Assessing the Knowledge about the Health Impacts of Climate Change Among the University Students in Islamabad, Pakistan

Abstract

Climate change is an issue on a global scale that carries serious consequences for the health of people. As future leaders and professionals, students at universities are the most important group in combating this crisis. Also, this research focused on expanding the understanding of climate change as it regards the health risks imposed on the people of Pakistan specifically youth from the universities of Islamabad. A cross-sectional study was conducted among students at the University of Islamabad who belonged to different faculties. In this case, a closed-ended questionnaire was used to obtain specific views related to students and their understanding of the root cause of climate change and its effects on the environment and health. Knowledge scores were categorized as "good" or "poor," and demographic factors such as age, gender, university affiliation, and academic programs were analyzed. Knowledge gaps were identified through responses to specific questions. Of the respondents, 89.4% demonstrated "good" knowledge, indicating high awareness of primary causes like deforestation (89.9%), industrial effluents (87.9%), and population growth (86.5%). Students also exhibited a strong awareness of environmental changes such as excessive heat (85.5%), glacier melting (84.5%), and rising sea levels (85.5%). However, knowledge gaps were noted in recognizing indirect health impacts, including mental health issues like anxiety and depression (83.1%), vector-borne diseases (79.7%), and conditions like skin cancer (80.2%) and scabies (80.7%). Demographic analysis revealed that students from public health and social sciences were better informed, while those from other disciplines exhibited lower awareness. Misconceptions were most evident in understanding lesser-discussed health impacts and climate phenomena such as waterlogging (82.1%) and wildfires (84.5%). While university students in Islamabad generally display high levels of awareness about the health impacts of climate change, significant knowledge gaps and misconceptions remain, particularly regarding indirect and systemic health effects. These findings emphasize the need for targeted educational interventions and interdisciplinary approaches to climate education.