Assessment of the health impacts of the 2011 summer floods in Brisbane.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects of the 2011 floods in Brisbane, Australia, on residents' physical and mental health.


METHODS
Residents who had been affected by the floods completed a community-based survey that examined the direct impact of flooding on households and their perceived physical and mental health. Outcome variables included overall and respiratory health and mental health outcomes related to psychological distress, sleep quality, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the association between flooding and perceived health outcome variables, adjusted for current health status and sociodemographic factors.


RESULTS
Residents whose households were directly affected by flooding were more likely to report poor overall (Odds Ratio [OR] 5.3; 95% CI, 2.8-10.1) and respiratory (OR 2.3; 95% CI, 1.1-4.6) health, psychological distress (OR 1.9; 95% CI, 1.1-3.5), poor sleep quality (OR 2.3; 95% CI, 1.2-4.4), and probable PTSD (OR 2.3; 95% CI, 1.2-4.5).


CONCLUSIONS
The 2011 Brisbane floods had significant impact on the physical and psychosocial health of residents. Improved support strategies may need to be integrated into existing disaster management programs to reduce flood-related health impacts, particularly those related to mental health.
School of Public Health and Social Work, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
Katarzyna
K
Alderman
Lyle R
LR
Turner
Shilu
S
Tong
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D057189:Checklist; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D055868:Floods; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012621:Seasons; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult