Impacts on health and health care after flooding in Banprakue, Pralub Subdistrict, Muang District, Khon Kaen Province.

Abstract

          Flooding is a disaster that may affect personal life. The purpose of this descriptive research was to explore the impact of flooding occurring on health and health care. The samples were those who lived in Mooh 16, Banprakue Village, Pralub subdistrict, Muang distriact, Khon Kaen Province. One-hundred and sixty participants took part in the study. The questionnaires were used for data collection including demographic data and health issues. The general health questionnaire (GHQ-12 Plus-R) was used to evaluate mental health problems. Data were collected between September- October 2011and were analyzed as percentages, means and standard deviation.

          The majority of samples had systemic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, breast cancer and gastritis. One-hundred and twenty-nine (80.63%) drunk alcohol regularly. After flooding, the most common disease was Athlete’s foot (0.62 %). The main result revealed that most of samples did not develop mental problems. Only 8.75% of participants had serious mental problems regarding isolation, paranoid, eating troubles and sleeping problems. When having a disease or health problems, most samples would go to see health professionals and received treatments at the health promotion hospitals and other hospitals. The first three supports that samples needed were the investment, consumer goods and places to live respectively.