“We are used to this”: a qualitative assessment of the perceptions of and attitudes towards air pollution amongst slum residents in Nairobi

BMC Public Health

Nawi Ng¹  Joacim Rocklov¹  Elizabeth Kimani-Murage²  Thaddaeus Egondi¹  Kanyiva Muindi¹ 

[1] Epidemiology and Global Health Unit, Umeå University, SE-901 85 Umeå, Sweden;African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), Nairobi, Kenya

关键词: Slums;    Nairobi;    Attitudes;    Perceptions;    Air pollution;   

Others  :  1132361
DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2458-14-226

 received in 2013-09-24, accepted in 2014-02-27,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

Background

People’s perceptions of and attitudes towards pollution are critical for reducing exposure among people and can also influence the response to interventions that are aimed at encouraging behaviour change. This study assessed the perceptions and attitudes of residents in two slums in Nairobi regarding air pollution.

Methods

We conducted focus group discussions with residents aged 18 years and above using an emergent design in the formulation of the study guide. A thematic approach was used in data analysis.

Results

The discussions revealed that the two communities experience air pollution arising mainly from industries and dump sites. There was an apparent disconnect between knowledge and practice, with individuals engaging in practices that placed them at high risk of exposure to air pollution. Residents appear to have rationalized the situation in which they live in and were resigned to these conditions. Consequently, they expressed lack of agency in addressing prevalent air pollution within their communities.

Conclusions

Community-wide education on air pollution and related health effects together with the measures needed to reduce exposure to air pollution are necessary towards reducing air pollution impacts. A similar city-wide study is recommended to enable comparison of perceptions along socio-economic groups and neighbourhoods.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Muindi et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

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