@article{ref1,
title="Assessing the preparedness of healthcare facilities for disasters and emergencies in Damghan, Iran",
journal="Disaster medicine and public health preparedness",
year="2021",
author="Pourmohammadi, Behrad and Heydari, Ahad and Fatemi, Farin and Modarresi, Ali",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="OBJECTIVES: Iran is exposed to a wide range of natural and man-made hazards. Health-care facilities can play a significant role in providing life-saving measures in the minutes and hours immediately following the impact or exposure. The aim of this study was to determine the preparedness of health-care facilities in disasters and emergencies. <br><br>METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Damghan, Semnan Province, in 2019. The samples consisted of all the 11 health-care facilities located in Damghan County. A developed checklist was used to collect the data, including 272 questions in 4 sections: understanding threatening hazards, functional, structural, and nonstructural vulnerability of health-care facilities. The data were analyzed using SPSS 21. <br><br>RESULTS: The results revealed that the health-care facilities were exposed to 22 different natural and man-made hazards throughout the county. The total level of preparedness of the health-care centers under assessment was 45.8%. The average functional, structural, and nonstructural vulnerability was assessed at 49.3%, 31.6%, and 56.4%, respectively. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Conducting mitigation measures is necessary for promoting the functional and structural preparedness. Disaster educational programs and exercises are recommended among the health staff in health-care facilities.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1935-7893",
doi="10.1017/dmp.2021.104",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2021.104"
}