Essential Medical Supplies Research Articles

Management of Fracture-Related Infection in Conflict Zones: Lessons Learned from Medical Missions to Gaza

Background/Objectives: Fracture-related infections (FRIs) are a significant complication in conflict zones, where limited resources and damaged infrastructure complicate orthopedic care. Methods: This study retrospectively reviews the management of FRIs during medical missions to Gaza from April to July 2024. Results: Among 135 patients treated for war-related fractures, 30% were identified with suspected FRIs, which were primarily following explosive injuries. Contributing factors to the high incidence of infection included malnutrition, poor sanitation, and the scarcity of sterile surgical supplies. The absence of standard infection control measures further complicated treatment. Conclusions: These findings highlight the critical need for a comprehensive approach that incorporates infection prevention, sustainable healthcare planning, and quality assurance tailored to the realities of conflict zones. The study underscores the importance of international support to ensure the availability of essential medical supplies and to develop effective, context-specific strategies for infection management. By applying these insights, healthcare providers can improve patient outcomes and reduce the burden of FRIs in resource-limited settings affected by conflict.

How viruses spread across space and time: forecasting pandemic progression by modelling geographico-temporal interactions

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed severe flaws in the global healthcare systems ability to respond to unexpected health catastrophes. Much of the confusion and mishandling of the situation could be attributed to the failure in accurately predicting the spread of the virus across geographical locations. A global resource shortage in essential medical supplies and equipment, such as personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilators, led to a compromised global supply chain. As a result, resources could not be allocated as needed to curb the spread of the pathogen in the most efficacious way. Although forecast models and machine learning algorithms have served as invaluable tools in devising effective response strategies, a large majority of these models were limited by their ability to describe the intricate interactions that underlie the spatio-temporal dynamics of viral proliferation. To address this issue, we employed a vector autoregression model to help capture the evolution of the disease across both the spatial and the temporal axes. Unlike traditional autoregression models, the present model is able to account for statistical regularities that exist both within a given region, and between geographical locations. Our results demonstrate that this approach accurately described the relationships across domestic and international localities throughout the evolution of the disease.

Equitable Care for Children With a Tracheostomy: Addressing Challenges and Seeking Systemic Solutions.

Children with medical complexity (CMC) often face significant barriers to accessing care, obtaining appropriate insurance coverage for medical devices, technology, supplies, home nursingand social services. These challenges, when viewed through the lens of social determinants of health, highlight concerns about healthcare inequity. These inequities can impact CMC by limiting access to follow-up appointments, leading to disproportionate use of emergency department services, restricting support services, reducing the quality of medical productsand increasing the likelihood of adverse events. Addressing these concerns requires comprehensive policy changes at both state and federal levels. Achieving successful collaborations between states and federal agencies is particularly challenging and may take months or even years to accomplish. Through an exploratory qualitative approach, this study facilitates a nuanced inquiry into the experiences and systemic challenges encountered by medical professionals and primary caregivers managing CMC who require a paediatric tracheostomy. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 17 health professionals and primary caregivers residing in the United States. A thematic analysis was used to analyse the transcribed interview data. Using exploratory thematic analysis, we identified challenges and opportunities for improvement regarding (a) access to health insurance, (b) procurement of essential medical supplies, (c) logistical constraintsand (d) identifying interim solutions. Building on our findings, we discuss how socioecological factors impact health and quality of life of CMC and families. Additionally, we address the growing gap in quality of care through a comprehensive approach that considers patient needs, regulatory frameworksand affordability. Medical practitioners and healthcare professionals were actively involved in the development, productionand implementation of the research project. These individuals were given the opportunity to review their statements and review the manuscript before publishing. While caregivers did not engage in member checking, each provided their consent before data collection.

