Displaying publications 41 - 60 of 152 in total

Abstract:
Sort:
  1. Are older people more vulnerable to long-term impacts of disasters?
    Rafiey H, Momtaz YA, Alipour F, Khankeh H, Ahmadi S, Sabzi Khoshnami M, et al.
    Clin Interv Aging, 2016;11:1791-1795.
    PMID: 27994445
    BACKGROUND: Despite the growing interest in the study of disasters, there is limited research addressing the elderly population that lead to prejudiced beliefs that older adults are more vulnerable to disasters than younger adults. This study aimed to compare positive mental health between elderly and young earthquake survivors.

    METHOD: Data for this study, consisting of 324 earthquake survivors, were obtained from a population-based cross-sectional survey conducted in Iran, 2015. The long-term effect of earthquake was assessed using the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form questionnaire. A one-way multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) using SPSS (version 22) was used in data analysis.

    RESULTS: Older adults scored significantly a higher level of overall positive mental health (mean [M]=34.31, standard deviation [SD]=10.52) than younger age group (M=27.48, SD=10.56, t=-4.41; P<0.001). Results of MANCOVA revealed a statistically significant difference between older and young adults on the combined positive mental health subscales (F(3,317)=6.95; P<0.001), after controlling for marital status, sex, and employment status.

    CONCLUSION: The present findings showing a higher level of positive mental health among elderly earthquake survivors compared with their younger counterparts in the wake of natural disasters suggest that advancing age per se does not contribute to increasing vulnerability.

