Knowledge and Beliefs regarding Climate Change among Pregnant Women Attending Outpatient Clinics

Mahmoud Abdelrahman, Walaa; Said Abo El Ella Hassan, Eman; Sabry Hassan, Rabab; Abdel Mongy Ismail, Basma; M-Nabil Aboushady, Reda

doi:10.21608/ejhc.2024.373238

Knowledge and Beliefs regarding Climate Change among Pregnant Women Attending Outpatient Clinics

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Lecturer of Maternal and Newborn Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Cairo University, Egypt & Assistant professor of Maternity Nursing at the College of Nursing, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS) and King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.

² Lecturer of Maternal and Newborn Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Cairo University, Egypt

³ Colleague of University Hospitals, family and community health nursing department, Menoufia University, Egypt.

⁴ Assistant Professor of Maternal and Newborn Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Cairo University, Egypt.

10.21608/ejhc.2024.373238

Abstract

Background: Climate change is considered a significant global health problem of the 21^st century. It is significant associated with risk to women, pregnant mothers, unborn fetuses, and offspring who were exposed in utero to climate stressors, especially those in marginalized communities where effects are magnified. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and beliefs toward climate change among pregnant women. Design: A descriptive research design was utilized for the current study. Sample: A convenience samples of 100 pregnant women were recruited. Setting: The study was conducted at outpatient clinics at Menoufia University Hospital. Tools of Data Collection: Three tools were used; 1) Structured Interviewing Questionnaire, 2) Women Knowledge related Climate Change Tool, And 3) Likert Beliefs Scale regarding Climate Change. Result: Findings of the current study revealed that, the mean age of the study sample was 26.68 ± 4.25 years old. More than half of pregnant women had satisfactory level of knowledge and positive beliefs toward climate change. In addition, there is statistical significant differences between level of knowledge and beliefs categories toward climate change with p< 0.001. Conclusion: the study findings concluded that majority of the study sample had satisfactory level of knowledge toward climate change and positive beliefs toward it. Recommendation: Raising awareness of pregnant women toward climate change and its impact on their babies through health education is essential for all women.

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