Design and Development of Multi-Featured Medical Stretcher

The multi-featured medical stretcher represents a significant leap forward in patient care and hospital operations. Its innovative design combines various features aimed at enhancing both patient comfort and healthcare worker efficiency. At the core of its design is a commitment to making patient movement easier and safer. Through its adjustable height mechanism, the stretcher can be tailored to individual patient needs and seamlessly integrated into various medical procedures. This adaptability not only enhances patient comfort but also facilitates smoother transitions between different stages of care. Furthermore, the inclusion of storage compartments ensures that essential medical supplies are readily accessible, minimizing disruptions during patient transport and treatment. This organizational feature not only saves time but also contributes to a more efficient workflow for healthcare workers. Importantly, the stretcher's ability to move patients from stretcher to bed with minimal human assistance is a game-changer. By reducing the reliance on manpower for transfers, it streamlines hospital operations and minimizes the risk of patient discomfort or injury during movement. Overall, the multi-featured medical stretcher represents a significant advancement in hospital equipment, offering a comprehensive solution to the challenges associated with patient transport. Its integration of comfort-enhancing features and efficiency-boosting functionalities marks a substantial improvement in patient care delivery and contributes to a smoother and safer hospital environment for both patients and healthcare workers alike.

A novel fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making for enhancing the management of medical waste generated during the coronavirus pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic significantly increased the use of essential medical supplies, resulting in a surge in medical waste generation. This surge has spurred extensive research into sustainable disposal methods for safe and environmentally responsible medical equipment management. Addressing this multifaceted issue falls within the domain of multi-criteria decision-making. This study presents a comprehensive framework for selecting optimal medical waste treatment methods, considering economic, technological, environmental, and social factors. This is the first study to address the problem of selecting a medical waste disposal technology using the Fuzzy Dombi Bonferroni. The mean operator to combine expert opinions, the fuzzy preference selection index method to evaluate the criteria and the fuzzy compromise ranking of alternatives from distance to ideal solution method to rank the alternatives. According to the weightings, the social dimension holds the highest significance at 0.3217. Disinfection efficiency ranks as the most critical criterion, weighing in at 0.0823. The autoclave is rated as the top disposal technique, with a utility function value of 5.4579. Sensitivity analyses ensured the stability and reliability of the models. The adaptability of the applied model to sustainable practices such as energy conversion, material recycling, and resource recovery represents an essential aspect of policymaking in waste management. This assessment can guide policy formulation or improvement processes for waste disposal.

Hidden cost of hospital-based delivery and associated factors among postpartum women attending public hospitals in Gamo zone, southern Ethiopia

BackgroundSince 2005, the healthcare system in Ethiopia has implemented policies to promote the provision of free maternal healthcare services. The primary goal of these policies is to enhance the accessibility of maternity care for women from various socioeconomic backgrounds. Additionally, the aim is to increase the utilization of maternity services, such as institutional deliveries, by removing financial obstacles that pregnant women may face. Even though maternity services are free of charge. The hidden cost has unquestionably been a key obstacle in seeking and utilizing health care services. Significant payments due to delivery services could create a heavy economic burden on households.ObjectivesTo determine the hidden cost of hospital-based delivery and associated factors among postpartum women attending public hospitals in Gamo zone, southern Ethiopia 2023.MethodsA facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 411 postpartum women in Gamo Zone Public Health Hospitals from December 1, 2022, to January 30, 2023. The systematic sampling technique was applied to reach study units. Data was collected using the Kobo Toolbox Data Collection Tool and exported to SPSS statistical software version 27 for analysis. Simple linear regression and multiple linear regression were done to see the association of variables. The significance level was declared at a P-value < 0.05 in the final model.ResultThe median hidden cost of hospital-based delivery was 1142 Ethiopian birr (ETB), with a range (Q) of 2262 (504–2766) ETB. Monthly income of the family (β = 0.019), obstetrics complications (β = 0.033), distance from the health facility (β = 0.003), and mode of delivery (β = 0.072), were positively associated with the hidden cost of hospital-based delivery. While, rural residence (β = −0.041) was negatively associated with the outcome variable.ConclusionThis study showed the hidden cost of hospital based delivery was relatively high. Residence, monthly income of the family, obstetric complications, mode of delivery, and distance from the health facility were statistically significant. It is important to take these factors into account when designing health intervention programs and hospitals should prioritize the availability of essential drugs and medical supplies within their facilities to address direct medical costs in hospitals.

