Liu Tao, Xu Yan Jun, Zhang Yong Hui, Yan Qing Hua, Song Xiu Ling, Xie Hui Yan, Luo Yuan, Rutherford Shannon, Chu Cordia, Lin Hua Liang, Ma Wen Jun
Guangdong Provincial Institute of Public Health, Panyu District, Guangzhou 511430, China.
BMC Public Health. 2013 Oct 2;13:913. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-13-913.
In many parts of the world, including in China, extreme heat events or heat waves are likely to increase in intensity, frequency, and duration in light of climate change in the next decades. Risk perception and adaptation behaviors are two important components in reducing the health impacts of heat waves, but little is known about their relationships in China. This study aimed to examine the associations between risk perception to heat waves, adaptation behaviors, and heatstroke among the public in Guangdong province, China.
A total of 2,183 adult participants were selected using a four-stage sampling method in Guangdong province. From September to November of 2010 each subject was interviewed at home by a well-trained investigator using a structured questionnaire. The information collected included socio-demographic characteristics, risk perception and spontaneous adaptation behaviors during heat wave periods, and heatstroke experience in the last year. Chi-square tests and unconditional logistic regression models were employed to analyze the data.
This study found that 14.8%, 65.3% and 19.9% of participants perceived heat waves as a low, moderate or high health risk, respectively. About 99.1% participants employed at least one spontaneous adaptation behavior, and 26.2%, 51.2% and 22.6% respondents employed <4, 4-7, and >7 adaptation behaviors during heat waves, respectively. Individuals with moderate (OR=2.93, 95% CI: 1.38-6.22) or high (OR=10.58, 95% CI: 4.74-23.63) risk perception experienced more heatstroke in the past year than others. Drinking more water and wearing light clothes in urban areas, while decreasing activity as well as wearing light clothes in rural areas were negatively associated with heatstroke. Individuals with high risk perception and employing <4 adaptation behaviors during heat waves had the highest risks of heatstroke (OR=47.46, 95% CI: 12.82-175.73).
There is a large room for improving health risk perception and adaptation capacity to heat waves among the public of Guangdong province. People with higher risk perception and fewer adaptation behaviors during heat waves may be more vulnerable to heat waves.
在世界许多地区，包括中国，鉴于未来几十年的气候变化，极端高温事件或热浪的强度、频率和持续时间可能会增加。风险认知和适应行为是减少热浪对健康影响的两个重要组成部分，但在中国，它们之间的关系鲜为人知。本研究旨在探讨中国广东省公众对热浪的风险认知、适应行为与中暑之间的关联。
采用四阶段抽样方法在广东省共选取了2183名成年参与者。2010年9月至11月，由一名训练有素的调查员使用结构化问卷在每位受试者家中进行访谈。收集的信息包括社会人口学特征、热浪期间的风险认知和自发适应行为，以及过去一年的中暑经历。采用卡方检验和无条件逻辑回归模型对数据进行分析。
本研究发现，分别有14.8%、65.3%和19.9%的参与者将热浪视为低、中或高健康风险。约99.1%的参与者至少采取了一种自发适应行为，在热浪期间，分别有26.2%、51.2%和22.6%的受访者采取了<4种、4 - 7种和>7种适应行为。过去一年中，中度（OR = 2.93，95%CI：1.38 - 6.22）或高度（OR = 10.58，95%CI：4.74 - 23.63）风险认知的个体比其他人经历了更多的中暑情况。在城市地区多喝水和穿轻薄衣物，而在农村地区减少活动以及穿轻薄衣物与中暑呈负相关。在热浪期间风险认知高且采取<4种适应行为的个体中暑风险最高（OR = 47.46，95%CI：12.82 - 175.73）。
广东省公众在热浪健康风险认知和适应能力方面有很大的提升空间。在热浪期间风险认知较高且适应行为较少的人群可能更容易受到热浪的影响。
