Health Needs Assessment in Mass Emergencies

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Questions and Answers

What factor contributed to infants being protected against decreased food intake during disasters?

Access to emergency food supplies

Breastfeeding (correct)

Older children's ability to secure food

Community support programs

What misconception did the study identify regarding older children's ability during disasters?

They are unaffected by food shortages.

They require assistance from adults.

They can find food as well as adults. (correct)

They do not need to secure food.

What has been identified as a key element in improving health management during disasters?

Emergency response training

Rapid assessment for early warning (correct)

Inaccurate record-keeping

Long-term recovery planning

What is described as a significant factor influencing mortality and morbidity in disasters?

Socioeconomic and health conditions Signup and view all the answers

Which group showed increased vulnerability to famine according to the study?

Specific occupational groups within the community Signup and view all the answers

Which decade saw the greatest increase in mortality from disasters?

1970-1979 Signup and view all the answers

What does the study suggest about the differential health impact of disasters within communities?

It indicates the need for tailored assessment techniques. Signup and view all the answers

What is a necessary component for planning rapid responses in mass emergencies?

Comprehensive disaster assessments Signup and view all the answers

Which disaster type exhibits the highest lethality increase between 1960-1979?

Earthquakes Signup and view all the answers

What were the estimated emergency relief disbursements each year?

Over US$ 1 billion Signup and view all the answers

What determines the differential impact of disasters on populations?

Type of disaster and subgroup vulnerability Signup and view all the answers

What is the mortality rate increase for earthquakes from the earlier to the later decade?

From 750 to 4,871 Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following disasters is cited as having illustrated the need for a professional approach to mass emergency responses?

Sahelian famines Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary factor contributing to the increase in disaster-related mortality in developing countries?

Rampant urbanization and environmental degradation Signup and view all the answers

How do fatalities from earthquakes in Managua and San Fernando Valley illustrate the impact of socioeconomic conditions?

Nicaraguan deaths can be attributed to lack of infrastructure. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of health management in disasters is characterized as purely charitable exercises?

Ad hoc emergency response Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following contributes to the inefficiencies in disaster health management?

Inappropriate and delayed response Signup and view all the answers

What is a common misconception about the relationship between socioeconomic factors and disaster mortality?

Natural disasters affect all countries equally. Signup and view all the answers

What type of emergency aid is often criticized for being ineffective?

Charitable and disorganized relief efforts Signup and view all the answers

In assessing the long-term consequences of disasters, which of the following aspects is often overlooked?

Stress from nutritional deficiencies Signup and view all the answers

What demographic factor is significant in determining disaster-related mortality?

Age distribution of the community Signup and view all the answers

What age group demonstrated a higher vulnerability to disaster mortality according to the presented data?

Children aged 5-9 years Signup and view all the answers

Which disaster type showed the most significant increase in mortality rate from 1960-1969 to 1970-1979?

Famine Signup and view all the answers

What was the mortality rate per 1,000 exposed for cyclones during the period of 1960-1969?

43.0 Signup and view all the answers

How did the mortality from floods compare between 1960-1969 and 1970-1979?

Increased slightly Signup and view all the answers

What critical factor is suggested for improving the response to emergencies?

Rationalizing the response Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the observation made by De Bruycker et al. regarding children during crises?

They are cared for more during crises. Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of disaster mortality showed a 'very high' importance of change in the 1970-1979 period compared to 1960-1969?

Famine Signup and view all the answers

What is one reason proposed for the increased mortality in older children during disasters?

Decreased parental care during crises Signup and view all the answers

What was the total population affected by the Sumpango earthquake in Guatemala in 1976?

10,850 Signup and view all the answers

How many reported deaths were there due to the Sumpango earthquake?

377 Signup and view all the answers

Which age group showed higher mortality rates following the Sumpango earthquake?

Children >2 years Signup and view all the answers

Which factor did NOT appear to be associated with disaster-related mortality according to the studies referenced?

Meteorological conditions Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of reports reflected mortality in relation to population after the earthquake?

