Heat Emergencies: Perceptions and Practices of Community Members and Emergency Department Healthcare Providers in Karachi, Pakistan
This qualitative study explored the perceptions and practices of community residents and healthcare professionals in Karachi
Abstract
Heat waves are the second leading cause of weather-related morbidity and mortality affecting millions of individuals globally, every year. This qualitative study explored the perceptions and practices of community residents and healthcare professionals in Karachi with respect to identification and treatment of heat emergencies.
Study findings suggest that there is an awareness about heat emergencies among community members. Healthcare workers were found to have limited awareness about the signs and symptoms of heat emergencies and perceived the early recognition and treatment of heat emergencies as challenging. Poor quality of public healthcare services, inadequate training, and ineffective implementation of heat wave preparedness plans impede treatment in heat emergencies.
There is a need to carry out heat preventive actions that account for the socioeconomic challenges of the communities. This may inform heat prevention policies in communities facing longer and more intense hot spells.
This research was supported by the Research for Health in Humanitarian Crises (R2HC) Programme
Citation
Khan UR, Ahmed N, Naeem R, Khudadad U, Masud S, Khan NU, Razzak JA. Heat Emergencies: Perceptions and Practices of Community Members and Emergency Department Healthcare Providers in Karachi, Pakistan: A Qualitative Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Apr 29;18(9):4736. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18094736. PMID: 33946755; PMCID: PMC8125281.