Catalogue Search | MBRL
Are you sure you want to remove the book from the shelf?
{{itemTitle}}
700
result(s) for
"Civil Defense methods."
Sort by:
The Impact of Disaster Preparedness Training on Disaster Preparedness and Attitudes Toward Fertility and Childbearing Among Women of Reproductive Age
Natural disasters are frequent occurrences worldwide and can influence fertility preferences. This study aimed to assess the impact of disaster preparedness training on the disaster readiness levels of women of reproductive age and their fertility and childbearing attitudes.
The study employed a classic experimental design with a pre-test and post-test control group. The sample consisted of women of reproductive age in Turkey, determined through the G-Power 3.1.9.7 program, with intervention (
= 88) and control (
= 88) groups totaling 176 participants. Data were collected using a \"Preliminary Evaluation Form,\" \"Descriptive Information Form,\" \"Disaster Preparedness Scale (DPS),\" and \"Attitudes Toward Fertility and Childbearing Scale (AFCS).\"
In the intervention group, the post-test scores significantly increased for the DPS and the AFCS sub-scale on the importance of fertility for the future (
<0.05).
The study found that disaster preparedness training provided to women of reproductive age improved their disaster readiness levels. Following the training, the women's knowledge about physical protection during disasters, assistance in disasters, and disaster warnings and systems also increased. Additionally, the training enhanced the positive attitudes of these women toward childbearing.
Journal Article
Peer-Mentored Preparedness (PM-Prep): A New Disaster Preparedness Program for Adults Living Independently in the Community
The authors studied a health promotion program called PM-Prep (Peer-Mentored Prep), which was designed to improve disaster preparedness among adults living independently in the community. PM-Prep consists of four 2-hour classes co-taught by a health educator and peer-mentors. Adults were randomly assigned to an experimental arm or a wait-list control arm. Earthquake safety knowledge and preparedness supplies were assessed prior to the intervention and at 1 month after the intervention (N = 82). Adults in the experimental arm significantly increased preparedness by 19 percentage points, from 56% to 75% completed (p < .0001), and improved their knowledge by 8 percentage points, from 79% to 87% correct (p = .001). This is the first peer-mentored, targeted, and tailored disaster preparedness program tested with this population.
Journal Article
Preparing intensive care for the next pandemic influenza
Few viruses have shaped the course of human history more than influenza viruses. A century since the 1918–1919 Spanish influenza pandemic—the largest and deadliest influenza pandemic in recorded history—we have learned much about pandemic influenza and the origins of antigenic drift among influenza A viruses. Despite this knowledge, we remain largely underprepared for when the next major pandemic occurs.
While emergency departments are likely to care for the first cases of pandemic influenza, intensive care units (ICUs) will certainly see the sickest and will likely have the most complex issues regarding resource allocation. Intensivists must therefore be prepared for the next pandemic influenza virus. Preparation requires multiple steps, including careful surveillance for new pandemics, a scalable response system to respond to surge capacity, vaccine production mechanisms, coordinated communication strategies, and stream-lined research plans for timely initiation during a pandemic. Conservative models of a large-scale influenza pandemic predict more than 170% utilization of ICU-level resources. When faced with pandemic influenza, ICUs must have a strategy for resource allocation as strain increases on the system.
There are several current threats, including avian influenza A(H5N1) and A(H7N9) viruses. As humans continue to live in closer proximity to each other, travel more extensively, and interact with greater numbers of birds and livestock, the risk of emergence of the next pandemic influenza virus mounts. Now is the time to prepare and coordinate local, national, and global efforts.
Journal Article
Keeping governments accountable: the COVID-19 Assessment Scorecard (COVID-SCORE)
Many actors in the response to COVID-19 are holding out for a vaccine to be developed. But in the meantime, tried and tested public-health measures for controlling outbreaks can be implemented. A scorecard can be used to assess governments’ responses to the outbreak.
Journal Article
A cross-hazard analysis of terse message retransmission on Twitter
For decades, public warning messages have been relayed via broadcast information channels, including radio and television; more recently, risk communication channels have expanded to include social media sites, where messages can be easily amplified by user retransmission. This research examines the factors that predict the extent of retransmission for official hazard communications disseminated via Twitter. Using data from events involving five different hazards, we identity three types of attributes—local network properties, message content, and message style—that jointly amplify and/or attenuate the retransmission of official communications under imminent threat. We find that the use of an agreed-upon hashtag and the number of users following an official account positively influence message retransmission, as does message content describing hazard impacts or emphasizing cohesion among users. By contrast, messages directed at individuals, expressing gratitude, or including a URL were less widely disseminated than similar messages without these features. Our findings suggest that some measures commonly taken to convey additional information to the public (e.g., URL inclusion) may come at a cost in terms of message amplification; on the other hand, some types of content not traditionally emphasized in guidance on hazard communication may enhance retransmission rates.
