P-63 The perception of climate change and its impact on health, among healthcare workers in Guyana
Author(s):
M Seepersaud, S Ishmael, F Forde, K Tiwari
Year of Presentation:
2026
Objective: Climate change is increasingly recognised as a
major determinant of health, yet the perceptions and preparedness of healthcare workers in developing countries
remain underexplored. Guyana is particularly vulnerable
to climate-health-related impacts, making the role of the
healthcare workers critical in adaptation and response. The
study sought to assess the awareness, beliefs and perceptions regarding climate change and health, of health workers
in Guyana.
Methods: A cross-sectional Likert-scale survey was developed, piloted and administered to healthcare workers at the main referral hospital in Guyana between September 1 and September 30, 2025. Convenience sampling was utilised. The survey explored perceived health impacts, professional responsibility, infrastructure concerns, and interests in further climate-health education. Descriptive analysis was conducted with categorical variables summarised as frequences and percentages.
Results: A total of 106 healthcare workers participated, including nurses, doctors, and pharmacists across a range of educational backgrounds. Awareness of climate change was nearly universal (97%); most respondents (93%) perceived changes in weather patterns, and most believed climate change affects health (95%). While a majority recognised climate change as a public health crisis (68%) and attributed it to human activity, perceptions of inevitability (53%) and personal agency (59.5%) varied. Healthcare workers strongly identified links between climate change and respiratory illness (83%), heat-related illness (91.5%), vectorborne disease (78%), and mental health, but fewer recognised associations with chronic non-communicable diseases (28%). Most respondents supported a role for healthcare providers in patient education (92%), advocacy, and emergency preparedness (92%), and nearly all (95%)expressed an interest in learning more about climate-health relationships.
Conclusion: Healthcare workers in Guyana exhibit high awareness of climate change and broad recognition of its relevance to health, particularly in relation to acute and environmentally mediated conditions. Strong support exists for healthcare provider involvement in patient education, advocacy, and emergency preparedness, highlighting professional readiness to engage with climate-health issues.