Perceptions about the health impact of climate change in a rural Nepalese community: A cross-sectional study

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