Investigating Health Professionals Understanding And Risk Perception Of The Effect Of Climate Change On Health. A Cross-Sectional Study Of Health Professionals At The Sda Hospital, Regional Hospital And Municipal Hospital-Sunyani, Ghana.

The study investigated health professionals understanding and risk perception of climate change in the Sunyani Municipality by focusing on health professionals knowledge on climate change, examining health professionals risk perception of climate change on health and identifying the co-benefits of climate change mitigation. This quantitative oriented cross-sectional study randomly selected 400 health professionals across the Regional Hospital, SDA Hospital and Municipal Hospital as respondents. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS Version 25. From the study, the results indicate that Health professionals are fully aware of the concept of climate change. Health professionals do not have knowledge pertaining to the scientific aspects of climate change. There was a statistical relationship between respondents perception that climate change can lead to death (P<0.001) and their awareness of the risk of climate change impact on health. There was a general likelihood of an increase in malaria (Mean=2.98), Dengue fever (Mean=3.16), Cholera (Mean= 3.18), schistosomiasis (Mean=3.27), Meningococcal meningitis (Mean=3.85) and Influenza (Mean=3.73) due to climate change. These actions positively affect health and climate and they include: Giving up red meat (Mean=3.21), Walking and cycling instead of using cars (Mean=3.27), Reducing rural-urban migration (Mean=3.46), Reducing air pollution from emission of fossil fuel (Mean=3.63). A majority of 65% of respondents agreed to the incorporation of climate change related course work into nursing/medical school curricula as a policy to mitigate climate change. The study concludes that health professionals are fully aware about climate change but lack a thorough understanding of the scientific aspects of climate change. The general risk perception of health professionals towards climate change impact on health was high. Climate change mitigation is beneficial to human populations.