{
  "abstract": "Objectives Climate change poses significant public health challenges globally, particularly in vulnerable regions such as The Gambia. Despite growing recognition of environmental impacts, limited research has examined community-level awareness of climate change health effects in West African settings. This study aimed to assess household awareness and perceptions of climate change impacts on public health among vulnerable communities in the North Bank Region, The Gambia and identify socio-demographic determinants of climate change awareness.Design and setting In this study, we conducted a community-based cross-sectional study. Using multistage sampling, we selected 35 communities across seven districts. Data were collected via structured questionnaires administered in local languages (Mandinka, Wolof, Fula) using KoboToolbox.Participants This study was conducted among 868 residents aged ≥18 years in the North Bank Region between January and February 2024.Results Overall, 85.7% (n=744) of respondents had heard about climate change, with radio (53.6%) being the primary information source. Participants demonstrated high awareness of certain climate hazards, such as excessive heat (76.4%) and altered rainfall patterns (55.2%), but less so for other hazards, such as flooding (30.3%). Respondents correctly identified multiple health impacts to health and livelihoods, including heat stress (65.8%), dehydration (57.3%), respiratory diseases (73.6%), waterborne diseases (59.0%) and crop failure (86.4%). Multivariable analysis revealed that older age (>39 years: adjusted OR (aOR)=2.50, 95% CI 1.49 to 4.21) and tertiary education (aOR=3.93, 95% CI 1.50 to 10.30) were independent predictors of climate change awareness. Approximately 77% of participants reported experiencing climate change effects in their communities within the past 5 years.Conclusion This first comprehensive assessment of climate-health awareness in the North Bank Region of The Gambia reveals substantial community recognition of climate change and its health consequences. Significant disparities in awareness by age and educational attainment indicate that targeted educational interventions focused on younger populations and those with limited formal education are warranted.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "School of Public & Environmental Health, University of Education The Gambia, Brikama, West Coast Region, Gambia",
        "Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Bakary Kinteh"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "School of Public & Environmental Health, University of Education The Gambia, Brikama, West Coast Region, Gambia"
      ],
      "name": "Lamin Darboe"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "School of Public & Environmental Health, University of Education The Gambia, Brikama, West Coast Region, Gambia"
      ],
      "name": "Mansour Badjie"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "School of Public & Environmental Health, University of Education The Gambia, Brikama, West Coast Region, Gambia"
      ],
      "name": "Modou S Gaye"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Research and Consultancy Unit, University of Education The Gambia, Brikama, West Coast Region, Gambia"
      ],
      "name": "Sheriff Ceesay"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Ministry of Health, Republic of the Gambia, Banjul, Gambia"
      ],
      "name": "Amadou Kongira"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "School of Public & Environmental Health, University of Education The Gambia, Brikama, West Coast Region, Gambia",
        "Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, Gambia"
      ],
      "name": "Sheikh Omar Sillah"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Public and Environmental Health, University of The Gambia, Faraba, West Coast Region, Gambia",
        "Department of Epidemiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Amadou Barrow"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Community awareness of climate change and its public health impacts in the North Bank Region, The Gambia: a community-based cross-sectional study",
  "uid": "141759ac-cd1b-57fe-b50e-dade8eb974dd"
}