Research article
CHALLENGES OF WOMEN IN POSTDISASTER
HEALTH MANAGEMENT: A STUDY IN
KHULNA DISTRICT
Mst. Rajani Akter 1, Tuhin Roy2, Rina Aktar3
1 Social Science School, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh
*Correspondence: rina13@ku.ac.bd
Received: 4 May 2023; Accepted: 7 June 2023; Published: 30 June 2023
Abstract: Health management in post-disaster phase needs more attention than
any other phase because this includes mitigation and recovery which is chal-
lenging for people especially women. Women play an active traditional gender
roles in family with a lot of responsibilities; in post-disaster period they faced
more challenges in management of health. Quantitative methods were used to
assess the challenges of women in post-disaster health management, this study
was carried out on Dacope Upazila (North Kamarkhola village) of Khulna Dis-
trict. Following simple random sampling procedure by using interview schedule,
199 participants were selected from 412 population. Both descriptive as well as
inferential statistics were applied in this study, statistical tests such as Pearson’s
chi-square, correlation and regression had been done to test the hypotheses.
Findings show that socioeconomic position like employment status of women
(p<0.024), types of houses (p<0.000), monthly income (p<0.001), monthly sav-
ings (p<0.001), monthly household income (p<0.000) and household savings
(p<0.019) occupation (p<0.019) and head of the household had (p<0.058) a sig-
nicant relationship with the challenges of women in post-disaster health man-
agement. Monthly income and physical health problem were also correlated with
the challenges. In OLS regression test it was found that health (physical and men-
tal) and family size had great positive impact on challenges of women. e study
also found that, women of North Kamarkhola village were unable to get medical
facilities and maintain proper menstrual hygiene immediately aer disaster. Vio-
lence against women was also a little bit increased in post-disaster period which
generated challenges.
Keywords: Post disaster, health, challenges, problems, women etc.
DOI:https://doi.org/10.18485/ijdrm.2023.5.1.5
Rajani Akter, Tuhin Roy, Rina Aktar
International journal of disaster risk management • (IJDRM) • Vol. 5, No. 1
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1. Introduction
Geographically Bangladesh is situated in an active disaster zone, the people of Bangladesh
always face frequent attack of dierent kinds of natural disaster like ood, cyclone, tsunami,
earthquake, heat wave, river erosion, excessive rainfall etc. Both male and female are aected
by disaster, but the women, older people and children are more vulnerable for these natural
phenomena. From some signicant catastrophic events of the decade it have been seen that
the women of the subcontinent don’t have enough knowledge about management of disaster
issues and women faced severe vulnerability than men (Gokhale, 2008). Statistical data show
that in 2003 by European heat wave the rate of death of older women was higher than older
men, the tsunami of 2004 also caused higher death rate of women than that of men (Rahman,
2013). In Bangladesh during the disaster of 1991 and 2007 the death rate of women was more
than men (Rahman, 2013). From 1797 to 2009, approximately 65 dierent cyclone occurred
in Bangladesh which caused 53 percent of all cyclone related death and around 80 or 90 per-
cent loss globally (Paul, 2010). Women in family play a vital role in disaster management but
the contribution of them is always neglected by our larger society; the contribution of women
had been seen as valueless.
Disaster can be dened as sudden accident or a natural aiction that causes great damage
of life or Property. From sociological view point, disaster can be dened as a severe and unex-
pected condition which disrupt social structure (Blaikie et al, 2005). In this study the concept
of health management indicates the role or eort of women in managing health care issues
which may include medical supplies, treatment and emergency preparedness. is mainly
concern the sudden activity to manage health issue aer disaster. Challenge mainly used for
understanding the health issues of women which is dicult for them aer disaster, like nu-
tritional issues, safe drinking water, medical support, sanitation facilities, personal hygiene
Issues, homelessness, violence etc.
e role of women in family is more likely caretaker of the children and older people, they
properly didn’t able to run with bearing children and long hair, extra cloth makes their life
miserable during disaster emergency (Chew & Ramdas, 2005). Pregnant women during and
aer disaster faced more problems than other women, lack of safe place for delivery, sani-
tary issues and environment produced the chance of infection as well as mortality (Van den
Akker, de Vroome, Mwagomba, Ford, & van Roosmalen, 2011). e mortality rate during
and aer disaster is higher in south Asian countries. Lack of access to information technol-
ogy and as a lower income country, the people of Bangladesh are able to see the destructive
image of disaster, especially women are less powerful and marginal than others in our society.
