Author : Ancheta, Luz D.

Summary : This study explored the discernible patterns, scope, and dynamics of vulnerability and response of an urban community to pollution. The thesis of this research was that response to pollution is a function of factors operating at different levels. Therefore, analysis of the response mechanisms of an urban community to pollution hazards must be approached in a holistic fashion that takes a multidisciplinary perspective. Other than the risk factors, the conceptual model in this research included household socio-economic-psychological factors and community resource-organizational determinants hypothesized to facilitate or restrain response mechanisms. Those mechanisms were dichotomized into household coping strategies and community mobilization approaches. Also, the research identified factors that determine level of vulnerability to pollution in an urban community. A total of 488 households, local officials, and health care providers were randomly selected from six sample barangays selected by purposive sampling to capture likely variations in responses. Factor analysis was applied on the different blocks of variables for data reduction. Based on the interrelations exhibited in the data, the following dimensions could be used as new (synthetic) variables that may be representative measures of the following factors: risk factors, i.e., conditions of the natural environment; and presence of factories/industries; household-related factors, i.e., exposure to health extension; personal characteristics, and attitudes toward health policies and programs; community resource-organizational factors, i.e., informational-educational resources of health care providers; household response mechanisms i.e., hygienic practices, and community response mechanisms; i.e., communication and extension strategies. Path analysis was used to determine the causal relations among the synthetic variables. Findings showed that conditions of the natural environment in the study were deteriorating due to high air pollution and mercury.