Omanga Eunice, Ulmer Lisa, Berhane Zekarias, Gatari Michael
Impact Research and Development Organization, Kisumu, Kenya.
BMC Public Health. 2014 Apr 17;14:377. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-14-377.
Developing countries have limited air quality management systems due to inadequate legislation and lack of political will, among other challenges. Maintaining a balance between economic development and sustainable environment is a challenge, hence investments in pollution prevention technologies get sidelined in favor of short-term benefits from increased production and job creation. This lack of air quality management capability translates into lack of air pollution data, hence the false belief that there is no problem. The objectives of the study were to: assess the population's environmental awareness, explore their perception of pollution threat to their health; examine the association between specific health hazards.
A cross-sectional study was implemented by gathering quantitative information on demographic, health status, environmental perception and environmental knowledge of residents to understand their view of pollution in their neighborhood. Focus group discussions (FGDs) allowed for corroboration of the quantitative data.
Over 80% of respondents perceived industrial pollution as posing a considerable risk to them despite the fact that the economy of the area largely depended on the factory. Respondents also argued that they had not been actively involved in identifying solutions to the environmental challenges. The study revealed a significant association between industrial pollution as a risk and, perception of risk from other familiar health hazards. The most important factors influencing the respondents' pollution risk perception were environmental awareness and family health status.
This study avails information to policy makers and researchers concerning public awareness and attitudes towards environmental pollution pertinent to development and implementation of environmental policies for public health.
由于立法不完善以及缺乏政治意愿等诸多挑战，发展中国家的空气质量管理制度有限。在经济发展与可持续环境之间保持平衡是一项挑战，因此，污染预防技术的投资被搁置一旁，转而追求增加生产和创造就业带来的短期利益。这种空气质量管理能力的缺乏导致空气污染数据缺失，从而产生了不存在问题的错误观念。本研究的目的是：评估民众的环境意识，探究他们对污染对自身健康威胁的认知；研究特定健康危害之间的关联。
通过收集居民的人口统计学、健康状况、环境认知和环境知识等定量信息，开展了一项横断面研究，以了解他们对社区污染的看法。焦点小组讨论有助于证实定量数据。
尽管该地区的经济很大程度上依赖于工厂，但超过80%的受访者认为工业污染对他们构成了相当大的风险。受访者还表示，他们没有积极参与寻找环境挑战的解决方案。该研究揭示了工业污染作为一种风险与对其他常见健康危害的风险认知之间存在显著关联。影响受访者污染风险认知的最重要因素是环境意识和家庭健康状况。
本研究为政策制定者和研究人员提供了有关公众对与公共卫生环境政策的制定和实施相关的环境污染的认识和态度的信息。
