A Study On Health Risk Perception Of Heat Wave And Relative Adaptation Behaviors Among The Public In Guangdong Province

Objective To comprehend the risk perception and adaptation behaviors towards heat wave among the public in Guangdong province, and to explore the related factors that influence the risk perception of heat wave for providing scientific basis to policy makers.Methods Multi-stage stratified random sampling method was used to select the household sample. Then, a household member aged 15～69 years was determined using KISH table in each household to complete the questionnaire. Chi-square test was used to compare the rate between sample and t-test or analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare means between different groups. General liner model was applied to analyze the related risk factors of risk perception.Results1. There were 2121 respondents that participated in the study:1108 males and 1013 females, 1042 from urban area and 1079 from rural area. There was no significant difference in age distribution between the sample and the total population of Guangdong province.2. Of the respondents,38.62% reported that they knew about heat wave and 82.65% thought the weather became hotter in recent years as compare to the previous years in their community. The mean score of the risk perception in related to heat wave among the resident was 4.22. The percentage of the respondents that thought heat wave was not dangerous at all, less dangerous, somewhat dangerous, dangerous, more dangerous, very dangerous, and extremely dangerous to the health of oneself was 3.96%,10.80%,9.67%,37.06%,18.76%,13.20%,6.55%, respectively.3. As the result of general linear model, the related factors that influence the risk perception of heat wave included area (β=0.34,95%CI=0.22-0.47), age (β=0.13, 95%CI=0.08-0.19), education (β=0.01,95%CI=0.00-0.01), the knowledge of heat wave (p=-0.25,95%CI=-0.43--0.07), the risk character of heat wave (p=0.11,95%CI=0.10～0.12), worldview (p=-0.45,95%CI=-0.60～0.30), trust (p=0.04,95%CI=0.01-0.08)4. During the period of heat wave, the most common adaptation behaviors adopted by public were drinking more fluids(87.22%), opening the windows for ventilation (71.29%), avoiding the outdoor (59.32%), resting in the shade (53.18%), decreasing activity (45.12%), dressing appropriately (43.99%), using sun umbrella, sun cream and et al (42.95%), multi-bath (35.03%), seeking an air-conditioned location(30.36%).Conclusion The public in Guangdong province have insufficient knowledge about the impact heat wave can cause and they perceived heat wave as a moderate risk to their health. It was essential to improve the adaption behaviors among public. To reduce heat related mortality and injure, risk communication measures should be taken to increase the risk perception and adaption behaviors in related to heat wave among public.