Flash flood preparedness in Golestan province of Iran: a community intervention trial.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate effectiveness of a community-based preparedness program for flash floods.


METHODS
A controlled community intervention trial with preassessment and postassessment.


METHODS
Fifteen intervention villages and 16 control villages in Golestan province of Iran.


METHODS
People more than six years of age.


METHODS
Intervention program consisted assembling Village Disaster Taskforces (VDTs), training of VDTs and community, evacuation drill, and program monitoring.


METHODS
Individual participation in household preparedness actions including, preparedness meeting, risk mapping, preparation of emergency supplies, assisting vulnerable people, and evacuation drill.


RESULTS
Our intervention improved preparedness of local community for flash floods in term of all interested outcome measures. For instance, adjusted odds ratio for participation in an evacuation drill in intervention area in postassessment compared with preassessment was 29.05 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 21.77-38.76), whereas in control area it was 2.69 (95% CI: 1.96-3.70). Difference in these odds ratios was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Participation in a family preparedness meeting and risk mapping were helpful in motivating individuals to take other preparedness actions. Women were found prepared as much as the men. Younger people showed lower participation in preparation of family emergency supplies but higher attendance in evacuation drills. Participation in evacuation drills decreased with increasing age. It was a positive association between risk perception and taking all preparedness actions.


CONCLUSIONS
Flood preparedness programs should focus on participatory risk assessment and preparedness techniques, strive to improve risk perception and female capabilities, and ensure providing assistance to the older people during evacuation.
Ardalan
Ali
A
Health in Emergencies & Disasters Department, National Institute of Health Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran. aardalan@tums.ac.ir
Naieni
Kourosh Holakouie
KH
Mahmoodi
Mahmood
M
Zanganeh
Ali-Mohamad
AM
Keshtkar
Abbas-Ali
AA
Honarvar
Mohamad-Reza
MR
Kabir
Mohamad-Javad
MJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003256:Community Participation; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D055868:Floods; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult