and knowledge level of respondents on global warming and its prevention N=200

Family monthly income	Sample	Knowledge Level						X ²value
		Adequate		Moderate		Inadequate
		N	%	N	%	N	%
Rs.1,000-5000	79	17	21.5	55	69.6	7	8.8	7.78^NS
Rs.5001-10000	69	17	24.6	43	62.3	9	13
Rs.10001-15000	38	5	13.5	32	84.2	1	2.6
Above Rs.15000	14	3	21.4	11	78.5	0	0
Total	200	42		141		17

NS- Not Significant at 5% level X ²(0.05, 6 df) = 12.59

Table 9 shows Association between type of family and knowledge level of respondents on global warming and its Prevention. Among 150 respondents from nuclear family, 20.6% (31) had adequate knowledge level,70.6% (106) had moderate knowledge level and 8.6% (13) had inadequate knowledge level. Further among 50 respondents from joint family 22% (11) had adequate knowledge level, 70% (35) had moderate knowledge level and 8% (4s) had inadequate knowledge level. Hence, the value of X² is found to be non- significant at 5% level (X² = 0.168 ^NS, P>0.05). It indicates that there is no significant association between knowledge and the respondent’s type of family.

Table 10 shows the association between family monthly income and knowledge level of respondents on global warming and its Prevention. It shows that among 63 respondents with family income between 1000- 5000, 21.5% (17) had adequate knowledge level while 69.6% (55) had moderate knowledge level and 8.8% (7) had inadequate knowledge level. among 69 respondents with family income between 5001- 10000, 24.6% (17) had adequate knowledge level while 62.3% (43) had moderate knowledge level and 13% (9) had inadequate knowledge level, among 38 respondents with family income between 10001- 15000, 13.5% (5) had adequate knowledge level while 84.2% (32) had moderate knowledge level and 2.6% (1) had inadequate knowledge level. Further, among 14 respondents with family income above 15000, 21.4% (3) respondents had adequate knowledge level and 78.5% (11) had moderate knowledge level. Hence, the value of X² is found to be not significant at 5% level (X² = 3.89* P>0.05). It indicates that there is no significant association between knowledge and the respondent’s income.

CONCLUSION:

The study concluded that the need of an awareness among the community on global warming. The residents willingly participated in the study. The study was based on the Health promotion model. It provides a comprehensive systematic framework to assess knowledge of residents regarding Global warming and its prevention.

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Received on 13.06.2023 Modified on 02.07.2023

Asian J. Nursing Education and Research. 2023; 13(3):203-208.

DOI: 10.52711/2349-2996.2023.00043