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The Great East Japan Earthquake Disaster: Distribution of Hospital Damage in Miyagi Prefecture

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 June 2014

Sae Ochi ,
Atsuhiro Nakagawa ,
James Lewis ,
Susan Hodgson  and
Virginia Murray
Sae Ochi*
Affiliation:
MRC-HPA Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom Seisa University, Kanagawa, Japan
Atsuhiro Nakagawa
Affiliation:
Department of Neurosurgery/Emergency Medicine and Critical Care, Tohoku University Hospital, Miyagi, Japan
James Lewis
Affiliation:
Public Health England, Salisbury, United Kingdom
Susan Hodgson
Affiliation:
MRC-HPA Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
Virginia Murray
Affiliation:
MRC-HPA Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom Extreme Events and Health Protection, Public Health England, London, United Kingdom
*
Correspondence: Sae Ochi, MD, MPH, PhD MRC-HPA Centre for Environment and Health Imperial College London Norfolk Place London, United Kingdom W2 1PG E-mail sae.ochi11@imperial.ac.uk
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Abstract

Introduction

In catastrophic events, a key to reducing health risks is to maintain functioning of local health facilities. However, little research has been conducted on what types and levels of care are the most likely to be affected by catastrophic events.

Problem

The Great East Japan Earthquake Disaster (GEJED) was one of a few “megadisasters” that have occurred in an industrialized society. This research aimed to develop an analytical framework for the holistic understanding of hospital damage due to the disaster.

Methods

Hospital damage data in Miyagi Prefecture at the time of the GEJED were collected retrospectively. Due to the low response rate of questionnaire-based surveillance (7.7%), publications of the national and local governments, medical associations, other nonprofit organizations, and home web pages of hospitals were used, as well as literature and news sources. The data included information on building damage, electricity and water supply, and functional status after the earthquake. Geographical data for hospitals, coastline, local boundaries, and the inundated areas, as well as population size and seismic intensity were collected from public databases. Logistic regression was conducted to identify the risk factors for hospitals ceasing inpatient and outpatient services. The impact was displayed on maps to show the geographical distribution of damage.

Results

Data for 143 out of 147 hospitals in Miyagi Prefecture (97%) were obtained. Building damage was significantly associated with closure of both inpatient and outpatient wards. Hospitals offering tertiary care were more resistant to damage than those offering primary care, while those with a higher proportion of psychiatric care beds were more likely to cease functioning, even after controlling for hospital size, seismic intensity, and distance from the coastline.

Conclusions

Implementation of building regulations is vital for all health care facilities, irrespective of function. Additionally, securing electricity and water supplies is vital for hospitals at risk for similar events in the future. Improved data sharing on hospital viability in a future event is essential for disaster preparedness.

OchiS, NakagawaA, LewisJ, HodgsonS, MurrayV. The Great East Japan Earthquake Disaster: Distribution of Hospital Damage in Miyagi Prefecture. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2014;29(3):1-8.

Keywords

disaster planningearthquakeengineeringhospitalmaintenancespatial analysisurban
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 29 , Issue 3 , June 2014 , pp. 245 - 253
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2014 

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