Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90032, USA.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Sep 4;19(17):11090. doi: 10.3390/ijerph191711090.
Little is known of how low-income residents of urban heat islands engage their knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and resources to mitigate the health impacts of heat waves. In this qualitative study, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 40 adults in two such neighborhoods in Los Angeles California to explore their adaptation resources and behaviors, the impacts of heat waves on physical and mental health, and threat assessments of future heat waves. Eighty percent of participants received advanced warning of heat waves from television news and social media. The most common resource was air conditioning (AC) units or fans. However, one-third of participants lacked AC, and many of those with AC engaged in limited use due primarily to the high cost of electricity. Adaptation behaviors include staying hydrated, remaining indoors or going to cooler locations, reducing energy usage, and consuming certain foods and drinks. Most of the participants reported some physical or mental health problem or symptom during heat waves, suggesting vulnerability to heat waves. Almost all participants asserted that heat waves were likely to increase in frequency and intensity with adverse health effects for vulnerable populations. Despite limited resources, low-income residents of urban heat islands utilize a wide range of behaviors to minimize the severity of health impacts, suggesting they are both vulnerable and resilient to heat waves.
城市热岛中的低收入居民在减轻热浪对健康的影响方面，其知识、态度、行为和资源的利用情况鲜为人知。在这项定性研究中，我们在加利福尼亚州洛杉矶的两个这样的社区中对 40 名成年人进行了半结构化访谈，以探讨他们的适应资源和行为、热浪对身心健康的影响，以及对未来热浪的威胁评估。80%的参与者通过电视新闻和社交媒体提前得知热浪的到来。最常见的资源是空调（AC）设备或风扇。然而，三分之一的参与者没有空调，而那些有空调的人也主要由于电费高昂而很少使用。适应行为包括保持水分摄入、待在室内或去更凉爽的地方、减少能源使用以及食用某些食物和饮料。大多数参与者在热浪期间报告了一些身体或精神健康问题或症状，这表明他们易受热浪影响。几乎所有参与者都断言，随着热浪的频率和强度增加，弱势群体将受到不利的健康影响。尽管资源有限，但城市热岛中的低收入居民还是利用了广泛的行为来最大程度地降低健康影响的严重程度，这表明他们对热浪既脆弱又有弹性。