AI Enabled MED Drone for Healthcare Application

The project proposes the development of an AI-enabled MedDrone for medication delivery, introducing an innovative and efficient solution to enhance healthcare logistics. The MedDrone, equipped with artificial intelligence capabilities, aims to revolutionize the process of medication delivery by leveraging autonomous aerial technology. The system integrates advanced algorithms to optimize route planning, ensuring timely and accurate delivery of medications to designated locations. The AI component enables the drone to adapt to real-time variables such as weather conditions and traffic, enhancing the reliability and responsiveness of the delivery process. This project addresses the challenges of traditional medication distribution, offering a futuristic and intelligent approach to healthcare logistics through the deployment of AI-enabled autonomous drones for efficient and timely medication delivery. The proposed system integrates AI algorithms for real-time route optimization, obstacle avoidance, and decision-making, enabling the drone to autonomously navigate complex environments and deliver essential medical supplies such as first aid kits, defibrillators, and medications to the point of need. Through the utilization of machine learning techniques, the drone continuously learns from its interactions with the environment, enhancing its adaptability and performance over time. Additionally, the system incorporates advanced communication technologies to enable seamless coordination with emergency responders and healthcare professionals, ensuring timely delivery and proper utilization of resources. The efficacy of the proposed AI-based medical drone system is demonstrated through simulations and real-world trials, highlighting its potential to revolutionize emergency response efforts and improve healthcare accessibility, particularly in challenging or resource-constrained environments.

Analyzing Korean Public Health Centers' Infectious Disease Disaster Response Experiences with a Focus on Business Continuity.

This study aims to provide basic data for establishing strategies to maintain the core functions of health centers, and enable an effective response to emergency tasks in the event of future infectious disease disasters. The participants were 41 workers from two public health centers in Seoul. They all had prior experience in responding to the early and middle stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected through Focus Group Discussions, and then analyzed using the deductive method of content analysis. The participants' experiences during the infectious disease disaster crisis were examined through ten categories: governance and coordination, information management, human resources, essential medical supplies and equipment, infrastructure, administration, finance and logistics, community engagement and risk communication, delivery of essential services, security, and additional considerations for vulnerable populations. The analysis of the results made it apparent that new systems and policies were imperative for responding appropriately to the concerns and experiences of the public healthcare center staff, and for improving the response to future epidemics. We found that to prepare for infectious disaster situations in the future, it is necessary for health centers to establish a mid- to long-term business continuity plan to ensure the continuation and stability of their operations. Additionally, it was found that health professionals in public health centers also believe in the necessity of education and training programs on disaster preparedness, based on Business Continuity Planning proposed by the World Health Organization. They deem these essential to sustain routine tasks for the management of the health of local community residents during outbreaks of novel infectious diseases in the future.

Staff Nurses Knowledge Regarding Utilization of Crash Cart in Hospitals at Meerut, UP

A crash cart also known as an emergency cart code. Cart is a mobile unit stocked with essential medical equipment and supplies used in emergency such as cardiac arrests or other life-threatening events in healthcare setting. It typically includes items like defibrillators, medications, airway management tools, and various medical instruments to facilitate immediate response and resuscitation efforts when a patient’s life is at risk. Drug administration is a fundamental part of every day in nursing profession. No medication is completely safe and protected in this manner. Therefore, nurses need to have an intensive and broad knowledge of the medications and its method of organization in the compelling treatment of patients whose life lies in her grasp. This study was conducted to assess the nurses‟ knowledge regarding utilization of crash cart. The objective of this current study was to assess the existing knowledge regarding the utilization of crash cart among staff nurses and to find out the association between the level of knowledge on utilization of crash cart among staff nurses with their selected socio-demographic variables. A quantitative research approach with exploratory descriptive design was adopted on 100 health care professionals in selected Chhatrapati Shivaji Subharti hospital at Meerut, UP. The sample were selected by using non-probability purposive sampling technique. The tool used to collect the data was to assess the knowledge regarding utilization of crash cart. The study findings shown that, out of 100, majority of the participants (74%) had good level of knowledge whereas on the other hand only (23%) had average knowledge and very less number of participants (3%) had poor level of knowledge regarding utilization of crash cart. There is no significant association between the knowledge score on utilization of crash cart with their selected socio-demographic variables. The study concluded that majority of the samples have good level of knowledge regarding utilization of crash cart.

