DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS AND TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF FORECASTING NATURAL DISASTER (A CASE STUDY OF DISTRICT SWAT KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA)

Abstract

This study was sought to investigate community ability of forecasting flood and association with their demographic characteristics. The study was conducted during 2021, in high risk and low risk area to flood in district Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. A total of 190 households were interviewed through structure questionnaire. Data were analyzed through Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) version 19. The Chi-square test was used to determine association between some characteristics of respondent and traditional knowledge of forecasting flood. Main finding of this study revealed that 90% of the respondents were aware of Traditional Knowledge of Forecasting Flood (TKFF) and 93% were acknowledging it effectiveness. Education level, age and residency at high risk and low risk area were significantly associated with TKFF.