Severe health problems (both mental and physical) take place aer disaster and aects
women and children most. In Bangladesh the policy and program about disaster manage-
ment are not equal for male and female (Climate Change Cell, 2009). During disaster period
dierent kinds of sexual and reproductive hygiene problem spread out and it also increased
the prevalence of sexual harassment and domestic violence (Rahman, 2013). Sexually trans-
mitted diseases (STD) and PTSD come out in post disaster as a result of sexual and psycho-
logical violence which have a great eects on women wellbeing as well as their family (Xiong
et al., 2008). Women reproductive health issues are signicant during the period of disaster
which caused mortality and morbidity which also may result in infertility, stillbirth, early
pregnancy loss, disabilities and serious injury(Cordero, 1993). Diarrhea, cholera, fever, skin
diseases and snake bites are most common problems among the people of Bangladesh which
caused by disaster (Mondal, Rashid, Rahman, & Amin, 2018). Sanitation problem in post
disaster period is a serious problem for women which also responsible for health problem of
their own as well as the environment damages. Food insecurity is one of the most concerning
Challenges of Women in Post-disaster Health Management:
A Study in Khulna District
International journal of disaster risk management • (IJDRM) • Vol. 5, No. 1
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issues aer disaster which partly depended on female member of the family, lack of nutri-
tional requirement also interrupts breast feeding of the child. Post disaster period including
migration and dierent kinds of water contaminated and other diseases also create mental
illness (Cordero, 1993).
Factors like socioeconomic, demographic, stressful life events, loss of wealth and property
had signicant relationship with events in recovery phase, coping mechanism and support
aer disaster (Freedy & Simpson Jr, 2007). is model of risk factor helps to identify the fac-
tors aecting mental and physical health problem in post-disaster period, which also empha-
sizes the factors that women are more emotional than men so they experienced more mental
health issues in post-disaster period which produced from post-disaster recovery stressful
events. is model also explains, how much importance the socioeconomic condition has in
case of health problem and management.
Women during ood and other disasters unable to maintain their menstrual hygienic,
most of the time they have to wash their used cloth by dirty water and they are bound to use
those cloths repeatedly (Rashid & Halder, 1998). e vulnerability and challenges of wom-
en from disaster are more severe in developing and poor countries like Bangladesh, where
women are less powerful and don’t have any control over their own livelihood; the position
of women in decision making of family issues also restricted by our society and the position
of poor women are worse than that. In developing countries, a lot of challenges for women
come out when they become homeless and unable to go outside without vail or permission
of male person; women are even unable to get primary treatment and sanitation facilities
aer disaster because of the superstation. Limited study had been conducted regarding these
issues in this area, so this study was designed to access the various health problems faced by
women as well as to investigate the challenges of women regarding management of health
issues in post-disaster period in Dacope Upazila of Khulna District.
2. Materials and methods
Observing the quantitative research design, this study is explanatory in nature as well as the
study was carried out on women respondents who were chosen purposively in Kamarkhola
union under Dacope Upazila of Khulna District. Area of Kamarkhola Union consists of total
6839 women, among them 412 women lived in North Kamarkhola village which was purpo-
sively selected as the area of the study, because disasters would frequently attack and create
vulnerable situation for women in this area. To achieve the study objectives, some specica-
tions were made to identify the respondents, the data were collected from i) married or widow
women who lived in Kamarkhola Union (North Kamarkhola village) of Dacope Upazila at
least 3 years ii) belonged to the age group of 18 to 60 years. e interview schedule containing
both open and closed questions in English as well as designed for data collection. According
to the aforecited a criterion by census was conducted by the research, 199 women respondents
were identied from study area selected through simple random sampling. A sample size of
199 was determined regarding a condence level of 95 and condence interval 5.
e formula for calculating sample size was:
Here, SS = Sample size, SSi = sample size according to the population, Z = Z value (e.g.,
1.96 for 95% condence level), P = percentage picking a choice, expressed as decimal (i.e.,0.5
used for sample size needed), C= condence interval (e.g., 0.5 used for sample size needed)
Rajani Akter, Tuhin Roy, Rina Aktar
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Formula 1: e rst formula had been used to dene the sample size
Formula 2: e rst formula had been used for correction for nite Population
Due to pandemic situation, the researcher had to compel collecting data in dierent times
(1st March to 31th March, 2021 and 1st September- 5th September, 2021).
Tabl e 1: Time Schedule of Field work
Field Work Duration Number of Women
Census February 5th – 10th February, 2020 412
Pre-test 20th October - 22th October, 2020 50
Data Collection 1st March- 31st March, 2021
1st September- 5th September, 2021 199
Measurement of the Variable
Tabl e 2: Measurement of the Variable
Serial
No Vari a bl e Measurement Range
Physical Health Problem in post-disaster period
(Fever, Injuries, Aches and Pains, Diarrhea or
Cholera, Skin Diseases) Scale (5-point
Likert scale); {1 (N
= Never),
2 (R= Rarely), 3 (S
= Sometimes), 4
(O= Oen) to 5 (A
=Always)}
5 to 11 = Low
12 to 18 = Medium
19 to 25 = High
Mental Health Problem
(Sleep Disturbance, Eating Disturbance, Depres-
sion, stress, Anxiety, Paranoid)
4 to 9 = Low
10 to 15 = Medium
16 to 20 = High
Challenges of post-disaster health management
(Medical Support/ rst aid, safe drinking water,
Sanitation Facilities, Personal Hygiene and Gyne-
cological Issues, victim of violence)
5 to 14 = Low
o 25 = High
Form their ndings the hypotheses were: i) relationship between loss of wealth/property
and psychological impact on women during post disaster period ii) loss of shelter during post
disaster period is associated with mental impact on women iii) poor socio-economic condi-
tion is associated with producing challenges iv) and relation between access of pure drinking
water and prevalence of diseases in post disaster period. Personal and socio-economic back-
ground of the respondent were analyzed through descriptive statistics (frequency distribu-
Challenges of Women in Post-disaster Health Management:
A Study in Khulna District
International journal of disaster risk management • (IJDRM) • Vol. 5, No. 1
55
tion) and dierent statistical tests like Pearson’s Chi-square, correlation and OLS regression
model were utilized to measure the relationship of dierent variables.
