Assessment of awareness, attitudes, and practices of environmental health practitioners regarding ambient air pollution and its associated health effects in Namibia
Air pollution remains a significant global health threat, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations, including women, children, and the elderly, across all continents. HPs are often responsible for monitoring air quality and implementing guidelines to safeguard public health. This study assessed the environmental health practitioners' awareness, attitudes, and practices regarding ambient air pollution and its associated health effects in Namibia. Using a quantitative cross-sectional analytical design, data were collected from 66 out of 76 environmental health practitioners across all 14 Regions of Namibia, yielding an 86.8% response rate. A validated online questionnaire was used. Data were analysed using SPSS version 27. The results showed that about 6.7% of participants were aware of AAP and its associated health effects. Regarding attitudes, 59% of the respondents had a negative attitude towards AAP. 9 % always participated in preventative activities regarding AAP, while 66.7% indicated that they never got involved in awareness campaigns. There was a strong negative correlation (-0.71) between the awareness and attitudes towards AAP, and a weak negative correlation (-0.20) between the awareness and practices indicating that higher awareness of AAP does not lead to greater engagement. A weak positive correlation (0.30) between attitudes and practices implies that positive attitudes may encourage greater involvement with AAP prevention strategies. Demographic factors such as age, gender, education, and experience did not significantly influence EHPs’ attitudes toward ambient air pollution (AAP), highlighting the greater impact of systemic barriers like limited resources and unclear policies. Majority of EHPs did not prioritise AAP prevention strategies due to insufficient training and infrastructure. The study recommends continuous professional development and clear guidelines to better equip EHPs in addressing air pollution effectively
Ambient air, Ambient air pollution, Attitudes, Awareness, Environmental health practitioner, Pollution, Practices, Namibia, University of Namibia
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