Factors Related to Coastal Communities’ Water-Related Natural Disaster Awareness, Preparedness, Resilience and Recovery in Three Cyclone Nargis Affected Areas in the Ayeyarwaddy Delta Region, Myanmar

Abstract

Natural disasters have a negative impact on the socio-economy of a country. This cross-sectional analytical study determined the factors that influence coastal communities’ water-related disaster awareness, preparedness, resilience and recovery in Cyclone Nargis affected areas in Myanmar. A total of 390 respondents from the three townships most affected by Cyclone Nargis in the Ayeyarwaddy Delta Region were purposively selected. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 22.0. Associations between variables were analyzed by using binary logistic regression with p<0.05. Multivariate analysis was performed for the final model and interpreted with adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval. Among respondents, more than 75% were not only aware and prepared before the disaster but had recovered and demonstrated resilience following the disaster. The respondents who had problems recovering on the “financial” index were 0.5 times less likely to exhibit recovery (OR=0.558, 95% CI=0.346-0.899, p=0.016) in binary analysis. The respondents who had problems recovering on the “health” index were 0.3 times less likely to demonstrate recovery (OR=0.387, 95% CI=0.194-0.772, p=0.007) in multivariate analysis. It is recommended that awareness and disaster management education programs that shape behavioral change are initiated which target both rural and urban areas in Myanmar.