Knowledge attitudes and practice of university of Buea students on climate change
Benard Karachu, Mbunwe (2024)
2024
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024122037749
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024122037749
Tiivistelmä
Background: Climate change poses significant challenges globally, necessitating informed action from all sectors of society. According to the sixth Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, global surface temperature has risen approximately 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels. Developing countries, particularly those in sub-Sahara Africa, including Cameroon, are projected to experience disproportionately higher adverse effects of climate change. The knowledge and perception of people on climate change can have far-reaching consequences for their behavior towards its mitigation
Objective: This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of students at the University of Buea regarding climate change.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 141 students at the University of Buea using a structured questionnaire. The Raosoft online sample size calculator was used to determine the sample size for the study. Data were collected remotely using google forms, then exported to Microsoft excel for sorting and cleaning then later exported to statistical package for social science SPSS version 25 for analysis using methods to identify associations between socio-demographic characteristics and KAP regarding climate change
Results: The findings revealed that 59.9% of respondents had a basic understanding of climate change concepts. However, a significant portion (62.9%) exhibited poor practices related to climate change, with 60.3% never engaging in recycling and 89.4% rarely using renewable energy sources. The study found a significant association between educational level and climate change practices, while no significant association was observed between gender and attitudes towards climate change.
Conclusion: The study highlights a critical gap in the knowledge attitude and practices of University of Buea students regarding climate change. It underscores the need for enhanced educational programs and policies to promote sustainable practices and increase awareness among students. Future research should explore the effectiveness of targeted interventions to improve KAP related to climate change.
Objective: This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of students at the University of Buea regarding climate change.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 141 students at the University of Buea using a structured questionnaire. The Raosoft online sample size calculator was used to determine the sample size for the study. Data were collected remotely using google forms, then exported to Microsoft excel for sorting and cleaning then later exported to statistical package for social science SPSS version 25 for analysis using methods to identify associations between socio-demographic characteristics and KAP regarding climate change
Results: The findings revealed that 59.9% of respondents had a basic understanding of climate change concepts. However, a significant portion (62.9%) exhibited poor practices related to climate change, with 60.3% never engaging in recycling and 89.4% rarely using renewable energy sources. The study found a significant association between educational level and climate change practices, while no significant association was observed between gender and attitudes towards climate change.
Conclusion: The study highlights a critical gap in the knowledge attitude and practices of University of Buea students regarding climate change. It underscores the need for enhanced educational programs and policies to promote sustainable practices and increase awareness among students. Future research should explore the effectiveness of targeted interventions to improve KAP related to climate change.