Showing 6 results for Earthquake
A Ardalan, K Holakouie Naieni, Mr Aflatounian, M Nekouie, Re Laporte, Ek Noji,
Volume 1, Issue 1 (12-2005)
Abstract
Background and Objective: On 26 December 2003, an earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale struck the city of Bam and the surrounding villages. This study was conducted to determine the needs of the affected population on the 19th and 20th days after the quake to help with the prioritization of relief activities and efficient resource allocation.
Materials and Methods: Following a feasibility study on 10 Jan 2004, a team consisting of volunteer students of School of Public Health at KUMS was assembled and trained. Each of the 8 groups consisted of 3-4 students with at least 1 man responsible for security on the field. On the 13th and 14th of January, using a cross-sectional design, 60 clusters including 420 households, 7 households in each cluster, were studied based on a Cluster Geographic-Based Sampling (GBS) Plan.
Results: Fifty-five households (13.1%) had children < 2 years, 81 (19.3 %) had children aged 2-5 years and 68 (16.2 %) contained people more than 65 years old. Thirty-seven households (8.9%, CI 95%: 6.4-11.7%) had changed their residence in Bam from one zone to another the main reason for this was poor environmental health conditions (85%). The main source of health and social messages for families was word of mouth 284 (67.6%). The most commonly needed items were bathrooms (73.8 %, CI 95%: 68.9-78.7%), food (68.8 %, CI 95%: 62.6-75.0%) and warm clothes (67.4 %, CI 95%: 60.9-73.8%). The most frequent illness was acute respiratory infection (59.8 %, CI 95%: 54.3-65.2%). Two hundred households (47.6%, CI 95%: 42.6-52.6%) complained of difficulties in obtaining health and medical services. The main barrier to access was transportation problems due to long distance (38.1%, CI 95%: 35.6-40.6%).
Conclusion: We conclude that relief operations should be continued to provide basic public health facilities. Active delivery of health and medical services should be strengthened, and problems related to reproductive health should not be ignored. The GBS plan is a useful tool in the post-disaster surveys. Using volunteer university students was a rewarding experience and teaching and application of "Disaster Epidemiology" should be improved in this country.
A Ardalan, K Holakouie Naieni, Ek Noji, Re Laporte, Mr Aflatounian, M Nekouie Moghadam,
Volume 2, Issue 3 (3-2006)
Abstract
Background & Objectives: The widely differing casualty rates in earthquakes of similar magnitude indicate a need for assessing the factors that determine the extent of damage to life and property. The present study looks at the structural factors and individual characteristics that had an effect on the risk of death and injury directly caused by the December 2003 earthquake in Bam.
Methods: The study population consisted of the residents of Bam on the 19th and 20th days after the earthquake of December 25, 2003. Using a cluster sampling method based on geographic location, we selected 420 households for study and asked them for information on the family members who were inside their houses at the time of the quake. The information covered the following range of items: occurrence of death or injury leading to ambulatory treatment or hospitalization, and characteristics of the building. We used logistic regression and the software package Stata 8.0 for data analysis.
Results: A total of 2089 individuals, including 1089 men (52.1%) and 1000 women (47.9%) took part in this study. There were 369 cases of death (17.7%, 95%CI=12.6-17.8%), 122 injuries needing hospitalization (5.8%, 95%CI=4.5-7.1%), and 319 cases of injury treated on an ambulatory basis (15.3%, 95%CI=12.6-17.8%), all as a direct result of the earthquake. Factors associated with increased risk of death were building destruction (OR=6.34, 95%CI=3.56-11.29), living in adobe structures (OR=1.87, 95%CI =1.03-3.4), age under 6 years (OR=3.93, 95%CI=2.17-7.11) and age 56-65 years (OR=2.52, 95%CI=1.23-5.15). Risk factors for injuries were the same as for death, with the notable exception of the building material.
Conclusions: This was the first analytic study of the risk factors for earthquake-related deaths in Iran. It revealed that total building destruction, residing in houses built with non-resistant materials, and extremes of age are significant risk factors for death in an earthquake. As for injuries, the risk factors were total building destruction and extremes of age.
I Najafi , M Hosseini , S Safari , A Shojaee, A Sharifi, M Mehrani , R Babaee ,
Volume 5, Issue 4 (3-2010)
Abstract
Background & objectives: In the management of crush syndrome, the way of treating compartment syndrome is controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of compartment syndrome treatment after Bam earthquake.
