Health Risks in Natural Disasters: Four Case Studies in the Philippines (original) (raw)
Related papers
Bicol University Research and Development Journal
This study investigated the awareness of respondents on the vulnerability of the communities on natural disasters in the province of Albay, the experiences of the community, means of public information, professional experts, and psychosocial services offered by different Local Government Units (LGUs). The study used nonprobability sampling to identify the person in authority in the provincial level. Data from the initial interview were used to pinpoint the participants from the Municipal Social Welfare and Development (MSWD) office, Rural Health Unit (RHU), and Office of the Mayor of the different LGUs for the Focus Group Discussion (FGD). Out of the FGD, communities and families were identified for validation of outcomes. Recall interview was utilized to gather information rooted from phenomenological experience on natural disasters, specifically Typhoon Reming (Typhoon Durian) and Mayon Volcano eruptions. Respondents came from the most affected communities in Ligao, Legazpi, Tabac...
Post-disaster health impact of natural hazards in the Philippines in 2013
Background: In 2011, the Health Emergency Management Bureau (HEMB) created the Surveillance for Post Extreme Emergencies and Disasters (SPEED), a real-time syndromic surveillance system that allows the early detection and monitoring of post-disaster disease trends. SPEED can assist health leaders in making informed decisions on health systems affected by disasters. There is a need for further validation of current concepts in post-disaster disease patterns in respect to actual field data. This study aims to evaluate the temporal post-15 disaster patterns of selected diseases after a flood, an earthquake, and a typhoon in the Philippines in 2013. Methodology: We analyzed the 21 syndromes provided by SPEED both separately and grouped into injuries, communicable diseases, and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by calculating daily post-disaster consultation rates for up to 150 days post-disaster. These were compared over time and juxtaposed according to the type of disaster. 20 Results: Communicable diseases were found to be the predominant syndrome group in all three disaster types. The top six syndromes found were: acute respiratory infections, open wounds, bruises and burns, high blood pressure, skin disease, fever, and acute watery diarrhea. Discussion: Overall, the results aligned with the country's morbidity profile. Within 2 months, the clear gradation of increasing syndrome rates reflected the severity (floodBearthquake Btyphoon) and magnitude of 25 the disruption of the health system caused by the disasters. After 2 months, rates dropped, suggesting the beginning of the recovery phase. The most common syndromes can be addressed by measures such as providing for shelter, water, sanitation, hygiene, nutrition, and common health services. Conclusions: Most post-disaster syndromes may be addressed by prevention, early diagnosis, and early treatment. Health needs differ in response and recovery phases. 30
The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine, 2014
As the impacts of natural disasters have grown more severe, the importance of education for disaster medicine gains greater recognition. We launched a project to establish an international educational program for disaster medicine. In the present study, we surveyed medical personnel and medical/public health students in the Philippines (n = 45) and Indonesia (n = 67) for their awareness of the international frameworks related to disaster medicine: the Human Security (securing individual life and health), the Sphere Project (international humanitarian response), and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 (international strategy for disaster reduction). In both countries, more than 50% responders were aware of human security, but only 2 to 12% were aware of the latter two. The survey also contained questions about the preferred subjects in prospective educational program, and risk perception on disaster and disasterrelated infections. In the Philippines, significant disasters were geophysical (31.0%), hydrological (33.3%), or meteorological (24.8%), whereas in Indonesia, geophysical (63.0%) and hydrological (25.3%) were significant. Moreover, in the Philippines, leptospirosis (27.1%), dengue (18.6%), diarrhea (15.3%), and cholera (10.2%) were recognized common disaster-related infections. In Indonesia, diarrhea (22.0%) and respiratory infection (20.3%) are major disaster-related infections. Water-related infections were the major ones in both countries, but the profiles of risk perception were different (Pearson's chi-square test, p = 1.469e-05). The responders tended to overestimate the risk of low probability and high consequence such as geophysical disaster. These results are helpful for the development of a postgraduate course for disaster medicine in Asia Pacific countries.
2021 | International Journal of Humanities, Management and Social Sciences | Volume. 4 | Issue. 1 | 30-38International Journal of Humanities, Management and Social Science, 2021
Nature has its due course and disaster is always an aftermath of a catastrophic event. The purpose of this study is to assess the sources of information, training needs, preparation, and response of the community to disaster. To achieve this purpose, the study used a descriptive design with the survey as the instrument for data gathering. For the respondents, 136 individuals took part in the survey which took two months to accommodate. The researcher created a simple survey instrument and subjected it to reliability and validity tests. In analyzing the data, the researcher used weighted mean, standard deviation, t-test, and analysis of variance. Results showed that the radio is the most common source of information to disaster. Respondents emphasized the need for disaster training in the community and they also indicated that they partially observed the preparation and response in their communities. At the same time, there were significant differences observed in the sources of information, training needs, preparation, and response to the disaster of the respondents when grouped according to their communities. Furthermore, a significant difference emerged in the training needs when grouped according to the members of the family. Based on the results, the researcher recommends a community disaster preparation enhancement program for the involved communities in the study.
