Midwives’ awareness of climate change and sustainability

Abstract

This cross-sectional study examined climate-change awareness and sustainability consciousness among midwives and the association between the two scale scores. From September to October 2023, 100 midwives working in maternity units at two hospitals in southern Türkiye completed an online Demographic Information Form, the Climate Change Awareness Scale (CCAS), and the Sustainability Consciousness Questionnaire (SCQ). The CCAS covers awareness, problem perception, concern, and behaviours and policy expectations, whereas the SCQ covers sustainability knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours. Because these domains overlap, the total scores were interpreted as related multidimensional orientations rather than as distinct measures of awareness and knowledge. Participants had high mean CCAS and SCQ scores, and the total scores were positively correlated (r = .637, p < .001). CCAS scores differed by age group, and SCQ scores differed by educational level. These cross-sectional associations do not establish direction, mechanism, competence, or actual sustainable clinical practice. The findings identify an association between two partly overlapping constructs and show that media was the most frequently reported source of climate-change information. They support further investigation of climate literacy and education in midwifery, but should not be interpreted as evidence that awareness causes sustainable behaviour. The study is distinctive in examining the relationship between CCAS and SCQ scores specifically among practising midwives.