This study was undertaken by the Environmental Health Unit of WHO to gather some preliminary
evidence of the community perceptions about climate changes, weather variability and climate extremes
in coastal and drought prone areas on livelihood mainly in relation to the water and health and the
capacities of the communities for adaptation. The study primarily focused on qualitative data collected
through observations, workshops and key informant interview to gather perceptions of the community
people, health and water professionals and workers and secondarily a limited scale purposive sample
survey. Three field sites were chosen comprising of two sites in the coastal areas (Pattashi Union of
Zianagar upazila of Pirojpur district and Patharghata union, Patharghata upazila of Barguna district) and
one in the drought-prone area (Sapahar union, Sapahar upazila, Naogaon district). The meteorological
data, disease data and WASH related data were collected form the respective upazila offices and from
internet resources. The qualitative and quantitative data were used for painting the picture of climate
change impact and short term weather variability on communities. The existing system capacities (health
and water) of to cope with the current issues and what the needs would be into the future as climate
changes continues were also collected from the sub district level