Background:
Climate Change is the biggest threat and challenge facing mankind.1 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) defines climate change as “a change of climate that is attributed directly or indirectly to human activities, that alters the composition of global atmosphere, and that is in addition to natural climate variability over comparable periods”.2 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) also defines climate change generally as “any change in climate overtime whether due to natural variability or as a result of human activity”.3
Natural processes as well as human engagements and activities contribute to the increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.4 This leads to the warming of the earth, a phenomenon termed global warming. The adverse effects of climate change can result in increased morbidity and higher health services utilization, among other things.5 Agricultural yields are also decreasing, which contributes to reduced production, availability, and access to food, especially in areas that are already deprived.5
Climate change poses a significant threat to human health and well-being, and in recognition of this, the Nigerian government developed the National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) in 2013, which was later revised in 2021, to address its impacts and promote mitigation and adaptation measures.6,7,8
In Nigeria, climate change is expected to exacerbate existing health problems such as malnutrition, malaria, and heat stress, as well as increase the risk of new health threats such as flooding and infectious diseases.9 Numerous reports further show that climate change has adverse effects on human health, such as increased rates of respiratory and heat-related illnesses, vector-borne and waterborne diseases, food and water insecurity, and malnutrition.10
There have been numerous efforts to mitigate the harmful effects of climate change on health, with health workers and public health professionals as key targets of various initiatives.5 The NCCP is an essential policy to guide Nigeria’s efforts to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change, but its success depends on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of key stakeholders, including health workers who play a critical role in the delivery of health services and the promotion of healthy behaviors in the community.11
The health sector, including health workers, has a crucial role to play in responding to the expected impacts of climate change on human health, as they are often the first point of contact for individuals seeking health care.12 It also has critical role to play in responding to this challenge by preparing health systems and communities for the expected impacts of climate change, and advocating for policy changes that promote health and sustainability.13 Research has shown that health workers are closer to the public and more trusted, especially on health issues.14 Thus, it is essential that health workers are well-informed about the national climate change policy in Nigeria to encourage active contributions in educating and protecting the public against the adverse effects of climate change on their health.
There is limited research and literature on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of health workers regarding the NCCP, which is essential for the development of effective interventions to promote the policy’s implementation in the health sector. Existing studies have focused on the general public, secondary school students and university students, but not specifically on health workers.15,16,17
The knowledge gap and dearth of information on this topic poses a significant challenge to the development of effective interventions to promote the implementation of the NCCP in the health sector. Therefore, there is a need for research that examines the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of health workers regarding the NCCP to identify gaps and develop interventions to promote its effective implementation. This can help to identify areas where training and capacity-building interventions are needed to enhance the knowledge and skills of health workers regarding the policy.
To address this gap, this study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of health workers in public hospitals in Kaduna metropolis regarding the NCCP. By doing so, the study seeks to contribute to the designing and development of appropriate and effective interventions to promote and improve the understanding and implementation of the NCCP in the health sector, ultimately contributing to efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change on human health in Nigeria, and improving public health outcomes in the face of climate change.
It will also provide an understanding of the awareness, knowledge, and practice of the national climate change policy among healthcare professionals, determine the extent to which they understand the link between climate change and health and their role in promoting the implementation of the policy, assess their level of preparedness to accurately inform the public about the relationship between climate change and their health, and encourage and motivate individuals and communities to adopt activities and lifestyles that contribute to reducing the adverse impact of human activities on the climate.