    Matched MeSH terms: Disasters/statistics & numerical data*
  2. Meeting the challenge of epidemic infectious disease outbreaks: an agenda for research
    Phua KL, Lee LK
    J Public Health Policy, 2005 Apr;26(1):122-32.
    PMID: 15906881
    Challenges arising from epidemic infectious disease outbreaks can be more effectively met if traditional public health is enhanced by sociology. The focus is normally on biomedical aspects, the surveillance and sentinel systems for infectious diseases, and what needs to be done to bring outbreaks under control quickly. Social factors associated with infectious disease outbreaks are often neglected and the aftermath is ignored. These factors can affect outbreak severity, its rate and extent of spread, influencing the welfare of victims, their families, and their communities. We propose an agenda for research to meet the challenges of infectious disease outbreaks. What social factors led to the outbreak? What social factors affected its severity and rate and extent of spread? How did individuals, social groups, and the state react to it? What are the short- and long-term effects on individuals, social groups, and the larger society? What programs can be put in place to help victims, their families, and affected communities to cope with the consequences--impaired mental and physical health, economic losses, and disrupted communities? Although current research on infectious disease outbreaks pays attention to social factors related to causation, severity, rate and extent of spread, those dealing with the "social chaos" arising from outbreaks are usually neglected. Inclusion, by combining traditional public health with sociological analysis, will enrich public health theory and understanding of infectious disease outbreaks. Our approach will help develop better programs to combat outbreaks and equally important, to help survivors, their families, and their communities cope better with the aftermath.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disasters
  3. Post-disaster victimization: how survivors of disasters can continue to suffer after the event is over
    Phua KL
    New Solut, 2008;18(2):221-31.
    PMID: 18511398 DOI: 10.2190/NS.18.2.k
    When public health researchers study the health effects of disasters (whether "naturally-occurring," disasters due to failure of technology, or disasters due to terrorism), some aspects of the post-disaster situation of victims are often overlooked. Social science research has shown that the vast majority of people tend to behave altruistically during and after a disaster. Nevertheless, cases of victimization of survivors do occur. They can include post-disaster victimization of survivors by other individuals (including fellow survivors, opportunistic outsiders, and even unethical aid workers and rogue members of the police, armed forces or international organizations such as the United Nations), groups (such as organized criminal gangs) and institutions (through neglect, incompetence, bureaucratic inefficiency or through institutionalized discriminatory practices). In this article, various kinds of post-disaster victimization that can occur are discussed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disasters*
  4. Fulltext Science and technology for disaster prevention and climate resilience in Asia
    Pereira, J.J., Hunt, J.C.R., Chan, J.C.L.
    ASM Science Journal, 2014;8(1):1-10.
    MyJurnal
    The role of science and technology (S&T) in preventing disasters and building resilience to climate change is featured in this paper, drawing primarily on the presentations and discussion of researchers, practitioners and policy makers from 31 institutions in 17 countries during the Workshop on Natural Disasters and Climate Change in Asia, held on 5–7 November 2012 in Bangi, Malaysia. Issues highlighted include advances in climate modelling and weather forecasts, with emphasis on information gaps; hazards and its cascading effects, focusing on current research and approaches; and the potential for land-based mitigation-adaptation strategies. Progress in mobilizing S&T to support disaster prevention and climate resilience is hindered by factors such as absence or lack of research, incomplete and non-existent scientific records, restricted access to data and capacity to innovate and transmit S&T, among others. The establishment of an Asian Network for Climate Science and Technology is proposed to provide and facilitate exchange of information and aid development of research co-ordination projects led by Asian researchers and possibly to act as a one-stop repository of global climate change related research too. The scope of the network would cover climate research with particular relevance to disaster resilience, including scientific capacity, which is all very distinct in Asia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disasters
