Citation

Mallett LH, Etzel RA. Disasters 2018; 42(3): 432-458.

Affiliation

Professor, Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health and Children's Environmental Health Sciences Core Center, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, United States.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/disa.12256

PMID

29057549

Abstract

Floods are the most common type of natural disaster in both developed and developing countries and have led to extensive morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Worldwide, over the past 30 years, flooding has claimed the lives of more than 200,000 people and affected more than 2.8 billion others. The impact of flooding on health varies among populations and depends primarily on vulnerability and the kind of event experienced. It severely disrupts livelihoods and has a significant impact on the health of pregnant women and children. In addition, it may exacerbate a range of negative psychological and physiological child and reproductive health outcomes. Awareness-raising, education, and the issuing of warnings appear to be key initiatives to mitigate or prevent flood morbidity and mortality, especially among people living in low- and middle-income countries. Agencies responding to emergencies also need to be more cognisant of the dangers, specifically those engaged in healthcare, nutrition, and water safety programmes.

© 2017 The Author(s). Disasters © Overseas Development Institute, 2017.

Language: en

Keywords

child health; disasters; flooding; nutrition; pregnancy; prenatal stress