Disaster Advances, 2020
The purpose of the study is to analyze the knowledge of natural calamity, its impact and level of preparations of respondents in Central Luzon, Philippines. This study employed a descriptive-correlation design. 125 respondents participated in the survey with the use of convenience sampling technique. We drafted a questionnaire and subjected it to validity and reliability test which yielded an overall Cronbach alpha score of .969. After the survey, We analyzed the data using SPSS 20 and the following statistical tools: frequency, percentage, means, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson-r and Regression Analysis. The study found that the respondents are knowledgeable on natural calamities and its impacts. They are also prepared when a calamity occurs. There are significant differences on the knowledge of natural calamity and impact of natural calamity in terms of community and family members. There is also a significant relationship observed between community, knowledge of natural calamity and impact of natural calamity. The same is observed between knowledge of natural calamity, impact of natural calamity and level of preparations of respondents. The community is a significant determinant of knowledge on natural calamity and impact of natural calamity and age is a significant determinant of knowledge on natural calamity.
Disaster Risk Reduction Knowledge among local people in a Selected Community in the Philippines
Journal of Health and Caring Sciences, 2019
Background: The Philippines has been classified as highly vulnerable to natural disasters. Hence, reinforcing the capacities of communities towards the risk and adverse impacts of natural hazards is essential in order to reduce vulnerability and managed disasters. The study assessed disaster-related knowledge including (1) disaster preparedness and readiness, (2) disaster adaptation, (3) disaster awareness, and (4) disaster risk perception of the local people in a selected community. Methods: A descriptive-cross sectional study was utilized and a convenience sampling technique was used to select the 60 participants. The disaster risk reduction knowledge was assessed using the Disaster Risk Reduction Knowledge questionnaire. The gathered data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation and univariate linear regression. Results: The study revealed that the local people in the selected community have good knowledge on disaster preparedness and readiness, disaster adaptation, and disaster awareness and fair knowledge on disaster-related knowledge and disaster risk perception. Further, age, sex, civil status, and education did not predict the level of disaster risk reduction knowledge. Conclusion: The initiatives for disaster education in the Philippines are sufficient as evidenced by a good level of disaster risk reduction knowledge among the local people in the selected community.
HKICSS Conference Preceedings, 2017
The Philippines is known as one of the most hazard-prone countries in the world. In a study conducted by World Bank in 2016, the country was identified as a natural disaster hot-spot with approximately 52.46 percent of its total area is exposed to natural disasters and 80.03 percent of its population is vulnerable to natural disasters (World Risk Report 2016). Partnerships between schools, families, and communities can create safer school environments, strengthen parenting skills, encourage community service, improve academic skills, and achieve other desired goals that benefit students at all ages and grade levels. This research study entitled "School-Community Cooperation in Disaster Education and Preparedness in Barangay Dolores, Taytay, Rizal, Philippines" determined and analyzed the status of cooperation between the schools and the community members regarding disaster education and preparedness. Participants answered the questions administered through interviews and survey questionnaires. After the participants answered the questions, the researcher described the responses given by using several statistical tools. The systematic process of the study was conducted at Barangay Dolores which is one of the five barangays that makes up the municipality of Taytay. The subject of the study were selected 200 community members who are also parents of students studying in the identified learning institutions together with 100 teachers from three public elementary particularly Dolores Elementary School, Taytay Elementary School and Hapay na Mangga Elementary School and one public junior high school in Barangay Dolores which is Casimiro A. Ynares Sr. Memorial National High School. Subjects were chosen on a voluntary basis. 1. Background The concept and practice of reducing and managing disaster risks through systematic efforts to analyse and manage the causal factors of disasters, including reduced exposure to hazards, lessen the vulnerability of people and property, wise management of land and the environment, and improve preparedness to lessen its effect should be a global priority specially for countries which are considered highly prone like the Philippines. The Philippines continues to face challenges brought about by typhoons, monsoon rains, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and landslides. Throughout the recorded history of the Philippines, disasters in various parts of the country have been reported every year. Unmistakably, floods, storms, volcanic eruption and earthquakes have been the most frequently occurring natural disasters. This confirms the high level of exposure of the country to hazards and natural disaster due to its location and geography. The location and geographic features explains the prevalence of earthquake, tsunami and landslide are frequent.
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine, 2015
Studies of the health aspect of disasters focus either on the epidemiology of disasters to define the causes and the progression from a hazard to a disaster, or the evaluations of interventions provided during any phase of a disaster. Epidemiological disaster research studies are undertaken for the purposes of: (1) understanding the mechanisms by which hazards evolve into a disaster; (2) determining ways to mitigate the risk(s) that a specific hazard will progress into a disaster; (3) predicting the likely damages and needs of the population-at-risk for an event; and (4) identifying potential measures to increase the resilience of a community to future events. Epidemiological disaster research utilizes the Conceptual, Temporal, and Societal Frameworks to define what occurs when a hazard manifests as an event that causes a disaster. The findings from such studies should suggest interventions that could augment the absorbing, buffering, or/and response capacities to lessen the probability of similar damages occurring from the next event. Ultimately, the use of these Frameworks in studying the health aspects of a disaster will help define what to expect in a specific setting and the standards and best practices upon which education, training, competencies, performance, and professionalization will be built.