Community perceptions of flood risks and their attributes: A case study of rural communities of Khipro, District Sanghar, Pakistan

Abstract

Globally, the frequency, regularity, and severity of floods are all increasing due to climate change, and climate change's effects on developing nations are significant. In 2022, the worst floods in Pakistan's recorded history occurred. One-fifth of the nation experienced significant destruction, which led to significant economic losses and fatalities. However, the resilience of the local population to withstand the effects of calamities has not received enough attention in rural villages along the Indus River. This descriptive cross-sectional research examined how three communities in high-risk locations in Khipro, Sanghar District, Sindh, Pakistan, perceived and responded to flood dangers based on their past experiences. A survey was conducted with a total of 50 individuals in three villages. To measure flood risk perception, three variables—awareness of floods, concerns about floods, and preparedness—were used. Descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, and Pearson's correlation were applied to find correlations and differences across variables. The study adds valuable knowledge about how people perceive the risk of flooding and how factors like age, education, differences in monthly income levels, low-risk awareness, and preparedness influence that perception in rural areas. This study's findings can be used to evaluate flood risks and adopt local adaptation strategies in flood prone areas.