Determinants of Knowledge, Attitudes, Perceptions and Behaviors Regarding Air Pollution in Schoolchildren in Pristina, Kosovo
Air pollution poses a significant public health challenge, and Kosovo, a low-middle-income country in the Balkan peninsula, suffers from particularly poor air quality, especially around the area of the capital Pristina. The availability of accurate and timely information is crucial in mitigating the...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Children |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/1/128 |
| _version_ | 1797344354818326528 |
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| author | Zana Shabani Isenaj Hanns Moshammer Merita Berisha Lisbeth Weitensfelder |
| author_facet | Zana Shabani Isenaj Hanns Moshammer Merita Berisha Lisbeth Weitensfelder |
| author_sort | Zana Shabani Isenaj |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Air pollution poses a significant public health challenge, and Kosovo, a low-middle-income country in the Balkan peninsula, suffers from particularly poor air quality, especially around the area of the capital Pristina. The availability of accurate and timely information is crucial in mitigating the adverse effects of air pollution. This study aimed at evaluating the knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions (KAPB) related to poor air quality in Pristina’s low-middle schools. Furthermore, the study explored the connections between these factors and socio-demographic and health attributes and provided valuable inputs for the development of future strategies and policies in air pollution mitigation. Regression analysis provided insights into how these various factors interacted with KAPB scores. The results revealed limited knowledge about air pollution sources and risks among pupils, with insufficient awareness of reliable information sources. While attitudes were generally positive, they declined with higher grade levels. Parental education significantly influenced knowledge and attitudes, and better health correlated with more positive attitudes. Perceptions of air pollution risks were influenced by grade, gender, and parental education, with better-educated parents associated with improved perceptions. Overall behavior scores increased with higher levels of parental education. Understanding the factors that shape pupils’ responses to air pollution is critical for strategy and policy development. These findings can guide strategies to enhance environmental awareness and promote healthy behavior, helping address the pressing issue of air pollution in the country. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T11:01:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-60ad72cdbe6a44efa1fdf280214977c3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T11:01:09Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Children |
| spelling | doaj.art-60ad72cdbe6a44efa1fdf280214977c32024-01-26T15:49:57ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672024-01-0111112810.3390/children11010128Determinants of Knowledge, Attitudes, Perceptions and Behaviors Regarding Air Pollution in Schoolchildren in Pristina, KosovoZana Shabani Isenaj0Hanns Moshammer1Merita Berisha2Lisbeth Weitensfelder3Medical Faculty, University of Hasan Pristina, George Bush 31, 10000 Pristina, KosovoDepartment of Environmental Health, Zentrum für Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, AustriaMedical Faculty, University of Hasan Pristina, George Bush 31, 10000 Pristina, KosovoDepartment of Environmental Health, Zentrum für Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, AustriaAir pollution poses a significant public health challenge, and Kosovo, a low-middle-income country in the Balkan peninsula, suffers from particularly poor air quality, especially around the area of the capital Pristina. The availability of accurate and timely information is crucial in mitigating the adverse effects of air pollution. This study aimed at evaluating the knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions (KAPB) related to poor air quality in Pristina’s low-middle schools. Furthermore, the study explored the connections between these factors and socio-demographic and health attributes and provided valuable inputs for the development of future strategies and policies in air pollution mitigation. Regression analysis provided insights into how these various factors interacted with KAPB scores. The results revealed limited knowledge about air pollution sources and risks among pupils, with insufficient awareness of reliable information sources. While attitudes were generally positive, they declined with higher grade levels. Parental education significantly influenced knowledge and attitudes, and better health correlated with more positive attitudes. Perceptions of air pollution risks were influenced by grade, gender, and parental education, with better-educated parents associated with improved perceptions. Overall behavior scores increased with higher levels of parental education. Understanding the factors that shape pupils’ responses to air pollution is critical for strategy and policy development. These findings can guide strategies to enhance environmental awareness and promote healthy behavior, helping address the pressing issue of air pollution in the country.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/1/128air pollutionair qualityenvironmental health literacyknowledgeattitudeperception and behavior |
| spellingShingle | Zana Shabani Isenaj Hanns Moshammer Merita Berisha Lisbeth Weitensfelder Determinants of Knowledge, Attitudes, Perceptions and Behaviors Regarding Air Pollution in Schoolchildren in Pristina, Kosovo Children air pollution air quality environmental health literacy knowledge attitude perception and behavior |
| title | Determinants of Knowledge, Attitudes, Perceptions and Behaviors Regarding Air Pollution in Schoolchildren in Pristina, Kosovo |
| title_full | Determinants of Knowledge, Attitudes, Perceptions and Behaviors Regarding Air Pollution in Schoolchildren in Pristina, Kosovo |
| title_fullStr | Determinants of Knowledge, Attitudes, Perceptions and Behaviors Regarding Air Pollution in Schoolchildren in Pristina, Kosovo |
| title_full_unstemmed | Determinants of Knowledge, Attitudes, Perceptions and Behaviors Regarding Air Pollution in Schoolchildren in Pristina, Kosovo |
| title_short | Determinants of Knowledge, Attitudes, Perceptions and Behaviors Regarding Air Pollution in Schoolchildren in Pristina, Kosovo |
| title_sort | determinants of knowledge attitudes perceptions and behaviors regarding air pollution in schoolchildren in pristina kosovo |
| topic | air pollution air quality environmental health literacy knowledge attitude perception and behavior |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/1/128 |
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