Risk factors threatening health care facilities in disasters and emergencies

Abstract

Background: Iran is exposed to a wide variety of natural and man-made hazards. Health care facilities can play a significant role in providing lifesaving measures in the minutes and hours immediately following impact or exposure. The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors threatening the preparedness of health care facilities in disasters and emergencies. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Damghan, Semnan province in 2019. The samples consist of all the eleven health care facilities which are located in Damghan County. A developed checklist including 272 questions in four sections; understanding threatening hazards, functional, structural and non-structural vulnerability of health care facilities was used to collect the data. The data were analyzed using STATA 11 software. The risk factors were determined and prioritized based on mean and total vulnerability score. Results: The results showed that the health care facilities were exposed to 22 different natural and man-made hazards throughout the county. The overall preparedness of the health care centers was 45%. The average functional, structural, and nonstructural vulnerability was assessed at 40.58%, 45.12%, and 50%, respectively. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed an average preparedness of the health care facilities in the studied area. Conducting the mitigation measures is necessary for reducing the structural and non-structural vulnerability. Disaster educational programs and exercises are recommended among the health staff in order to increase the functional capacity and enhance the preparedness in the HCFs at time of emergencies and disasters.