Citation

Qin YJ, Liu JH, Xie YJ, Wang SL, Liu XL, Loke AY, Mo BR. Disaster Med. Public Health Prep. 2022; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Publisher Cambridge University Press)

DOI

10.1017/dmp.2021.354

PMID

35179106

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This survey examined and compared the disaster perception and preparedness of 2421 residents with and without chronic disease in Shenzhen, China.

METHODS: The participants were recruited and were asked to complete a survey in 2018.

RESULTS: Three types of disasters considered most likely to happen in Shenzhen were: typhoons (73.5% vs 74.9%), major transport accidents (61.5% vs 64.7%), and major fires (60.8% vs 63.0%). Only 5.9% and 5% of them, respectively, considered infectious diseases pandemics to be likely. There were significant differences between those with and without chronic disease in disaster preparedness, only a small percentage could be considered to have prepared for disaster (20.7% vs 14.5%). Logistic regression analyses showed that those aged 65 or older (odds ratio [OR] = 2.76), who had attained a Master's degree or higher (OR = 2.0), and with chronic disease (OR = 1.38) were more prepared for disasters.

CONCLUSIONS: Although participants with chronic disease were better prepared than those without, overall, Shenzhen residents were inadequately prepared for disasters and in need of public education.

Language: en

Keywords

chronic disease; disaster planning; disaster preparedness; perceptions of disaster