P-64 Assessing community awareness and attitudes about climate change in the Vreed-En-Hoop area, Guyana

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among residents aged 25–54 years in the VreedEn-Hoop area. Data were collected from 115 randomly selected households using a structured questionnaire that was pilot tested and refined prior to final administration. The questionnaire was administered through interviewer-led and self-administered formats. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize levels of awareness and attitudes toward climate change, while chi-square tests assessed associations between awareness, attitudes, socioeconomic and demographic variables, and media exposure.

Results: The study revealed that although 99.1% of participants had heard of climate change, only 18.2% demonstrated an extensive or profound understanding, based on self-rated levels of awareness or knowledge. A substantial majority (85.2%) acknowledged climate change as a serious issue, and 71.3% recognized its association with increased mosquito-borne disease risk. However, 70.4% had never received educational materials or attended programmes on mosquito-borne diseases. Chi-square analysis demonstrated statistically significant associations between climate change awareness and education level, income, and media exposure, indicating that participants with higher education, higher income, and media access exhibited greater awareness and more positive attitudes toward climate change and its health impacts.

Conclusion: Although general awareness of climate change was high, in-depth understanding remained limited. Socioeconomic factors and media access significantly influenced awareness and attitudes. Targeted, culturally appropriate public health education interventions, such as the proposed Climate Resilience on the Move (CROM) programme, are needed to improve knowledge, promote adaptive behaviours, and strengthen climate resilience in coastal communities in Guyana.