Potential Behavioral and Societal Responses to Human Health Risks Resulting from Climate Change in Kawaala, Kampala Suburb in Uganda

Abstract

Climate change poses greater human health risks associated with its impacts, bringing urban and peri-urban populations into disarray. The study investigated (a) the relationship between climate change impacts and human health risks, (b) gender aspects associated with human health risks, and (c) the survival tactics and response mechanisms to human health risks resulting from climate change impacts. It targeted a population of 1500 residents of Kawaala and randomly selected 234 respondents. The findings show that there is a significant relationship between climate change impacts, and human health risks, with [r (189) = 0.67], P< 0.05. Erratic heavy rains posed more human health risks [Mean = 1.500, SD .50107] accompanied by prolonged dry spells [Mean = 1.4316, SD = .49636] followed by floods [Mean = 1.1368, SD = .34432] which had serious effects on children, women and the elderly. These result in building wooden bridges and using flying toilets while respondents preferred to stay indoors during flooding as opposed to moving to higher grounds immediately. Significant variations existed between residents who preferred staying out of floodwaters, avoiding driving through flooded areas, staying away from power lines and electrical wires and turning off electricity and gas during flooding. Climate change impacts were viewed as significant predictors for reduced availability of water for drinking, cooking and hygiene evidenced by the (R square = .618, adjusted R, = .792, F= 62.386) while rising temperatures increased the spread of malaria in some locations. A high regression value of 33.217 compared to the residual 19.700 was obtained, meaning that climate change impacts explain at least 79% of the variation of the risk of water stress in the area.