Social Representations and Health Implications of Climate Change in Ganvié, Benin

Climate change poses a complex challenge, impacting both the physical environment and human well-being. This study investigates how communities in Ganvié, Benin, construct and perceive climate change, and how these perceptions might influence their health. Employing a qualitative approach, the research involved:
• Data collection:
o Twenty-five diverse households, strategically chosen for socio-economic and gender representation, participated in individual interviews.
o Five key informants from government and climate risk management organizations provided expert insights.
o Two focus group discussions were conducted with local male and female associations.
o Direct observation complemented data collection during household visits and community events.
• Data analysis: Content analysis methods were employed to analyze data, extracting key themes and patterns in representations and risk perceptions.
Findings:
• Limited awareness: Residents often held limited understanding of climate change’s specific health risks, with some trivializing its potential impact.
• Attribution mismatch : The primary causes of climate change were predominantly attributed to transgressions of social norms, overshadowing the role of anthropogenic activities.
• Subsistence-driven adaptation: Local coping strategies focused on immediate needs and securing livelihoods, primarily addressing food security and water access, and lacked a direct focus on mitigating health risks.
Implications :
• This disconnect between local perceptions and the actual health risks associated with climate change highlights the need for targeted awareness campaigns to educate communities about the potential health consequences.
• Integrating health considerations into local adaptation strategies is crucial to ensure comprehensive resilience and protect the health and well-being of Ganvié’s residents.
• The study’s findings contribute to a broader understanding of how social representations of climate change shape risk perceptions and influence local adaptation responses, informing more effective public health interventions in vulnerable communities.
Keywords: Climate change, social representations, health risks, adaptation, perception, Ganvié, Benin.