group (43.6 %). As a result, peri-urban respondents are relatively poor compared to
urban respondents and thus they have less means to take precautionary measures
against heat waves.
3.2 Access to Health Facilities
Information about access to health facilities for family member and relatives/friends
is given in Table 2. The access to such facilities by family members and friends is a
means of information exchange as well in the study area which in turn leads to
increase in knowledge about the severity and impact of heat waves. Moreover, the
distance from a nearest healthcare center and numbers of visits by health workers
are important factors in creating awareness among the respondents. The results
indicate that urban respondents have 2.12 relatives/friends who are working in
health department whereas in case of peri-urban areas, this ratio is 0.80. The distance to a healthcare center in the urban area was less in terms of time required to
reach (11 min) as compared to the peri-urban areas (18.73 min). This is basically
due to the presence of better infrastructure within urban areas. On the other hand,
average number of visits by health workers is almost same in both the areas.
3.3 Knowledge About Heat Waves and Its Sources
Respondents were prompted to share the mode of information about the forthcoming problems related to heat waves. These sources are shown in Fig. 1. In the
urban areas, television and/or radio are found to be the main source (68 %
responses) for getting information about heat waves. Family and friends are source
of information for 27 % respondents; others (24 %), internet (21 %), and newspapers (16 %) respondents. The other sources include experience, intensity of heat,
etc. Similarly, in the peri-urban areas, television/radio are the main source of
information as it was cited by 58 % respondents, family/friends (24 %), others
(21 %), newspapers (18 %), and internet was the least source of information
reported by the respondents (7 %).
Table 2 Availability of health facilities for the respondents
Characteristics
Units
Urban
Peri-urban
Family members in health department
No. (SD)
0.32 (0.71)
0.75 (5.98)
Relatives in health department
No. (SD)
2.12 (3.90)
0.80 (1.22)
Distance to a health center
Minutes (SD)
11.00 (7.51)
18.73 (13.53)
Visits of health workers per year
No. (SD)
3.32 (2.66)
3.69 (4.15)
196
K. Bakhsh et al.
urban respondents and thus they have less means to take precautionary measures
against heat waves.
3.2 Access to Health Facilities
Information about access to health facilities for family member and relatives/friends
is given in Table 2. The access to such facilities by family members and friends is a
means of information exchange as well in the study area which in turn leads to
increase in knowledge about the severity and impact of heat waves. Moreover, the
distance from a nearest healthcare center and numbers of visits by health workers
are important factors in creating awareness among the respondents. The results
indicate that urban respondents have 2.12 relatives/friends who are working in
health department whereas in case of peri-urban areas, this ratio is 0.80. The distance to a healthcare center in the urban area was less in terms of time required to
reach (11 min) as compared to the peri-urban areas (18.73 min). This is basically
due to the presence of better infrastructure within urban areas. On the other hand,
average number of visits by health workers is almost same in both the areas.
3.3 Knowledge About Heat Waves and Its Sources
Respondents were prompted to share the mode of information about the forthcoming problems related to heat waves. These sources are shown in Fig. 1. In the
urban areas, television and/or radio are found to be the main source (68 %
responses) for getting information about heat waves. Family and friends are source
of information for 27 % respondents; others (24 %), internet (21 %), and newspapers (16 %) respondents. The other sources include experience, intensity of heat,
etc. Similarly, in the peri-urban areas, television/radio are the main source of
information as it was cited by 58 % respondents, family/friends (24 %), others
(21 %), newspapers (18 %), and internet was the least source of information
reported by the respondents (7 %).
Table 2 Availability of health facilities for the respondents
Characteristics
Units
Urban
Peri-urban
Family members in health department
No. (SD)
0.32 (0.71)
0.75 (5.98)
Relatives in health department
No. (SD)
2.12 (3.90)
0.80 (1.22)
Distance to a health center
Minutes (SD)
11.00 (7.51)
18.73 (13.53)
Visits of health workers per year
No. (SD)
3.32 (2.66)
3.69 (4.15)
196
K. Bakhsh et al.