  5. Key indicator tools for shallow slope failure assessment using soil chemical property signatures and soil colour variables
    Othman R, Hasni SI, Baharuddin ZM, Hashim KSH, Mahamod LH
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2017 Oct;24(29):22861-22872.
    PMID: 28721625 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-9715-9
    Slope failure has become a major concern in Malaysia due to the rapid development and urbanisation in the country. It poses severe threats to any highway construction industry, residential areas, natural resources and tourism activities. The extent of damages that resulted from this catastrophe can be lessened if a long-term early warning system to predict landslide prone areas is implemented. Thus, this study aims to characterise the relationship between Oxisols properties and soil colour variables to be manipulated as key indicators to forecast shallow slope failure. The concentration of each soil property in slope soil was evaluated from two different localities that consist of 120 soil samples from stable and unstable slopes located along the North-South Highway (PLUS) and East-West Highway (LPT). Analysis of variance established highly significant difference (P 
    Matched MeSH terms: Disasters/prevention & control*
  6. Infections in post-tsunami victims
    Othman N, Ismail IH, Yip R, Zainuddin Z, Kasim SM, Isa R, et al.
    Pediatr Infect Dis J, 2007 Oct;26(10):960-1.
    PMID: 17901807 DOI: 10.1097/INF.0b013e3181257234
    Two tsunami survivors from Banda Acheh, Sumatra, presented with pyrexia of unknown origin and a nonresolving left-sided empyema, respectively. Both children had mixed infections of tuberculosis and melioidosis; Salmonella typhi was also present in the second patient. Mixed infections are common late sequela complications in post-tsunami victims.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disasters*
  7. Fulltext Prevalence and perceived severity of post-traumatic stress disorder among flood victims in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia
    Oo, San San, Rahmah Mohd Amin, Aniza Abd Aziz, Thwe Aung, Myat Moe, Rohayah Husain
    Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2016;16(2):30-40.
    MyJurnal
    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.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disasters
  8. Fulltext Adoption of responsible care program in Malaysian chemical industries: current status and way forward
    NurKhairlida Muhamad Khai, Khai EL, Mazlin Mokhta, Choo TG, Marlia Mohd Hanafiah, Chan PW, et al.
    Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2017;17 Special(1):1-6.
    Chemical industry is one of the important industries in the world. However, incidents happened due to the release of hazardous materials, toxic and poisonous chemicals in the chemical industries can cause fatal to human and destruction of the environment. Learning from the Bhopal disaster's experience, chemical industries have developed a program - Responsible Care, aiming to regain public trust through improving the environment, health and safety performances. Malaysia has adopted Responsible Care program since 1994 under the stewardship of the Chemical Industries Council of Malaysia (CICM). Six codes of management practices have been developed by the CICM, covering distribution, community awareness and emergency response, pollution prevention, process safety, employee health & safety and product stewardship. It has been more than 20 years since its inception. However, to date, there are only 125 companies have signed the pledge to adopt Responsible Care program. The CICM has also conducted several initiatives to encourage participation of chemical companies to adopt Responsible Care program in Malaysia. Therefore, it is the aim of this paper to review the current status of Responsible Care program in Malaysia and also deliberate the way forward of this program.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disasters
  9. Fulltext Social media addiction and emotions during the disaster recovery period-The moderating role of post-COVID timing
    Nur-A Yazdani DM, Abir T, Qing Y, Ahmad J, Al Mamun A, Zainol NR, et al.
    PLoS One, 2022;17(10):e0274898.
    PMID: 36264854 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274898
    BACKGROUND: Social media addiction, a recently emerged term in medical science, has attracted the attention of researchers because of its significant physical and psychological effects on its users. The issue has attracted more attention during the COVID era because negative emotions (e.g., anxiety and fear) generated from the COVID pandemic may have increased social media addiction. Therefore, the present study investigates the role of negative emotions and social media addiction (SMA) on health problems during and after the COVID lockdown.