Roles of health system leadership under emergency in drought-affected districts in northeast Uganda: a mixed-method study

ObjectiveHealth system leadership plays a critical role in sustaining healthcare delivery during emergencies. Thus, we aimed to assess the contribution of health system leadership in sustaining healthcare delivery under emergency...

Preparing healthcare facilities in sub-Saharan Africa for future outbreaks: insights from a multi-country digital self-assessment of COVID-19 preparedness

BackgroundDespite previous experience with epidemics, African healthcare systems were inadequately prepared and substantially impacted by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Limited information about the level of COVID-19 preparedness of healthcare facilities in Africa hampers policy decision-making to fight future outbreaks in the region, while maintaining essential healthcare services running.MethodsBetween May–November 2020, we performed a survey study with SafeCare4Covid − a free digital self-assessment application − to evaluate the COVID-19 preparedness of healthcare facilities in Africa following World Health Organization guidelines. The tool assessed (i) COVID-19-related capabilities with 31 questions; and (ii) availability of essential medical supplies with a 23-supplies checklist. Tailored quality improvement plans were provided after assessments. Information about facilities’ location, type, and ownership was also collected.ResultsFour hundred seventy-one facilities in 11 African countries completed the capability assessment; 412 also completed the supplies checklist. The average capability score on a scale of 0–100 (n=471) was 58.0 (interquartile range 40.0–76.0), and the average supplies score (n=412) was 61.6 (39.0–83.0). Both scores were significantly lower in rural (capability score, mean 53.6 [95%CI:50.3–57.0]/supplies score, 59.1 [55.5–62.8]) versus urban facilities (capability score, 65.2 [61.7–68.7]/supplies score, 70.7 [67.2–74.1]) (P<0.0001 for both comparisons). Likewise, lower scores were found for public versus private clinics, and for primary healthcare centres versus hospitals. Guidelines for triage and isolation, clinical management of COVID-19, staff mental support, and contact tracing forms were largely missing. Handwashing stations were partially equipped in 33% of facilities. The most missing medical supply was COVID-19 specimen collection material (71%), while 43% of facilities did not have N95/FFP2 respirators and 19% lacked medical masks.ConclusionsA large proportion of public and private African facilities providing basic healthcare in rural areas, lacked fundamental COVID-19-related capabilities and life-saving personal protective equipment. Decentralization of epidemic preparedness efforts in these settings is warranted to protect healthcare workers and patients alike in future epidemics. Digital tools are of great value to timely measure and improve epidemic preparedness of healthcare facilities, inform decision-making, create a more stakeholder-broad approach and increase health-system resilience for future disease outbreaks.

Medical Supply Transportation Scheduling in Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the world to its knees, with healthcare systems struggling to cope with the surge in demand for medical supplies. One of the major challenges faced by healthcare providers has been the transportation of essential medical supplies from manufacturers to hospitals and clinics. The pandemic has exposed the weaknesses in our supply chain systems and has highlighted the need for a more resilient and efficient transportation network. This project aims to investigate the medical supply problem during the pandemic, with a focus on transportation. It uses the Simple Heuristic Method and C programming language. The data generated using exponential distribution. The result shows that the application of the Simple Heuristic Method can minimize and optimize transportation time, providing a solution to the medical supply problem during pandemics. This project examine the challenges faced by healthcare providers in sourcing and transporting essential medical supplies and the impact of the pandemic on transportation networks. The results of this research provide valuable insights into the medical supply problem during pandemics and help inform the development of more effective transportation systems for the healthcare industry.