Journal Article
Integrating mental health and disaster preparedness in intervention: a randomized controlled trial with earthquake and flood-affected communities in Haiti
Given the frequency of natural hazards in Haiti, disaster risk reduction is crucial. However, evidence suggests that many people exposed to prior disasters do not engage in disaster preparedness, even when they receive training and have adequate resources. This may be partially explained by a link between mental health symptoms and preparedness; however, these components are typically not integrated in intervention.
The current study assesses effectiveness of an integrated mental health and disaster preparedness intervention. This group-based model was tested in three earthquake-exposed and flood-prone communities (N = 480), across three time points, using a randomized controlled trial design. The 3-day community-based intervention was culturally-adapted, facilitated by trained Haitian lay mental health workers, and focused on enhancing disaster preparedness, reducing mental health symptoms, and fostering community cohesion.
Consistent with hypotheses, the intervention increased disaster preparedness, reduced symptoms associated with depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and functional impairment, and increased peer-based help-giving and help-seeking. Mediation models indicated support for the underlying theoretical model, such that the effect of the intervention on preparedness was mediated by mental health, and that effects on mental health were likewise mediated by preparedness.
The community-based mental health-integrated disaster preparedness intervention is effective in improving mental health and preparedness among community members in Haiti vulnerable to natural hazards. This brief intervention has the potential to be scaled up for use with other communities vulnerable to earthquakes, seasonal flooding, and other natural hazards.
Journal Article
Uganda’s experience in Ebola virus disease outbreak preparedness, 2018–2019
Background
Since the declaration of the 10th Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in DRC on 1st Aug 2018, several neighboring countries have been developing and implementing preparedness efforts to prevent EVD cross-border transmission to enable timely detection, investigation, and response in the event of a confirmed EVD outbreak in the country. We describe Uganda’s experience in EVD preparedness.
Results
On 4 August 2018, the Uganda Ministry of Health (MoH) activated the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) and the National Task Force (NTF) for public health emergencies to plan, guide, and coordinate EVD preparedness in the country. The NTF selected an Incident Management Team (IMT), constituting a National Rapid Response Team (NRRT) that supported activation of the District Task Forces (DTFs) and District Rapid Response Teams (DRRTs) that jointly assessed levels of preparedness in 30 designated high-risk districts representing category 1 (20 districts) and category 2 (10 districts). The MoH, with technical guidance from the World Health Organisation (WHO), led EVD preparedness activities and worked together with other ministries and partner organisations to enhance community-based surveillance systems, develop and disseminate risk communication messages, engage communities, reinforce EVD screening and infection prevention measures at Points of Entry (PoEs) and in high-risk health facilities, construct and equip EVD isolation and treatment units, and establish coordination and procurement mechanisms.
Conclusion
As of 31 May 2019, there was no confirmed case of EVD as Uganda has continued to make significant and verifiable progress in EVD preparedness. There is a need to sustain these efforts, not only in EVD preparedness but also across the entire spectrum of a multi-hazard framework. These efforts strengthen country capacity and compel the country to avail resources for preparedness and management of incidents at the source while effectively cutting costs of using a “fire-fighting” approach during public health emergencies.
Journal Article
COVID-19 as a Natural Disaster: Focusing on Exposure and Vulnerability for Response
4 The World Bank discussed in a report that COVID-19 affects men and women differently and proposed to greater gender equality in related policies. 5 On the other hand, the COVID-19 consequences will raise vulnerability. 6 Faheem et al. estimated that for each percentage point reduction in the global economy, more than 10 million people are plunged into poverty worldwide. 7 According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, pandemics are classified as a natural hazard. [...]if the governments and non-governmental organizations decided to design an intervention, the entry point should be reducing vulnerabilities of individuals toward COVID-19. In complex systems, such as a country, the cause (policy) and effect (consequences) are often distant in time and space. [...]in the case of COVID-19 interventions, the government with a policy intended to solve the problems of the country.
Journal Article