morbidity and mortality. Considering perception, we find that the urban respondents
assume that they are highly vulnerable to the effects of heat waves as compared to
the peri-urban respondents. The peri-urban respondents perceive higher severity of
heat waves effects than the urban respondents.
Under the wake of increasing risk of heat waves in Pakistan, electronic media,
i.e., radio and television are the important sources for disseminating information
and generating awareness among the vulnerable masses. Easy and low cost access
to radio and television makes it possible to build capacity of the masses in relation
to heat waves. Social and family networks are also important factors in building
capacity of households on heat waves. The need is to devise policies to generate
awareness and build knowledge of the key individuals in the social circle. Religious
and local leaders have an important role in this direction and training and building
capacity of such individuals would also help to achieve objectives of minimizing
morbidity and mortality due to heat waves in the coming years.
References
Akompab, D. A., Bi, P., Williams, S., Grant, J., Walker, A. I., & Augoustinos, M. (2013).
Awareness of and attitudes towards heat waves within the context of climate change among a
cohort of residents in Adelaide, Australia. International Journal of Environment Research and
Public Health, 10, 1–17.
Carvalho, A. (2007). Ideological cultures and media discourses on scientific knowledge:
Re-reading news on climate change. Public Understanding of Science, 16, 223–243.
Chowdhury, P. D., Haque, C. E., & Driedger, S. M. (2012). Public versus expert knowledge and
perception of climate change induced heat wave risk: A modified mental model approach.
Journal of Risk Research, 15, 149–168.
Das, S., & Smith, S. C. (2012). Awareness as an adaptation strategy for reducing mortality from
heat waves: Evidence from a disaster risk management program in India. SANDEE Working
Paper, 72–12.
Deressa, T. T., Hassan, R. M., & Ringler, C. (2011). Perception of and adaptation to climate
change by farmers in the Nile basin of Ethiopia. The Journal of Agricultural Science, 149,
23–31.
Deutsche Presse Agentur. (2007). Heat wave claims 40 more lives in Pakistan. Available online at
http://reliefweb.int/report/pakistan/heatwave-claims-40-more-lives-pakistan
Dole, R., Hoerling, M., Perlwitz, J., Eischeid, J., Pegion, P., Zhang, T., et al. (2011). Was there a
basis for anticipating the 2010 Russian heat wave? Geophysical Research Letters, 38, 1–5.
Falco, S. D., Veronesi, M., & Yesuf, M. (2011). Does adaptation to climate change provide food
security? A micro perspective from Ethiopia. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 93,
829–846.
Hansen, A., Bi, P., Nitschke, M., Pisaniello, D., Newbury, J., & Kitson, A. (2011). Perceptions of
heat-susceptibility in older persons: Barriers to adaptation. International Journal of
Environmental Research and Public Health, 8, 4714–4728.
Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) 2011. Government of Pakistan. Available
athttp://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/pslm/publications/hies10_11/complete_report.pdf,
Accessed August 2015.
Kosatsky, T., Dufresne, J., Richard, L., Renouf, A., Giannetti, N., Bourbeau, J., et al. (2009). Heat
awareness and response among Montreal residents with chronic cardiac and pulmonary
disease. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 100, 237–240.
Knowledge, Perception and Socioeconomic Vulnerability …
201
assume that they are highly vulnerable to the effects of heat waves as compared to
the peri-urban respondents. The peri-urban respondents perceive higher severity of
heat waves effects than the urban respondents.
Under the wake of increasing risk of heat waves in Pakistan, electronic media,
i.e., radio and television are the important sources for disseminating information
and generating awareness among the vulnerable masses. Easy and low cost access
to radio and television makes it possible to build capacity of the masses in relation
to heat waves. Social and family networks are also important factors in building
capacity of households on heat waves. The need is to devise policies to generate
awareness and build knowledge of the key individuals in the social circle. Religious
and local leaders have an important role in this direction and training and building
capacity of such individuals would also help to achieve objectives of minimizing
morbidity and mortality due to heat waves in the coming years.
References
Akompab, D. A., Bi, P., Williams, S., Grant, J., Walker, A. I., & Augoustinos, M. (2013).
Awareness of and attitudes towards heat waves within the context of climate change among a
cohort of residents in Adelaide, Australia. International Journal of Environment Research and
Public Health, 10, 1–17.
Carvalho, A. (2007). Ideological cultures and media discourses on scientific knowledge:
Re-reading news on climate change. Public Understanding of Science, 16, 223–243.
Chowdhury, P. D., Haque, C. E., & Driedger, S. M. (2012). Public versus expert knowledge and
perception of climate change induced heat wave risk: A modified mental model approach.
Journal of Risk Research, 15, 149–168.
Das, S., & Smith, S. C. (2012). Awareness as an adaptation strategy for reducing mortality from
heat waves: Evidence from a disaster risk management program in India. SANDEE Working
Paper, 72–12.
Deressa, T. T., Hassan, R. M., & Ringler, C. (2011). Perception of and adaptation to climate
change by farmers in the Nile basin of Ethiopia. The Journal of Agricultural Science, 149,
23–31.
Deutsche Presse Agentur. (2007). Heat wave claims 40 more lives in Pakistan. Available online at
http://reliefweb.int/report/pakistan/heatwave-claims-40-more-lives-pakistan
Dole, R., Hoerling, M., Perlwitz, J., Eischeid, J., Pegion, P., Zhang, T., et al. (2011). Was there a
basis for anticipating the 2010 Russian heat wave? Geophysical Research Letters, 38, 1–5.
Falco, S. D., Veronesi, M., & Yesuf, M. (2011). Does adaptation to climate change provide food
security? A micro perspective from Ethiopia. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 93,
829–846.
Hansen, A., Bi, P., Nitschke, M., Pisaniello, D., Newbury, J., & Kitson, A. (2011). Perceptions of
heat-susceptibility in older persons: Barriers to adaptation. International Journal of
Environmental Research and Public Health, 8, 4714–4728.
Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) 2011. Government of Pakistan. Available
athttp://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/pslm/publications/hies10_11/complete_report.pdf,
Accessed August 2015.
Kosatsky, T., Dufresne, J., Richard, L., Renouf, A., Giannetti, N., Bourbeau, J., et al. (2009). Heat
awareness and response among Montreal residents with chronic cardiac and pulmonary
disease. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 100, 237–240.
Knowledge, Perception and Socioeconomic Vulnerability …
201