Challenges and Satisfaction of Employees in Medical Textile Company job during the COVID-19 in Tirupur Dt.

This study delves into the multifaceted experiences of employees working in the medical textile industry during the COVID-19 pandemic in Tiruppur District. It examines the challenges that employees encountered, including health concerns, disruptions in supply chains, increased workloads, and the emotional toll of uncertainty. The study also investigates the sources of satisfaction that employees derived from their roles, particularly their contribution to producing essential medical supplies and the sense of camaraderie that emerged amidst adversity. By analyzing these challenges and sources of satisfaction, this research sheds light on the intricate dynamics of the employee experience in a critical industry during unprecedented times. The findings underscore the resilience demonstrated by both employees and employers in adapting to new norms, prioritizing safety, and fostering a sense of purpose. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the interplay between challenges and satisfaction within the context of the medical textile sector in Tiruppur District during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Impact of the 2023 armed conflict on Sudan's healthcare system

AbstractThe armed conflict in Sudan erupted in mid‐April 2023, resulting in many casualties, internal displacement, and refugees. Sudan's health system was severely affected by multiple attacks on healthcare facilities and workers, closure of hospitals, and occupation of medical facilities by armed groups. Critical services such as immunization, nutrition, and emergency care have been suspended, disrupting health services in conflict states and increasing strain on neighboring states' healthcare facilities. The conflict also caused shortages of essential medical supplies, looting of healthcare facilities and humanitarian supplies, and destruction of infrastructure, affecting the supply chain and availability of healthcare resources. The deployment and distribution of the health workforce have become challenging and may lead to a further brain drain of healthcare professionals. The financial challenges in healthcare financing are expected to worsen due to the conflict's economic impact on fiscal space and fiscal capacity. The health system's governance has been affected by a leadership vacuum, and decision‐making may shift to the state level. The conflict has also exacerbated the burden of diseases, including communicable diseases, malnutrition, and mental health issues, with potential outbreaks of dengue fever, measles, and spikes of gender‐based violence reported. In response to the conflict, the restoration and maintenance the health system is pivotal via coordinating efforts between the Sudanese Ministry of Health and international partners. The safety of healthcare workers and the delivery of essential supplies need to be restored via strengthening compliance with international humanitarian law, pooling of funds, and services at primary care level. This commentary discusses the impact of the 2023 conflict on Sudan's health and health system, particularly on different building blocks of Sudan's health system as well as the burden of disease and humanitarian response priorities.

Environmental strategies for a healthcare system with green technology investment and pandemic effects

Today the healthcare industries struggle to cope with the ecological and social challenges for their customer services even while we are entering into a post-pandemic economy. Hospitals are quickly running out of essential medical supplies and firms are fraught to keep up with the rise in pent-up demand due to ongoing supply chain issues caused by the troubles from the pandemic. Therefore, we must design a sustainable inventory strategy for managing the healthcare supply chain (HSC) to ensure customer service and net-zero economy. This study explores sustainable inventory policies in a pandemic situation while considering the transport cost as proportional to COVID-19 intensity. We assume that the pharmaceuticals items have a predictable shelf-life and demand rate directly relates to the effectiveness of the investment in service facilities. The model incorporates the carbon emissions during the activities of transport, production, and storage, which are intended to be cut by green investment. The proposed scenario is modeled as an optimization problem and a solution approach has been designed for finding the sustainable inventory strategies such as order lot-size, delivery lead time, amount of green and service investment with the objective of reducing CO2 and overall cost. Key managerial insights into the influence of pandemic are extracted through the study of numerical and sensitivity. The suggested model is validated in the healthcare sector. The novelty of this research is examining the effect of green investment and COVID-19 pandemic on HSC. This work also reveals how green technology can play a vital role in managing the HSC issues caused by the pandemic in the post-COVID-19 environment.

