| Issue/Objective |
Climate change and its ongoing effects remain a major planetary health challenge and an existential threat to the health and wellbeing of vulnerable communities in Africa. Little research has explored the knowledge and perspectives of rural African youth on the climate-health nexus. The present research sought to understand rural Ghanaian youth perspectives on how climate change influences health and how communities should respond. |
| Methodology/Approach |
We conducted a community based participatory research project with youth from a community in rural northern Ghana. The project involved 11 interviews and 4 Focus Group Discussions with youth aged 18 years and below. All data were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and imported to Nvivo 12 software for analysis using reflexive thematic analysis. Qualitative rigour was assured through a synthesized member checking where emerging findings were shared with participants for comment and refined. |
| Results |
A minority of participants had not heard about climate change and did not know about how it relates to health although many had heard about it and were beginning to be anxious about it. Through four main themes research participants articulated their perceptions on how climate change influences health in their communities including through flooding, food insecurity, air pollution and the increasing presence of chemicals in local food sources. Research participants also described the need for local governments to collaborate with youth to develop sustainable long-term solutions to mitigate the negative effects of climate change. Participants expressed concerns about how climate change would affect their health and highlighted the need for further incorporation of climate change education into the school curriculum. |
| Discussion/Conclusion |
Climate change continues to pose a major challenge to the health and wellbeing of vulnerable communities throughout Africa. Many youth in rural contexts are increasingly aware of the health impacts of climate change although high school curriculums need to further incorporate climate justice education. Many youth have interest to respond to climate change and its health consequences and desire further collaborations with local governments to develop community driven solutions. |
| Presenters and affiliations |
Jacob Alhassan University of Saskatchewan |
