Carers' perceptions of harm and the protective measures taken to safeguard children's health against inhalation of volcanic ash: A comparative study across Indonesia, Japan and Mexico

There is little research focusing on the impact of airborne volcanic emissions on the health of children, and on their exposure reduction. Children’s carers (parents/guardians) are critical to their protection. Documenting their perceptions of the health risk and their knowledge of how to reduce their children’s exposure is an important first step to increase our understanding of how risks are acted upon.

This article reports the findings of a survey of 411 residents with caring responsibilities for children aged 12 and under in communities near the active volcanoes of Sakurajima in Japan, Merapi in Indonesia, and Popocatépetl in Mexico. Informed by the Protective Action Decision Model (PADM) and Protection Motivation Theory (PMT), the authors investigated their perceptions of the health effects and harmful consequences of the ash on their children, how important they thought it was to protect them, and the protective actions taken.

This paper discusses the key messages conveyed through the findings that are of relevance for policy, practice and training in all three countries.