Period Poverty: An Added Poverty In Humanitarian Crisis.

The term 'period poverty' is broadly used, indicating an individual's need for menstrual products without sufficient funds to purchase them (1). Period poverty is defined as “a lack of access to menstrual products”. More than half of the world's population are menstruating people; therefore in a situation specifically during a humanitarian crisis, high-period poverty becomes challenging (2). Period poverty, like other types of poverty, is a worldwide issue and it is frequently used when people are unable to access menstrual products due to their low socioeconomic level. These items could include sanitary napkins, inner garments, and other hygiene items. It can significantly impact an individual's life, but the stigma surrounding periods poses a greater threat to women's health because it discourages people from discussing it. Several factors, including hygiene facilities, waste management, and education, pose physical, mental, and emotional challenges for numerous women. More than half of the world's population menstruates; therefore, high-period poverty becomes a challenge, especially during humanitarian crises (2). It is usually observed that adolescents and young women are frequently underrepresented populations in humanitarian settings, particularly in times of conflict like forced displacement, armed conflict, or natural catastrophes. Wherever a disaster strikes, search and rescue teams prioritize helping those evacuated to shelters and supporting efforts to provide basic necessities like food and water. As a result, other urgent needs of displaced populations, particularly displaced girls and women, may be overlooked (4). It has been observed from the global humanitarian crises, that menstruation and hygiene products such as wipes, soaps, and other menstrual products were the most important things they needed at that time (5). During the recent floods (June- Aug 2022) in Pakistan, over 33 million people were affected, and over 6.4 million required humanitarian assistance. Approximately 634 thousand people were compelled to reside in camps. Access to healthcare facilities, personnel, and essential medications and medical supplies was restricted (6)More than eight million women of reproductive age affected by floods took extreme measures to manage their periods, such as one woman who described how she had to use tree leaves during her period. (7). Post-disaster relief and rehabilitation operations rarely prioritize the menstrual hygiene needs of women. Nonetheless, there is a growing awareness of the importance of integrating comprehensive, participatory, and gender-sensitive approaches into response programs with a focus on meeting the needs of women (8). ---Continue

The consequences of Sudan’s armed conflict on public health: a closer look at the devastating impact

The consequences of Sudan’s armed conflict on public health: a closer look at the devastating impact

Protection and Maintenance of Healthcare Services for Civilians’ Well-Being in Conflict Affected Areas: Comparative Analysis of The African Situation

Purpsoe: Medical neutrality refers to a globally accepted principle derived from International humanitarian law (IHL), International Human Rights Law and Medical Ethics. It is based on the principles of non-interference with medical services in times of armed conflict and civil unrest. It promotes the freedom for physicians and aid personnel to care for the sick and wounded, and to receive care regardless of political affiliation. The purpose of this study was to examine comparatively, the extent in which humanitarian aid access, healthcare facilities and healthcare professionals are protected in conflict affected areas in Africa. The protection of health personnel, health services and humanitarian workers is no longer respected. This compromises the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 3 – towards health for all, and 16 – towards justice and peace.&#x0D; Methdology: The study was guided by Andersen’s Behavioral Model of health service of 1995. Methodological wise, the study was depended on desktop review of empirical research including the works of Ramadan (2020) on availability of primary healthcare services in conflict affected areas as well as the works of Altare et al (2020) on the experience of women, children and adolescents in conflicts affected areas among others.&#x0D; Findings: The findings show that, limited infrastructure, lack of skilled personnel, and shortages of essential medical supplies hinder access to healthcare services, creating a significant gap in humanitarian aid for civilians in these areas. The study also reveals the vulnerability of health facilities and healthcare workers to attacks during conflicts, emphasizing the need for enhanced protection measures. Destruction of communication infrastructure and disrupted transportation further impede the functioning of health facilities and the delivery of critical services. The study underscores the limited access to humanitarian aid, the need for greater protection of health facilities, and the challenges in safeguarding healthcare professionals in conflict affected areas in Africa.&#x0D; Recommendations: The study recommends prioritization of the protection of health facilities and healthcare professionals, enhanced security measures, advocacy for International Humanitarian Law (IHL), support for healthcare infrastructure, improved access to healthcare, facilitation of humanitarian aid, support for peacebuilding initiatives and strengthening of monitoring and accountability by African Nations.&#x0D;

