Investigating climate change knowledge, attitudes, and practices in slum communities: a scoping review of global public health perspective

Background In the 21st century, the biggest threat to health is climate change, it disproportionately impacts the health of people residing in slum settlements which comprise 1.1 billion people globally. Limited research exists on how they perceive and adapt to these risks through the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) framework. Objective The review aims to assess the current literature on the climate change impacts in slum settlements and evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of it and related health impacts. Methodology A scoping review was conducted using four major databases: Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, using Arksey O’Malley framework. Inclusion criteria include peer-reviewed publications reporting Slums (as defined by UN-Habitat), Climate Change (as defined by UNESCO), and Health (as defined by WHO). Selected documents were systematically extracted and cataloged in an Excel database. Reviewers used a standardized form to select and characterize the data. Results Of 870 identified studies, 13 articles met the inclusion criteria. 10 studies focused on survey-based research, while the remaining 3 were review articles that discussed health risks like heat-related illnesses, cold spells, and vector-borne diseases. Most studies reported low awareness of climate risks, with significant gaps in knowledge, adaptation strategies, and policy implementation. Geographical coverage was concentrated in South Asia, Africa, and South America. Conclusion The results emphasize the critical need for targeted interventions as there is a paucity of literature. Further research is necessary to evaluate the awareness, knowledge, and efficacy of climate adaptation strategies and policy development in slum settlements.