Floods and human health: A systematic review |
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| Institution: | 1. School of Public Health and Social Work, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia;2. School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China;1. Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation and Management, Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand;2. Regional and Rural Development Planning, and Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation and Management (Interdisciplinary Academic Programme), Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand;1. Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province 250012, People''s Republic of China;2. Shandong University Climate Change and Health Center, Jinan, Shandong Province 250012, People''s Republic of China;3. Department of epidemiology, School of Public Health, Taishan Medical College, Taian, Shandong Province 271016, People''s Republic of China;4. School of Public Health, China Studies Centre, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia;5. State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC, Beijing 102206, People''s Republic of China;1. Faculty of Nursing, Thammasat University, Thailand;2. National Institute of Transportation (NIT), School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (SCEE) of National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Pakistan;3. Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation & Management, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand;4. Department of Space Science, Institute of Space Technology, Pakistan;5. Military College of Engineering (MCE), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Pakistan;1. School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province 230032, China;2. Shanghai Children''s Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China;3. School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia |
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| Abstract: | Floods are the most common type of disaster globally, responsible for almost 53,000 deaths in the last decade alone (23:1 low- versus high-income countries). This review assessed recent epidemiological evidence on the impacts of floods on human health. Published articles (2004–2011) on the quantitative relationship between floods and health were systematically reviewed. 35 relevant epidemiological studies were identified. Health outcomes were categorized into short- and long-term and were found to depend on the flood characteristics and people's vulnerability. It was found that long-term health effects are currently not well understood. Mortality rates were found to increase by up to 50% in the first year post-flood. After floods, it was found there is an increased risk of disease outbreaks such as hepatitis E, gastrointestinal disease and leptospirosis, particularly in areas with poor hygiene and displaced populations. Psychological distress in survivors (prevalence 8.6% to 53% two years post-flood) can also exacerbate their physical illness. There is a need for effective policies to reduce and prevent flood-related morbidity and mortality. Such steps are contingent upon the improved understanding of potential health impacts of floods. Global trends in urbanization, burden of disease, malnutrition and maternal and child health must be better reflected in flood preparedness and mitigation programs. |
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