The health effects of the 2020 Bangladesh floods in the rural and isolated areas

Abstract

Background and Aim: In Bangladesh, severe floods occurred in 2020, and the health effects such flood disasters in the rural areas are not clear. Identifying the environmental risk factors in health after the disaster is crucial for mitigating health burdens. The study aims to describe the effects of floods on the worsening of the perceived health conditions and identify those environmental risk factors in the rural and isolated coastal areas, which are severely affected by the 2020 Bangladesh floods. Methods: The questionnaire survey was conducted in the coastal areas of two upazilas (sub-districts) (Amtoli & Golachipa) in August 2021. By using logistic regression analysis, we evaluated the health effects according to the affected levels, evacuation status, sanitation, access to drinking water/food (within 3days) and medicine (within 7days) in the early emergency phase, and access to the prescription medications during floods. Results: Among 168 participants, 82.1% of people were affected (partially inundated: 29.8% and inundated: 52.4%), and 43.5% were evacuated to some places. Water supply (57.14%) and sanitation (73.80%) were severely disrupted and more than half of the participants could not access drinking water (57.1%), food (54.2%), and medicine (65.6%) in the early emergency phase. During floods, about 35% of people were difficult to get needed medicines, and 62.5% were experienced diarrhoea in their household members. People without accessing the medicine during floods had more experiences of diarrhoea [Odds ratio: 2.18 (95% CI: 1.08-4.38)], worsening their mental health [3.31 (1.69-6.46)] compared with people who could access. Childhood malnutrition, mental health problems and worsening chronic disease (hypertension/diabetes) in their family were more likely observed among people affected or evacuated. Conclusion: In the isolated coastal areas, the disaster severely disrupted sanitation and access to adequate services and exaggerated the health conditions. Further investigations immediately after the disaster should be conducted in rural areas.