    METHODS: A survey was conducted with 2926 participants aged between 25 and 45 years from all eight divisions of Bangladesh. The data collection period was between 2nd September- 13th October, 2020. Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was conducted for data analysis by controlling the respondents' working time, leisure time, gender, education, and age.

    RESULTS: Our study showed that social media addiction and time spent on social media impact health. Interestingly, while anxiety about COVID increased social media addition, fear about COIVD reduced social media addition. Among all considered factors, long working hours contributed most to people's health issues, and its impact on social media addiction and hours was much higher than negative emotions. Furthermore, females were less addicted to social media and faced less health challenges than males.

    CONCLUSION: The impacts of negative emotions generated by the COVID disaster on social media addiction and health issues should be reconsidered. Government and employers control people's working time, and stress should be a priority to solve people's social media addiction-related issues.

    Matched MeSH terms: Disasters*
  10. Fulltext Hospital disaster preparedness-the real situation on 2014 flood disaster
    Norsyazana Ahmad Zamree, Suzyrman Sibly, Noor Azzah Said
    Education in Medicine Journal, 2018;10(4):1-11.
    MyJurnal
    Floods are known to be commonly occurring natural disasters in most part of the world. In 2014, the
    east coast of Peninsular Malaysia was affected by the worst flood ever recorded in history. The worst
    flood affected area were Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang. The 2014 flood caused physical and
    monetary losses amounting nearly millions of dollars. Among the worst hit infrastructures in 2014 flood
    disaster were hospitals. This has led to the realization of hospital disaster preparedness and management
    is important which needs to be closely monitored and addressed. This paper investigates the disaster
    preparedness level of selected hospitals affected by flood disasters in Kelantan. Guided interviews with
    the flood-affected hospital disaster committees were carried out and summarized in a summary table to
    give a clear picture of the level of hospital disaster preparedness during the 2014 flood disaster. The
    results show that despite the existence of disaster action plan and protocols there is no standard disaster
    preparedness model being used by hospitals.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disasters
  11. Fulltext Pengurusan elemen psikologikal sebagai persediaan menghadapi bencana: satu kajian kualitatif terhadap mangsa banjir di Kelantan
    Norizan Y
    Jurnal Psikologi Malaysia, 2016;30:74-81.
    Disaster is that which stimulates a pronounced effect on the one who experiences it. Not only does it result in a physical effect but also a significant psychological repercussion on the victim. The bulk of disaster management researches give too great an emphasis on the physical outlook such as property and health, relative to the psychological aftermath and its management aspect. This research has taken the qualitative approach through an extensive interview with five victims of the flash flood catastrophe in Kelantan to identify the sustained psychological effect as well as how the management of psychological support aspect can be of assistance for the victims. The acquisition of the research findings encompassed several themes namely sustained emotion theme, sustained psychological issue theme along with management of psychological victim aspect. The outcome of the resulting theme corroborated with the disaster management model via three stages namely, induction, identification and assessment, and finally, development and preservation.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disasters
  12. Fulltext Management of Emergency Department Overcrowding (EDOC) in a teaching hospital
    Nik Azlan, N.M., Ismail, M.S.
    Medicine & Health, 2013;8(1):0-0.
    MyJurnal
    Emergency Department Overcrowding (EDOC) has been a longstanding problem. It is defined as a situation where the demand for emergency services exceeds the ability of an Emergency Department (ED) to provide quality care within appropriate time frames. Hospital beds closure or access block to ward admission is one of the most important cause of Emergency s e.g. disaster. A surge response entails even greater responses including implementing Department overcrowding. This could be compounded further in events of a patient surge eg affirmative measurement in order to mitigate the issue in tackling the situation. The steps in managing EDOC were: 1. Recognizing EDOC, 2. Initiating action, 3. Maintaining patient flow, 4. Setting clinical goals and 5. Deploying a Surge Team for Advance Triage or Fast Tract.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disasters
  13. Fulltext Some international perspectives on legislation for the management of human-induced safety risks
    Niemand A, Jordaan AJ, Minnaar H
    Jamba, 2016;8(2):170.
    PMID: 29955305 DOI: 10.4102/jamba.v8i2.170
