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Heat Emergencies: Perceptions And Practices Of Community Members And Emergency Department Healthcare Providers In Karachi, Pakistan: A Qualitative Study, Uzma Rahim Khan, Naveed Ahmed, Rubaba Naeem, Umerdad Khudadad, Sarwat Masud, Nadeem Ullah Khan, Junaid Abdul Razzak

Department of Emergency Medicine

Heat waves are the second leading cause of weather-related morbidity and mortality affecting millions of individuals globally, every year. The aim of this study was to understand the perceptions and practices of community residents and healthcare professionals with respect to identification and treatment of heat emergencies. A qualitative study was conducted using focus group discussions and in-depth interviews, with the residents of an urban squatter settlement, community health workers, and physicians and nurses working in the emergency departments of three local hospitals in Karachi. Data was analyzed using content analysis. The themes that emerged were (1) perceptions of the community …