Bringing revolution through quadcopter technology in the field of supplying medicine in the Himalayan regions of Uttarakhand: Case example of Pithoragarh.

Quadcopters are used in various forms in the civil arena, from crop insurance to agricultural drones, as loudspeakers for announcing government guidelines, resilience tools in infrastructure monitoring, real-time vehicle detection, etc. However, the usage of quadcopters and hexacopters in supplying medical aid to inhospitable and far-flung terrains is being studied and researched in less detail throughout the globe. This paper focuses on the basics of quadcopter technology in supplying medicines and its advantages to the affected patients who get life-saving medicines from earlier inaccessible roads. The efficacy of quadcopters in terms of time, economy, and manpower in supplying essential and inescapable medical supplies is exponentially high, especially in the Pithoragarh Region of Uttarakhand State, where the villages are not connected to the roads. The road structure of the hilly terrain of Uttarakhand, India, was studied in detail to know the state of people who do not get access to life-saving drugs due to the non-availability of roads near them. The result informs us that the quad/hexacopter if used in abundance can provide a glimmer of hope to people in remote places. The quadcopter can provide hope to the residents of the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, India, located in far-flung places devoid of basic medical facilities.

Nurses' preparedness for disaster response in rural and urban primary healthcare settings in Tanzania.

Nurses are often on the frontline of disaster management, providing care to patients with emerging physical, mental, and emotional turbulence, and acting as educators for health promotion and disaster prevention in both rural and urban contexts. However, the literature suggests that nurses are inadequately prepared for disaster response. This study examined preparedness for disaster response among nurses in rural and urban primary healthcare settings in Tanzania. This qualitative descriptive study involved purposefully selected qualified nurses and nurse administrators working in rural (n=20) and urban (n=11) primary healthcare facilities in Tanzania. Telephone-based interviews were conducted to gather data that were then analyzed thematically. Five themes emerged from the analysis: previous experiences, technical capacity, current strategies, challenges, and overall preparedness. Previous experiences included personally caring for victims, working in disaster response teams, working in administrative roles during disasters, and conducting community sensitization. Most nurses in rural contexts had not received training on disaster response and relied on past experience, knowledge from nursing school, observing peers, and knowledge from the internet and movies. Current strategies for disaster response included response teams (although these were considered 'weak'), ensuring the availability of equipment and supplies, and infrastructure for victim management. Challenges in disaster response included inadequate resources, understaffing, lack of expertise at primary healthcare facilities, nurses tasked with multiple responsibilities, inadequate technical capacity, fears of infection, poor interpersonal relationships, inadequate community knowledge, poor reporting systems, delayed healthcare seeking, long distances to facilities, and poor road infrastructure. These challenges were more pronounced in rural settings. Most nurses felt they were well prepared to respond to disasters, although this appeared to be rooted in a willingness to provide care rather than having adequate knowledge, skills, and resources for disaster response. Suggestions for better preparing nurses for disaster response included training, increasing essential equipment and medical supplies, increasing the nursing workforce, improving reporting systems, disseminating local guidelines, strengthening disaster response teams, and improving the nursing training curricula to cover disaster management. A range of institutional, individual, and community challenges affect nurses' preparedness for disaster response in rural and urban primary healthcare settings. Addressing these challenges requires multiple strategies that extend beyond the capacity building of nurses to strengthen health system disaster preparedness in general, prioritizing rural contexts.