    Legislation that governs the health and safety of communities near major-hazard installations in South Africa is largely based on existing legislation that had been developed in the United Kingdom and other European Union countries. The latter was developed as a consequence of several major human-induced technological disasters in Europe. The history of the evolution of health-and-safety legislation for the protection of vulnerable communities in European Union (EU) countries, France, Malaysia and the USA is explored through a literature survey. A concise comparison is drawn between EU countries, the USA and South Africa to obtain an exploratory view of whether current South-African legislation represents an optimum model for the protection of the health-and-safety of workers and communities near major-hazard installations. The authors come to the conclusion that South-African legislation needs revision as was done in the UK in 2011. Specific areas in the legislation that need revision are an overlap between occupational health and safety and environmental legislation, appropriate land-use planning for the protection of communities near major-hazard installations, the inclusion of vulnerability studies and the refinement of appropriate decision-making instruments such as risk assessment. This article is the first in a series that forms part of a broader study aimed at the development of an optimised model for the regulatory management of human-induced health and safety risks associated with hazardous installations in South Africa.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disasters
  14. Vulnerability of Vietnam to typhoons: A spatial assessment based on hazards, exposure and adaptive capacity
    Nguyen KA, Liou YA, Terry JP
    Sci Total Environ, 2019 Sep 10;682:31-46.
    PMID: 31121354 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.069
    Typhoons have devastating impacts across many Asian countries. Vietnam is presently one of the most disaster-prone nations. Typhoons regularly disrupt human lives and livelihoods in various ways and cause significant damage. Making efficient policy decisions to minimize the vulnerability of affected communities is crucial. This requires a deep understanding of the factors that make a society vulnerable to extreme events and natural disasters. An appropriate approach is integrating the three dimensions of hazard, exposure and sensitivity, and community adaptive capacity. However, the vulnerability and adaptive capacity response to typhoons within Vietnam is poorly investigated. Here, we develop a conceptual framework that incorporates 21 indicators to identify vulnerability and adaptive capacity (VAC) using geospatial techniques at regional scales, applied over Vietnam. We find large spatial differences in VAC and are able to identify the top-priority regions that need to enhance their adaptation to typhoons. The Southern Coastal area, South East and Red River Delta demonstrate high and very high vulnerability because of their physical features and the intensity of typhoons that frequently cross these parts of Vietnam. The lower Mekong Delta and Northern Coastal areas are vulnerable to typhoon-driven flood threats, in particular where compounded by sea-level rise. Our framework successfully identified the spatial distribution and different levels of VAC within acceptable limits of uncertainty. It can therefore serve as a template to tackle national issues in disaster risk reduction in Vietnam and assist in the development of suitable mitigation strategies to achieve sustainable outcomes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disasters
  15. The Fukushima nuclear crisis reemphasizes the need for improved risk communication and better use of social media
    Ng KH, Lean ML
    Health Phys, 2012 Sep;103(3):307-10.
    PMID: 22850236 DOI: 10.1097/HP.0b013e318257cfcb
    The potential of social media has expanded far beyond the initial function of social communication among a network of friends. It has become an increasingly important tool in risk communication to allow the dissemination of timely and accurate information to global citizens to make more informed choices regarding a particular crisis. The Fukushima nuclear crisis is an example where the potential of social media was not fully tapped. This caused undue stress and distrust of authorities. While the use of social media in this crisis could have altered significantly the level of trust in authorities and others, two additional points should be considered. One point is the use of plain language versus scientific language in order to reach a wider audience. The other is an urgent need to improve public information especially in the event of a nuclear emergency and to enhance educational efforts and action by improving radiological protection communication from regulatory bodies and international agencies. These are points that also play a large role in the use of social media.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disasters*
  16. Stormwater quality and pollution loading from an urban residential catchment in Johor, Malaysia
    Nazahiyah R, Yusop Z, Abustan I
    Water Sci Technol, 2007;56(7):1-9.
    PMID: 17951862
    Sampling of urban runoff was carried out in a small catchment, which represents a residential area (3.34 ha) in Skudai, Johor. One hundred and seventeen runoff samples from ten storm events were analysed. Runoff quality showed large variations in concentrations during storms, especially for SS, BOD5 and COD. Concentrations of NO3-N, NO2-N, NH3-N, and P were also high. Lead (Pb) was also detected but the levels were low (<0.001 mg/L). In general, the river quality is badly polluted and falls in Class V based on the Malaysian Interim National Water Quality Standards. Event mean concentrations for all parameters were found to vary greatly between storms. The values (mg/L) were BOD5 (72), COD (325), SS (386), NO3-N (2.5), NO2-N (0.58), NH3-N (6.8), P (3.4), respectively. First flush phenomena were observed for BOD, COD, SS, NO3-N, NH3-N and P. The first 20-30% of the runoff volume evacuated between 20-59% BOD, 15-69% COD, 15-78% SS, 14-49% NO3-N, 14-19% NO2-N, 23-53% NH3-N and 23-43% P.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disasters*
  17. Fulltext Disaster hypertension and cardiovascular events in disaster and COVID-19 pandemic
    Narita K, Hoshide S, Tsoi K, Siddique S, Shin J, Chia YC, et al.
    J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich), 2021 03;23(3):575-583.
    PMID: 33527663 DOI: 10.1111/jch.14192
