Impacts of flood on health: epidemiologic evidence from Hanoi, Vietnam

• Published in: Global health action 2011-01, Vol.4 (1), p.6356-8
• Main Authors: Bich, Tran Huu, Quang, La Ngoc, Thanh Ha, Le Thi, Duc Hanh, Tran Thi, Guha-Sapir, Debarati
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Capital; Cause of Death; Cluster: Health and Health Systems Impact of Natural Disasters; Communes; Conjunctivitis - epidemiology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dengue - epidemiology; Dengue fever; Dermatitis; Dermatitis - epidemiology; Disasters; Environmental Exposure - adverse effects; Environmental Exposure - prevention & control; Female; Flood control; flooding; Floods; food; health impacts; Health problems; Health services; Health Status; Health Status Indicators; Households; Humans; Hypertension; Infectious diseases; Interviews as Topic; Male; Mental Disorders - epidemiology; Mental health; Mitigation; Morbidity; Mortality; natural disaster; Natural disasters; Prevention; Prone; Psychological problems; Rainfall; Rural Population - statistics & numerical data; Surveys and Questionnaires; Urban Population - statistics & numerical data; Vietnam - epidemiology; Vulnerability; Wounds and Injuries - epidemiology
• ISSN: 1654-9716; 1654-9880; 1654-9880
• DOI: 10.3402/gha.v4i0.6356

Vietnam is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. The country suffers from many kinds of natural disasters, of which the most common and serious one is flooding. Long and heavy rainfall during the last days of October and the first week of November 2008 resulted in a devastating flood unseen for over three decades in the capital city of Hanoi. It caused a substantial health impact on residents in and around the city and compromised the capacity of local health services. Objective The aim of this study is to ascertain the vulnerability and health impacts of the devastating flood in Hanoi by identifying the differences in mortality, injuries, and morbidity patterns (dengue, pink eye, dermatitis, psychological problems, and hypertension) between flood affected and non-affected households. Design A cross-sectional study was carried out involving 871 households in four selected communes (two heavily flood affected and two comparatively less affected) from two severely flooded districts of Hanoi. Participants were interviewed and information collected on the social, economic, and health impacts of the devastation within 1 month after the flood. Results The self-reported number of deaths and injuries reported in this study within 1 month after the heavy rainfall were a bit higher in severely affected communes as compared to that of the less affected communes of our study. The findings showed higher incidences of dengue fever, pink eye, dermatitis, and psychological problems in communes severely affected by flood as compared to that of the controlled communes. Conclusions For people in flood prone areas (at risk for flooding), flood prevention and mitigation strategies need to be seriously thought through and acted upon, as these people are exposed to greater health problems such as psychological issues and communicable diseases such as pink eye or dermatitis.