Characteristics of community change agents to promote equitable health services and combat harmful gender norms in climate-affected communities in Sindh province

The province of Sindh, Pakistan, faces heightened vulnerability to natural disasters due to its low-lying location in the flood-prone Indus floodplain. Pathfinder International implemented the Surmi project aimed at strengthening the resilience for climate shocks and emergencies by female volunteer...

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Main Authors: Nighat Lakhiar, Asif Ali i Jatoi, Lopamudra Paul, Mohamad Ibrahim (Bram) Brooks
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: National University of Sciences and Technology 2024-12-01
Series:NUST Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities
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Online Access:https://njssh.nust.edu.pk/index.php/njssh/article/view/223
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author Nighat Lakhiar
Asif Ali i Jatoi
Lopamudra Paul
Mohamad Ibrahim (Bram) Brooks
author_facet Nighat Lakhiar
Asif Ali i Jatoi
Lopamudra Paul
Mohamad Ibrahim (Bram) Brooks
author_sort Nighat Lakhiar
collection DOAJ
description The province of Sindh, Pakistan, faces heightened vulnerability to natural disasters due to its low-lying location in the flood-prone Indus floodplain. Pathfinder International implemented the Surmi project aimed at strengthening the resilience for climate shocks and emergencies by female volunteers called “Climate Champions” (CC) and trained them to support and provide women and girls the tools, knowledge, and resources they need to advocate for equitable health services and to combat harmful gender norms, including gender-based violence. A knowledge, attitude, and beliefs survey were conducted among 600 CCs aged 18-50 years residing in five intervention districts including, Thatta, Badin, Sanghar, Umer Kot, and Kamber Shahdad Kot. The results show that climate awareness is moderate among CC volunteers. Self-efficacy was strong within the group; 57% showed a fair or strong level of confidence in achieving life goals despite challenges. Unfortunately, strong gender norms remain prevalent among CCs; close to three-quarters (74%) had limited or no confidence in their ability to refuse a marriage that they did not desire. The qualitative data results show that CCs can be the change agents in climate-affected communities. The deeply entrenched gender norms that are pervasive in this community will require concerted efforts.
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spelling doaj-art-72b77914ccb242bfb5c8e5c597a7e1552025-08-20T02:59:14ZengNational University of Sciences and TechnologyNUST Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities2520-503X2523-00262024-12-01102Characteristics of community change agents to promote equitable health services and combat harmful gender norms in climate-affected communities in Sindh provinceNighat LakhiarAsif Ali i JatoiLopamudra PaulMohamad Ibrahim (Bram) Brooks The province of Sindh, Pakistan, faces heightened vulnerability to natural disasters due to its low-lying location in the flood-prone Indus floodplain. Pathfinder International implemented the Surmi project aimed at strengthening the resilience for climate shocks and emergencies by female volunteers called “Climate Champions” (CC) and trained them to support and provide women and girls the tools, knowledge, and resources they need to advocate for equitable health services and to combat harmful gender norms, including gender-based violence. A knowledge, attitude, and beliefs survey were conducted among 600 CCs aged 18-50 years residing in five intervention districts including, Thatta, Badin, Sanghar, Umer Kot, and Kamber Shahdad Kot. The results show that climate awareness is moderate among CC volunteers. Self-efficacy was strong within the group; 57% showed a fair or strong level of confidence in achieving life goals despite challenges. Unfortunately, strong gender norms remain prevalent among CCs; close to three-quarters (74%) had limited or no confidence in their ability to refuse a marriage that they did not desire. The qualitative data results show that CCs can be the change agents in climate-affected communities. The deeply entrenched gender norms that are pervasive in this community will require concerted efforts. https://njssh.nust.edu.pk/index.php/njssh/article/view/223health, gender, innovations-based adaptation, quantitative survey, Gender-responsive infrastructure
spellingShingle Nighat Lakhiar
Asif Ali i Jatoi
Lopamudra Paul
Mohamad Ibrahim (Bram) Brooks
Characteristics of community change agents to promote equitable health services and combat harmful gender norms in climate-affected communities in Sindh province
NUST Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities
health, gender, innovations-based adaptation, quantitative survey, Gender-responsive infrastructure
title Characteristics of community change agents to promote equitable health services and combat harmful gender norms in climate-affected communities in Sindh province
title_full Characteristics of community change agents to promote equitable health services and combat harmful gender norms in climate-affected communities in Sindh province
title_fullStr Characteristics of community change agents to promote equitable health services and combat harmful gender norms in climate-affected communities in Sindh province
title_full_unstemmed Characteristics of community change agents to promote equitable health services and combat harmful gender norms in climate-affected communities in Sindh province
title_short Characteristics of community change agents to promote equitable health services and combat harmful gender norms in climate-affected communities in Sindh province
title_sort characteristics of community change agents to promote equitable health services and combat harmful gender norms in climate affected communities in sindh province
topic health, gender, innovations-based adaptation, quantitative survey, Gender-responsive infrastructure
url https://njssh.nust.edu.pk/index.php/njssh/article/view/223
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AT lopamudrapaul characteristicsofcommunitychangeagentstopromoteequitablehealthservicesandcombatharmfulgendernormsinclimateaffectedcommunitiesinsindhprovince
AT mohamadibrahimbrambrooks characteristicsofcommunitychangeagentstopromoteequitablehealthservicesandcombatharmfulgendernormsinclimateaffectedcommunitiesinsindhprovince