Methods: Clinical and laboratory findings of all fasciotomized patients in Bam earthquake were analyzed. Then nonfasciotomized patients with same characteristics were selected and the outcomes of two groups were compared.
Results: Fasciotomy for 107 injured out of 2962 hospitalized patients, was performed (46% female). Mean age of fasciotomized patients was 27.4±9.7 years (min=10, max=65 year). There were not significant differences in the final outcome of two groups with the same clinical, biochemical and demographic characteristics.
Conclusions: Fasciotomy for 107 injured out of 2962 hospitalized patients, was performed (46% female). Mean age of fasciotomized patients was 27.4±9.7 years (min=10, max=65 year). There were not significant differences in the final outcome of two groups with the same clinical, biochemical and demographic characteristics.
S Asgharzadeh, K Holakouie Naieni, A Ardalan, E Ahmadnezhad , S Zaeri,
Volume 8, Issue 1 (7-2012)
Abstract
Background & Objectives: Earthquakes cause thousands of deaths and injuries worldwide every year.
Islamic Republic of Iran has a deadly history of earthquakes. The aim of this
study is to describe injuries rate, causes of injuries, structural
characteristics of buildings and occupant actions immediately after earthquake
in Damghan in 2010.
Methods: This case-study was conducted one week after occurring the
earthquake in five villages of Damghan city in Iran. We used the Physical
Injuries Assessment Questionnaire which was particularly designed for injuries
after earthquakes. Also for acquiring information about region and amount of
losses, some interviews was conduct with local authorities.
Results: Four death and fifty six injuries occurred in five villages of
Damghan city. There were three types of injuries including superficial injuries
(50%), contusions (35%) and fractures (10%). The findings of this study indicating building
structural failure (87.4%), nonstructural factors (7.1%) and trapping (5.3%) seems
the most possible cause of injuries in this region.
Conclusion: This study showed that the building structural failure is the main cause of
injuries (87.4%). Increasing structural
resistance of building especially in village regions and education about
earthquake preparedness should encourage in order decreasing the total number
of people affected by earthquake.
Normal
S Daneshi, Aa Haghdoost, Mr Baneshi, F Zolala,
Volume 10, Issue 3 (12-2014)
Abstract
Background & Objectives: After an earthquake, casualty information is needed for planning and providing health care. However, developing countries do not have an efficient health information system even in normal conditions. In these countries, health information systems become worse in critical conditions. The aim of this study was to estimate the number of mortalities, limb amputations, and spinal cord injuries after the Bam earthquake.
Methods: In this cross sectional study, the network scale up method was used to estimate the number of casualties. We selected 80 residents of Bam and asked them whether they knew any one with spinal cord injury or limb amputation in three houses on the right and three houses on the left.
Results: The total estimated number of deaths was 54,041 in the earthquake. The number of people with spinal cord injury and limb amputation was 622 and 519, respectively.
Conclusion: For tertiary prevention measures and better resource allocation, an accurate health information system is needed. In the absence of such a system, there are limitations in using direct methods. It sounds that the network scale up method is an appropriate method for estimating such casualties.
F Najafi, Gh Moradi, M Mohamadi Bolbanabad , S Rezaei, R Safari Faramani , B Karami Matin , B Piroozi, S Darvishi, T Mohamadi, Sh Amiri Hoseini, B Zarei, A Azadnia,
Volume 16, Issue 3 (11-2020)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: On 12 November 2017, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 on the Richter scale occurred in Kermanshah Province. Explaining the challenges and needs of the victims in such circumstances can be an important source of information for future planning and better management of such conditions. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explain the challenges and needs of the earthquake victims.
Methods: This study was a qualitative study. Twenty-nine semi-structured interviews were conducted with managers, policymakers, and health and emergency relief providers in earthquake areas, and 10 focused group discussions were held with earthquake victims from December to February 2016. The data were analyzed using conventional content analysis.
Results: The needs and challenges in Kermanshah earthquake were classified into three periods after the earthquake: 1. Challenges and needs in the first few days with three sub-categories including management, rescue services, and urgent care, 2- Challenges and needs in the first few weeks after the earthquake with three sub-categories including housing and emergency assistance, public health services, and access to health care; and 3. Needs and challenges in several months after the earthquake with four sub-categories including economic, social, infrastructural and health service needs.
Conclusion: Lack of unity of command was the main challenge in this earthquake. Another point was the health needs of victim earthquakes over time. Therefore, dispatching of aid forces to the affected areas during natural disasters should be based on planning and needs.
