AIRING GRIEVANCES: A CHARACTERIZATION OF KNOWLEDGE, DISSATISFACTION, AND SELF-EFFICACY REGARDING AIR POLLUTION IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY OPPRESSED REGION OF WEST ATLANTA, GEORGIA, USA

Abstract

Community-based air quality monitoring (CBAQM) has become a popular approach to addressing environmental injustice in communities exposed to multiple air pollutant stressors. In addition to collecting novel data on toxic emissions, successful CBAQM programs increase participants' environmental health literacy (EHL; knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors) regarding air pollution. This thesis details the results of a cross-sectional study of community residents participating in the AQEarth: West Atlanta CBAQM program. The study characterized participants' knowledge of, satisfaction with and self-efficacy toward local air pollution. Survey respondents' (n=33) knowledge assessment scores averaged at 56 percent. In response to the statement “I am satisfied with air quality in West Atlanta,” 96% of respondents (n=32) did not agree. Finally, responses to self-efficacy survey items (n=29) averaged a score of -2.3 (on a scale from -8 to 7). This research provides baseline information to guide future CBAQM programming and other EHL interventions in West Atlanta.