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ABSTRACT:

Objectives: In 2020, Bangladesh faced severe floods from heavy rains, impacting health in rural areas, but information on risk factors was lacking. Thus, the study aims to assess the health effects in coastal areas due to environmental risk factors and inadequate disaster management systems.
Study Design: This study first reviews the existing disaster information management system, focusing specifically on how to collect health information from residents of Bangladesh. Second, a questionnaire survey and two focus group discussions were conducted in August 2021 in two subdistricts in the coastal area. Logistic regression analysis was then conducted to assess environmental health effects.
Methods: This study was developed using a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods, making it a mixed-method study. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals of disease incidence from each environmental factor were calculated. Descriptive analysis and data visualization were conducted using Microsoft Excel for Focus Group Discussion data.
Results: Out of 168 participants, 82.73% were directly affected, with 44% evacuated. Water supply (60.43%) and sanitation (69%) were severely disrupted. Over half couldn't access drinking water (62%), food (59.71%), or medicine (72%). People without access to medicine during floods had more experiences of diarrhea [Odds ratio: 2.23 (95% CI: 1.10-4.48)], worsening their mental health [3.80 (95% CI: 1.56-9.26)] compared with people who could access it.
Conclusion: In remote coastal areas, floods disrupted sanitation, food, drinking water, and health. This study compared the effects of the 2020 floods on the physical and mental well-being of those who were directly and indirectly affected.

KEYWORDS:

Risk factors, Coastal areas, Evacuation, Sanitation, Diarrhea, Mental health

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