Adolescents Perception on Environmental Change and Health Risk in Two Divisions of Bangladesh

Abstract

Bangladesh is facing and will have to face all the direct and indirect impacts of environmental change because of its geographical position. It is one of the developing countries susceptible to environmental disaster where almost each and every year environmental change is affecting the human health in a multi-dimensional way. The linkages between health and environmental change are mediated by the complex interactions of population, society and environmental systems. The objective of this study was to explore adolescents' perception on environmental change and health risk in two divisions of Bangladesh. Our analysis is based on quantitative data collection utilizing structured questionnaires. Simple random sampling was used to have a good representation of population. Total sample size of this study was 437. For the analysis of quantitative data both descriptive and inferential statistics were carried out based on the basis of study objectives. Most of the respondents (98.3%) stated that environmental change is causing serious health problems in Bangladesh. Majority respondents in Dhaka division perceived that there is an increase in the number of diseases during the summer and respondents in Rajshahi division perceived that number of diseases occur in all three seasons. The study observed that high level of awareness programmes will help to increase the success of different programmes initiated by the government to prevent diseases related to environmental change. Adolescents are aware about the environmental change that is taking place and causing health problems. The most influential factor on such awareness was the excess to receive information those who have information everyday had more knowledge about environmental change and its impact on health. Therefore to increase the knowledge and perception of health problems related to environmental change we need to arrange awareness programme, ensure excess to information and more research in this area.

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