Disaster Preparedness in Healthcare Settings: Assessing Perceptions, Awareness, and Implementation Barriers to DRRM-H Program Among Healthcare Professionals

Eirene Philip  Bayamban,; Berlie  Yap,

Disaster Preparedness in Healthcare Settings: Assessing Perceptions, Awareness, and Implementation Barriers to DRRM-H Program Among Healthcare Professionals

Discipline: social sciences (non-specific)

Abstract:

In recent years, Zamboanga City has been exposed to several disasters affecting daily living and health of the population. The DOH created a program called Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Health which aims to build resilient and prepared communities. Healthcare professionals play an important role in this program. This study aimed to determine the perception, awareness and perceived challenges of healthcare professionals in the implementation of DRRM-H Program in DOH-retained hospitals of Zamboanga City. The study employed a mixed-method approach of explanatory sequential with descriptive crosssectional design. Statistical analysis involved in this study are frequencies, median and interquartile range for Likert items and thematic analysis. Respondents of the study were 126 randomly selected healthcare professionals in different DOH-Retained Hospitals in Zamboanga City. Results showed that 53% has good perception and 69.8% are familiar with DRRM-H program, but only 44 had received training, rating their training as very effective. Perceived challenges are lack of training and education, insufficient resources and funding, lack of workable guidelines and poor community engagement. Majority of healthcare professionals in Zamboanga City had a good perception and familiarity of the DRRM-H program and a proportion received training. Identified challenges from both survey questionnaire and key informant interviews highlights the need for targeted interventions.

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