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Assessment of the Health Impacts of the 2011 Summer Floods in Brisbane

Part of: Floods collection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 April 2013

Katarzyna Alderman ,
Lyle R. Turner  and
Shilu Tong
Katarzyna Alderman
Affiliation:
School of Public Health and Social Work, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
Lyle R. Turner
Affiliation:
School of Public Health and Social Work, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
Shilu Tong*
Affiliation:
School of Public Health and Social Work, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Shilu Tong, PhD, School of Public Health and Social Work, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Victoria Park Rd, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059 Australia (e-mail s.tong@qut.edu.au).
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Abstract

Objective

To assess the effects of the 2011 floods in Brisbane, Australia, on residents’ physical and mental health.

Methods

Residents who had been affected by the floods completed a community-based survey that examined the direct impact of flooding on households and their perceived physical and mental health. Outcome variables included overall and respiratory health and mental health outcomes related to psychological distress, sleep quality, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the association between flooding and perceived health outcome variables, adjusted for current health status and sociodemographic factors.

Results

Residents whose households were directly affected by flooding were more likely to report poor overall (Odds Ratio [OR] 5.3; 95% CI, 2.8-10.1) and respiratory (OR 2.3; 95% CI, 1.1-4.6) health, psychological distress (OR 1.9; 95% CI, 1.1-3.5), poor sleep quality (OR 2.3; 95% CI, 1.2-4.4), and probable PTSD (OR 2.3; 95% CI, 1.2-4.5).

Conclusions

The 2011 Brisbane floods had significant impact on the physical and psychosocial health of residents. Improved support strategies may need to be integrated into existing disaster management programs to reduce flood-related health impacts, particularly those related to mental health. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2013;0:1–7)

Keywords

floodsdisaster managementmental healthvulnerable populationsclimate change
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 7 , Issue 4 , August 2013 , pp. 380 - 386
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2013 

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