3.5% Signup and view all the answers

What common misconception might people have about children's roles during disasters?

Children should handle emergencies independently. Signup and view all the answers

Who noted the vulnerability patterns in communities affected by disasters?

Guha-Sapir et al. Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the linked factors to disaster-related mortality identified in studies?

Time of strike Signup and view all the answers

What was the mortality rate per event for low-income economies?

3,300 Signup and view all the answers

Which category shows the lowest mortality rate per 1,000 population?

High income Signup and view all the answers

How does the mortality rate per 1,000 kilometers compare between middle-income and high-income economies?

Middle income is higher Signup and view all the answers

What does a '++++' increase signify in the context provided?

10 fold increase Signup and view all the answers

Based on the given tables, which characteristic highlights the disparity in disaster mortality by economic levels?

Higher mortality in low-income as compared to high-income Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following figures corresponds to the mortality per 1,000 population for middle-income economies?

28 Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'deaths directly attributable to the famine' refer to?

Deaths specifically caused by famine Signup and view all the answers

In the comparison of earthquake characteristics, which year corresponds to the Managua earthquake?

1972 Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Rapid Assessment of Health Needs in Mass Emergencies

Disasters increasingly require international aid and emergency relief.
Millions of dollars are spent annually on emergency relief.
Events like Sahelian famines, Tangshan and Mexico earthquakes, and Armero eruption highlighted the need for improved disaster response and preparedness in developing countries.
There's a significant rise in disaster mortality rates between 1960-1969 and 1970-1979.
Mortality increased from 750 per event to 4871 (Table 1).

Differential Disaster Impact

Natural disaster impact varies by type and population subgroup vulnerability.
Mortality related to earthquakes is significantly higher in recent decades.
Countries with lower GNP generally have higher disaster mortality and morbidity (Table 2).
Socioeconomic factors strongly influence disaster outcomes.
A smaller earthquake in Managua (Nicaragua) resulted in over 5,000 deaths, compared to 60 in San Fernando Valley, California (Table 3).
Children aged 5-9 are more vulnerable to earthquake injuries and death than younger children (Fig 1).

Disaster Mortality by Economic Level

Higher mortality rates per event are observed in low-income countries (Table 2).
Mortality rates per 1,000 population and per 1,000 km² are higher in low-income countries.

Comparison of Earthquakes (Managua vs. San Fernando Valley)

Managua (1972) Earthquake: 5.6 Richter scale, 100 km² destruction, 5,000 deaths, 20,000 injuries, 420,000 affected.
San Fernando Valley (1971) Earthquake: 6.6 Richter scale, 1,500 km² destruction, 60 deaths, 2,540 injuries, 7 million affected.

Age-Specific Mortality - Guatemala Earthquake

Higher mortality was observed among older children in Guatemala, 1976 (Fig 1).

Inefficiency of Health Relief and Role of Better Assessment

Current emergency aid often lacks proper needs assessment, resulting in inappropriate and delayed responses.
Relief resources frequently arrive considerably after the immediate crisis and become irrelevant.
There's a need for rapid assessment to ensure resources are directed effectively.
Inappropriate aid (e.g., blankets to Nepal instead of India, irrelevant medical supplies) highlights the need for accurate assessments.
Poor assessment often leads to inefficient use of limited health resources.

Information Needs and Assessment Procedures in Disasters

Information needs depend on disaster type and the assessment time phase.
Types of disasters include rapid-onset (earthquakes, flash floods) and slow-onset (floods, famines).
Assessment phases include baseline, post-impact, immediate relief, secondary relief, rehabilitation, and evaluation.
Time constraints necessitate modifications to conventional assessment methods in emergencies.
Accurate assessment is crucial, especially in rapidly evolving situations.

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Description

This quiz covers the critical aspects of assessing health needs during mass emergencies. It explores the impacts of disasters on mortality, especially in developing countries, and examines how socioeconomic factors influence disaster outcomes. Learn about the historical context and the significance of improved disaster response.