LAUSR

Introduction Climate change has far-reaching impacts on human health, which often differ by contextual vulnerabilities and region, with low- and middle income-countries being particularly vulnerable. Recognizing this, India has launched regional climate change and health action plans, the development, strengthening and implementation of which partially depends on how well stakeholders understand the topic. As little is known about this topic, our study aimed to better understand the knowledge and perceptions on the impacts of climate change on health amongst key stakeholders in Puducherry, India. Methods We conducted a qualitative study employing key informant interviews with medical doctors, researchers, environmentalists and governmental officials working on the climate change agenda from Puducherry. A total of 16 interviews were conducted. Half of the participants were practicing medical doctors while the other half consisted of medical researchers and government officials. The findings were analysed using the framework method, which allowed for data driven thematic analysis. Results We elucidated that despite elaborating the direct and indirect impacts of climate change on health, there is insufficient education and knowledge about the topic among participants. Knowledge of the public health burden and vulnerabilities influenced the perceived health risks from climate change, with some level of scepticism on the impacts on non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases. There was also a felt need for multi-level awareness and intervention programs targeting all societal levels along with recommendations for educational changes and adaptation measures in the region. Conclusion This study identified a gap in the knowledge and understanding of health impacts of climate change among key stakeholders in Puducherry. It also identified region specific vulnerabilities that can be taken into consideration for strengthening the regions climate change and health adaptation policy. In light of limited research on this topic, especially in a developing settings, our study lends to an improved understanding of how key stakeholders perceive the impacts of climate change on health.