Analysis of Individual Difference in Rural Vulnerable Groups' Risk Perception of Heat Waves and their Protective Behavior

Objective To analyze the characteristics of vulnerable people in rural areas facing the heat waves. The population was defined as vulnerable rural population under heat waves, and suggestions for improvement are proposed.

Methods Based on the field survey of the risk perception of heat waves in rural residents of nine cities in Jiangsu Province, this study used SPSS to verify the relationship between the physical condition and risk perception of heat waves of the individuals, the protective behavior against the heat waves and the structure of the rural population.

Results The perception of risk perception among vulnerable populations in rural areas was significantly correlated with their age and education level, and interfered with the choice of rural vulnerable people to resist heat waves. Women were more concerned about the health effects caused by heat waves than men(F=7.702, P < 0.01). People with a high degree of education had a higher understanding of heat waves(r=0.252, P < 0.01). The perception of the severity of heat waves of vulnerable people also altered by regional differences(F=3.095, P < 0.05). The protection behavior of rural vulnerable people against heat waves was also affected by factors such as age (F=4.284, P < 0.01), gender(F=5.539, P < 0.05), and income(F=2.816, P < 0.05).

Conclusions It is found that individual differences in regional and individual economic level, age, education level and risk perception of heat waves significantly affect the degree of protection behavior.