Competences in environmental health and climate change in university students

Abstract

The deterioration of the environment has accelerated climate change (CC) affecting multiple scenarios, the increase in temperature has led to the proliferation of various diseases transmitted by vectors of importance at the public health level. As an objective, it was proposed to determine the eco-healthy culture in the face of climate change in students of the Educational Sciences Area, Rómulo Gallegos National Experimental University (UNERG), Calabozo, Venezuela 2022. The study was quantitative, exploratory, non-experimental, cross-sectional with a sample of 180 students. For data collection, the Environmental Dimensions Questionnaire (CDA) was applied, consisting of 75 items distributed in three dimensions; knowledge, attitudes and emotions and behaviors. Data analysis was by descriptive statistics with percentages through the Epidat 3.0 program. As a result, 63% indicated the importance attributed to the affected ecohealth elements on water and 55% on global warming. However, only 12% indicated education as an element of ecohealth affected by climate change, likewise, in the knowledge dimension, 54.50% were found to CSN, 6.50% to CPR and 39.50% to CEA, in the dimension of attitudes and emotions, 55.50% were found in the TD subcategory, 44.00% in CVA and 36.50% in E, finally, in the behavior dimension, 36.50% were found in the subcategory of PC, 29.00% to IC and 20.00% to PI. Environmental damage must be avoided through individual behavior change that must be taught from university campuses.