Environmental risk perception of mothers and presence of risk factors in rural and urban areas in Adana, Turkey

YALÇIN S. S., Kesen G. G., Dogan B. G., YALÇIN S., Vaizoglu S. A., YURDAKÖK K.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH, vol.32, no.10, pp.2350-2358, 2022 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 32 Issue: 10
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/09603123.2021.1963687
  • Journal Name: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, PASCAL, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, CINAHL, Educational research abstracts (ERA), EMBASE, Environment Index, Food Science & Technology Abstracts, Geobase, MEDLINE, Pollution Abstracts, Veterinary Science Database
  • Page Numbers: pp.2350-2358
  • Keywords: Environment, risk perception, mothers, HEALTH LITERACY, AIR-POLLUTION, AWARENESS, DETERMINANTS, STUDENTS, CHINA
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

This cross-sectional study with an open-ended manner aimed (1) to evaluate the environmental risk perception levels of mothers having at least one child and living in Adana and (2) to determine their awareness of the risk factors in their environment. Of mothers, 30.2% did not know the concept of environmental risk factor. Most frequent perceived risks were violence (17%), air pollution (15.5%) and undefined pollution (15%). The most common mentioned problems in their environment were air pollution (9.9%), violence (7.9%) and municipal service problems (8.4%). Mothers living in the urban area reported more violence, air pollution and undefined pollution as environmental threats than those living in the countryside. The place of residence, the education level of the mother and the number of people in the house significantly were related with the risk perception. There is a need for studies in other regions to determine the environmental literacy of mothers.