Affiliations 

  • 1 Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin
MyJurnal

Abstract

Floods can lead to direct economic and property losses and result not only in physical injuries and deaths but
also in psychological trauma. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a commonly used indicator to evaluate
psychological injuries after disaster. This study aimed to determine the relationship between PTSD prevalence
and related perceived severity of post flood impact by economical, non-economical and flood status severity
domains besides relevant socio-demographic factors according to gender specific analysis. This cross-sectional
study was conducted among community in Kampung Hulu Takir, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia in 2015 two
weeks after flood. It included a total of 98 males and 110 females aged 18 years and above. Data was
collected by interview-guided questionnaire to determine the prevalence of PTSD. SPSS version 21.0 was used
for analysis of the relationship between socio demographic factors, perceived economic, non-economic and
flood severity with PTSD. Finally chi square test was used to assess the predictors of PTSD according to
gender. The prevalence of PTSD was 9.2% in males and 10.9% in females, giving a total of 10.1%. Significantly
higher prevalence of PTSD was found in severely perceived economic and flood impact categories (33.3% and
23.8% in males; 23.8 % and 37.5% in females) and giving in overall 44.0% and 31.3 % respectively. Effective
PTSD management strategies targeting females post flood victims who severely perceived economically and
nature flood impact should be implemented in order to prevent further consequences of PTSD.