    The incidence of large disasters has been increasing worldwide. This has led to a growing interest in disaster medicine. In this review, we report current evidence related to disasters and coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, such as cardiovascular diseases during disasters, management of disaster hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases associated with COVID-19. This review summarizes the time course and mechanisms of disaster-related diseases. It also discusses the use of information and communication technology (ICT) as a cardiovascular risk management strategy to prevent cardiovascular events. During the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, we used the "Disaster Cardiovascular Prevention" system that was employed for blood pressure (BP) monitoring and risk management using ICT. We introduced an ICT-based BP monitoring device at evacuation centers and shared patients' BP values in the database to support BP management by remote monitoring, which led to improved BP control. Effective use of telemedicine using ICT is important for risk management of cardiovascular diseases during disasters and pandemics in the future.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disasters
  18. The dental identification of victims of an aircraft accident in Malaysia
    Nambiar P, Jalil N, Singh B
    Int Dent J, 1997 Feb;47(1):9-15.
    PMID: 9448783
    On 15 September 1995 a Malaysian Airlines (MAS) Fokker 50 plane plunged while descending and crashed, killing thirty-four passengers aboard. The dental disaster victim identification team comprising dental surgeons from the Dental faculty, University of Malaya; Ministry of Health, Sabah; and the Malaysian Defence Forces played an active role in the identification process. Most of the bodies were badly mutilated, disfigured and severely incinerated. Problems were encountered due to inadequate facilities and space at the mortuary. Difficulties were also encountered during the procurement and deciphering of information from dental records. This disaster has however created greater awareness amongst Malaysians of the important role of forensic odontology in mass disasters.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disasters*
  19. The importance of the medico-legal autopsy
    Nadesan K
    Malays J Pathol, 1997 Dec;19(2):105-9.
    PMID: 10879249
    All deaths due to unnatural causes and deaths that are believed to be due to natural causes but where the medical cause of death is not certain or known are subjected to an inquest. The objective of an inquest is to ascertain facts pertaining to the death. This is achieved by inquiry and at the conclusion of the inquest a verdict is arrived as to whether the death was due to a natural, accidental, suicidal or a homicidal cause. An inquest is not a trial. There is no complainant or defendant and at the conclusion of the inquest no judgment is passed. The inquest system exists in all parts of the world. In the English legal system, the person who conducts an inquest is called a Coroner. In Scotland, he is called a Procurator Fiscal. The United States of America use the Medical Examiner system. Most continental European countries and their former colonies follow the Code Napoleon. A postmortem examination may become necessary in certain deaths that come up for inquests. In these situations the authority which conducts the inquest will order a doctor to perform a postmortem examination (medico-legal autopsy). To perform a medico-legal autopsy, consent from the relatives of the deceased is not required. In an unexpected sudden death, only a doctor after a postmortem examination may be able to determine the cause of death. However, it is often wrongly assumed that the objective of a postmortem examination is only to ascertain the cause of death. This article deals with the purpose of the inquest and roles of the medico-legal autopsy.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disasters
  20. Fulltext FSM-F: Finite State Machine Based Framework for Denial of Service and Intrusion Detection in MANET
    N Ahmed M, Abdullah AH, Kaiwartya O
    PLoS One, 2016;11(6):e0156885.
    PMID: 27285146 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0156885
    Due to the continuous advancements in wireless communication in terms of quality of communication and affordability of the technology, the application area of Mobile Adhoc Networks (MANETs) significantly growing particularly in military and disaster management. Considering the sensitivity of the application areas, security in terms of detection of Denial of Service (DoS) and intrusion has become prime concern in research and development in the area. The security systems suggested in the past has state recognition problem where the system is not able to accurately identify the actual state of the network nodes due to the absence of clear definition of states of the nodes. In this context, this paper proposes a framework based on Finite State Machine (FSM) for denial of service and intrusion detection in MANETs. In particular, an Interruption Detection system for Adhoc On-demand Distance Vector (ID-AODV) protocol is presented based on finite state machine. The packet dropping and sequence number attacks are closely investigated and detection systems for both types of attacks are designed. The major functional modules of ID-AODV includes network monitoring system, finite state machine and attack detection model. Simulations are carried out in network simulator NS-2 to evaluate the performance of the proposed framework. A comparative evaluation of the performance is also performed with the state-of-the-art techniques: RIDAN and AODV. The performance evaluations attest the benefits of proposed framework in terms of providing better security for denial of service and intrusion detection attacks.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disasters
Related Terms
Filters
Contact Us

Please provide feedback to Administrator (afdal@afpm.org.my)

External Links