Global Journal of Human Social Science, C: Sociology and Culture, Volume 22 Issue 1

c) Data collection, management, and analysis procedure This study used data, both from primary and secondary sources, to accumulate sufficient details for doing utmost justice to the research topic. Secondary data were collected to figure out the research trend and progress on the interrelation between air pollution and women’s health in divergent geographical settings. The raw data helped to gain a deeper view from first-hand experience. The scholarly contributions from different national and international documents, articles in journals, book chapters, online mass media contents, organizations’ reports, and fact sheets were secondary resources. IV. F indings and A nalysis a) Findings from FGDs (Focus group discussions) and analysis of data “We have the best air quality in our area. Air status of Gulshan and Banani (posh residential area in Dhaka, Bangladesh) is not good compared to ours.” The participants were spontaneous to share the physical and mental health effects resulting from air pollution. Nonetheless, they were shy to discuss their reproductive health experiences in a group. It was confirmed by 95% of the participants that they experience cold, cough, recurrent fever, burning and tingling in hands and feet, skin diseases, headaches, allergies, eye and throat irritations, and irritative mood. However, they take these diseases lightly and avoid seeking medical care. They think that they are used to having sickness and getting cured naturally. Some participants considered their survival in a polluted environment as a demonstration of immunity that developed over the years since they had started living in the study area. The very fact was explored in the words of a participant – b) Findings and analysis of in-depth interviewed data i. Knowledge of the role of greenhouse gases in air pollution Except for one respondent, none of the interviewed population had any proper knowledge about greenhouse gases. 80% of the respondents stated, “I don’t know”, “I heard for the first time,” “I had never heard about it” when they were asked about their basic Volume XXII Issue I Version I 50 ( ) Global Journal of Human Social Science - Year 2022 © 2022 Global Journals C Women’s Perception of Air Pollution and Associated Health Hazard Aspects – A Study in Low- Income Urban Space in Bangladesh d) Ethical Considerations Before participation in the interview, participants were informed about the objective and the details of the study. Assurance of anonymity and confidentiality were ensured, along with the participant’s right to withdrawal in the event of discomfort. The respondents who showed a willingness to participate were taken on board for an interview, and no incentive of any form was given to persuade the participants for engagement in the study. 99% of the participants were found not to know about emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants. At the same time, the rest of the population manifested ignorance by conveying incorrect or slightly correct knowledge. Despite knowing about the poor quality of air in their locality, 90% of the participants were found living there just because of easy access to different workplaces and low living expenses. A number of the study population accused open dumping of household wastes, garbage mismanagement, and unplanned industrial growth as the sources of air pollution in the locality. They believe that proper administrative steps could change the current air quality. Nevertheless, 20% of the response regarding air quality reflected ignorance, indifference, and satisfaction about their living area. Taking pride in the current air quality of the locality was demonstrated in one of the participants’ narration- The study attempted to combine interview methods (FGD and IDI) with direct observations to capture the real picture of the impact of air pollution on respondents’ well-being. The purpose of conducting FGDs was to amass the collective view of the participants by building a good rapport with them. FGDs guided the researcher to understand participants’ awareness about air pollution and their health sufferings resulting from it at a deeper level. Each FGD was moderated through broad questions to elicit the responses and generate the utmost discussion within 90 minutes. Fifteen in-depth interviews, each running for approximately an hour with a semi-structured questionnaire, were operated. Considering the objective of the study, the questionnaire was developed in Bangla (respondents’ native tongue) with ensured reliability, slightly modified based on the response from FGDs, and later translated into English. In-depth interviews were conducted during the observations to cross-check the soundness of the information given by the respondents. Transcription and translation of audio-recorded data, along with a compilation of observation notes, were done within two days, just after returning from the study site. Transcribed data were revised several times to create initial codes for further thematic analysis of the in- depth interviewed data. The themes were appeared from the narrations of the respondents and later became subject to manual analysis. Additionally, overall analysis for the data from FGDs was conducted to address the general understanding of the participants about what the research aims at. “20 years ago, when I came here as a resident and started working, I had experienced continual burning and tingling of hands and feet, fever and headache for more than two months that I could not bear. That time I had to take multiple medicines. I got used to the weather and environment gradually to the extent that the diseases could not attack me any further.”