4 <strong>SAGE</strong> <strong>Open</strong>Table 1. Personal Characteristics <strong>of</strong> the Study ParticipantsStakeholder Worker TotalCharacteristic n % n % n %GenderFemale 29 34.1 96 48.2 125 44.0Male 56 65.9 103 51.8 159 56.0Total 85 100.0 199 100.0 284 100.0M:F ratio 1.93 1.07 1.27χ 2 = 4.821, p = .028Age group
Shoukry et al. 5Table 2. Environmental <strong>Awareness</strong> <strong>of</strong> Participants<strong>Awareness</strong> n (N = 284) % 95% CI1. Are you aware <strong>of</strong> the new features in environmental management in the Egyptian 73 25.7 [20.6, 30.8]context, as specified in the Egyptian Environmental Law 4 <strong>of</strong> 1994?2. Are you aware <strong>of</strong> the Egyptian st<strong>and</strong>ards as set forth in Egyptian Code for water 70 24.6 [19.6, 29.6]reuse in agriculture dated 2005?3. Are you aware <strong>of</strong> the WHO guidelines for the composted sludge reuse? 68 23.9 [18.0, 29.8]4. Are you aware <strong>of</strong> the FAO guidelines for heavy metals content for the composted 56 19.7 [15.1, 24.3]sludge reuse?5. Are you aware about the concept <strong>of</strong> sustainable development? 60 22.8 [17.9, 27.7]6. Have you ever heard the term integrated environmental management practices? 85 32.6 [27.1, 38.1]7. Do you think that the use <strong>of</strong> integrated environmental management practices for 61 21.5 [16.7, 26.3]ASDCO would protect the natural environment <strong>and</strong> public health more than theconventional management practices?Total score (mean ± SD) 1.67 ± 2.32Range 0-7Note: CI = confidence interval; WHO = World Health Organization; FAO = Food <strong>and</strong> Agriculture Organization <strong>of</strong> the United Nations; ASDCO = Alex<strong>and</strong>riaSanitary <strong>and</strong> Drainage Company. Numbers <strong>and</strong> percentages represent participants whose responses were “yes.” Figures were presented for availabledata.Table 3. Environmental <strong>Attitude</strong> <strong>of</strong> ParticipantsPercentage <strong>of</strong> responsesStatements SA MA U MD SDDo you agree or disagree that1. We are approaching the limit <strong>of</strong> the number <strong>of</strong> people the earth can support? 17.2 22.2 19.4 29.5 12.22. Humans have the right to modify the natural environment to suit their needs? 31.7 38.8 4.7 16.5 8.33. When humans interfere with nature, it <strong>of</strong>ten produces disastrous consequences? 43.5 35.3 9.7 8.3 3.24. Human ingenuity will ensure that we do not make the earth unlivable? 13.2 23.4 20.9 33.7 8.85. Humans are severely abusing the environment? 52.9 36.0 5.4 3.6 2.26. The earth has plenty <strong>of</strong> natural resources if we just learn how to develop them? 56.8 35.4 3.6 3.2 1.17. Plants <strong>and</strong> animal have as much right as humans to exist? 52.7 38.4 3.2 3.9 1.88. The balance <strong>of</strong> nature is strong enough to copy with the impacts <strong>of</strong> modern industrial nations? 10.9 21.4 24.6 35.9 7.29. Despite our special abilities, humans are still subject to the laws <strong>of</strong> nature? 37.7 48.2 8.0 5.1 1.110. The so-called “ecological crisis” facing humankind has been greatly exaggerated? 12.2 26.3 16.9 37.8 6.811. The earth is like a spaceship with very limited room <strong>and</strong> resources? 15.8 33.3 12.2 31.2 7.512. Humans were meant to rule over the rest <strong>of</strong> nature? 10.9 26.4 20.3 34.1 8.313. The balance <strong>of</strong> nature is very delicate <strong>and</strong> easily upset? 25.5 37.3 16.2 17.0 4.114. Humans will eventually learn enough about how nature works to be able to control it? 13.7 40.1 21.3 21.3 3.615. If things continue on their present course, we will soon experience a major ecologicalcatastrophe?47.1 33.2 11.4 4.6 3.6Note: SA = strongly agree; MA = mildly agree; U = unsure; MD = mildly disagree; SD = strongly disagree. Figures were presented for available data. Agreementwith the eight odd-numbered items <strong>and</strong> disagreement with the seven even-numbered items indicate pro-New Ecological Paradigm responses.respondents with an ant ecological view. To be more specific,92% respondents believed that the earth has plenty <strong>of</strong>natural resources if we just learn how to develop them, <strong>and</strong>54% <strong>of</strong> respondents agree with the statement that humanswill eventually learn enough about how nature works to beable to control it.Worries About Environmental ProblemsTable 4 shows concern <strong>of</strong> participants toward some environmentalproblems. Participants were generally worried aboutall problems with varying degrees, with an overall percentagemean score <strong>of</strong> 74.5% ± 26.3. Very worry about the severeadverse health problems (65.5%), contamination <strong>of</strong> publicwater bodies <strong>and</strong> fisheries (58.3%), odor emissions (57.6%),<strong>and</strong> densification <strong>and</strong> network overloads (52.5%) ranked first.These were followed by very worry about sewer overflows inrainy seasons (44.6%), reuse <strong>of</strong> treated wastewater in an aquaculture(43.4%), <strong>and</strong> reuse <strong>of</strong> sludge in agriculture (43.3%).Generally speaking, about one half (49.1%) <strong>of</strong> participantswere severely worried about these environmental problems,<strong>and</strong> only 17.0% reported no or minimal worry.Downloaded from by guest on January 12, 2015
Change language