Perception of urban residential community in Ho Chi Minh City about the health risks caused by inundation

Abstract

Inundation is one of the environmental issues attracting social concern in Ho Chi Minh City. Up to now, the number of inundated places reduces mainly in the central area, while the number of inundated places in the suburb area tends to increase. Inundation results in negative impacts on the socio-economic development of city, life and activities of people and the health of community, etc. Research on perception of urban residential community on health risks caused by inundation is a necessary undertaking as it is an impotant factor affecting people’s motivation in carrying out their responses. This study was conducted in Binh Thạnh District, Binh Tan District and Binh Chanh District with the total sample of 458 households. Those three districts represents the central, suburb and rural areas of Ho Chi Minh City. The study utilizes both quantitative and qualitative approaches to analyze the perception of people on inundation in residential places, relationship between inundation and disease, susceptibility and severity of heath risk. To reduce health risks caused by inundation in Ho Chi Minh City, media about disease prevention programs need to pay more concern on the specific characteristics of local environment, personal situations and the difference of people’s perception on susceptibility and severity of diseases.