4. Results
Personal Information of the Respondent
Table no. 3 represents the personal information of 199 women of north Kamarkhola vil-
lage of Dacope Upazilla who had faced dierent kinds of disaster in their lifetime. Table
shows that the majority of the respondents belonged to the age group of 34 to 47 years and the
average age of the respondents was around 39 years old with standard deviation 9.79. Most of
the respondents around 62 percent were the followers of Hinduism and rest of them (38.7%)
were the followers of Islam. 45.7 percent of them were able to reach primary education which
was the highest number around 28 percent of the respondents completed secondary level
education and even only 1 percent of them were able to reach tertiary level of education; the
average educational qualication was 5.45 class with standard deviation 3.67. Approximately
90 percent of the respondents were married and only 9.5 percent of them were widow.84.4
percent from the total respondent were unemployed and rest 15.6 percent were employed.
Most of them were housewives (84.4%); 7 percent of them were day laborer, 2.5 percent were
tailor, 3 percent of them were job holder and rest 3 percent were involved in family-based
business. As most of the respondents were housewives, they (84.4%) didn’t have any income,
only 1 percent of the respondent had higher income comparing with others; other 11.1 per-
cent had lower income which was between BDT 5000 to BDT 8000 and 3.5 percent of them
had middle range income, the average income of the earned respondents was BDT 7580.65
with 2705.23 standard deviation. e average monthly expenditure of the respondents was
BDT 2563.11. Moreover, 92 percent of the respondents had no savings and only 8 percent had
savings around BDT 500 to BDT 1000 where standard deviation was 201.56.
Tabl e 3: Personal Information of the Respondent
Variable Name Frequency (%) Mean (SD)
Age
20-33 61 (30.7)
38.97 (9.79)34-47 89 (44.7)
48-60 49 (24.6)
Religion
Islam 77 (38.7)
Sanatan 122 (61.3)
Year of Schooling
Illiterate 39 (19.6)
5.45 (3.67)
Primary Level 91 (45.7)
Secondary Level 55 (27.6)
Higher Secondary 12 (6.0)
Tertiary Level 02 (01)
Marital Status
Married 180 (90.5)
Widow 19 (9.5)
Employment Status
Unemployed 168 (84.4)
Employed 31 (15.6)
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Occupation of the Respondent
Housewife 168 (84.4)
Tailor 5 (2.5)
Day labor 14 (7.0)
Job holder 6 (3.0)
Business 6 (3.0)
Monthly Income of the Respondent
No income 168 (84.4)
7580.65 (2705.23)
5000-8000 22 (11.1)
9000-12000
13000-15000
7 (3.5)
2 (1)
Monthly Expenditure of the Respondent
No expenses 96(48.2)
2563.11 (3244.90)
≤2000 74 (37.2)
2001-8000 21 (10.6)
8001-15000 8 (4)
Monthly Savings of the Respondent
No savings 183 (92) 906.25 (201.56)
Have savings 16 (8)
Household survey, 2020-2021
Household Information of the Respondent
Table number 4 is about the household information of the respondent. 53.8 percent of the
respondents lived in nuclear family which were more than half of the total respondents and
most of the family (63.8%) had 5 or more than 5 family members; average family member
was 5.18. Maximum heads of the household were husband and only 3.5 percent respond-
ents were the head of their own household. 60.3 percent household were regulated by single
income. e average total monthly income of the respondent’s house was BDT 15080.40;
besides this the average expenditure of those household were BDT 14859.30 with Standard
deviation of 5519.28. Most of the household had no savings which was around 83 percent
and average savings for each family was BDT 942.86. Around 51 percent of the households
had semi-pakka house and around 73 percent of the respondents had traditional sanitation
facilities. Most of the respondents (33.2%) used to drink water from pond which was given
by the government and NGOs. Besides, 27.6 percent respondents used to drink rain water
by preserving it for years. e main source of power for most of the household (81.9%) was
electricity. All of the respondents would response positively to the questions of damage of the
house and property during disaster like ood, water logging or cyclone. Around 46.7 percent
of the respondents had to face much damage in post-disaster period and only 10 percent of
them were the suerers of less damage in case of property and house.
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Tabl e 4: Household Information of the Respondent
Variable Name Frequency (%) Mean (SD)
Types of Family by Nature
Nuclear 107 (53.8)
Extended 92 (46.2)
Family Size
≤4 72 (36.2) 5.18 (1.532)
5≥ 127 (63.8)
Head of the Household
Husband 141 (70.9)
Self 7 (3.5)
Others 51 (25.6)
Types of Family by Income
Single earned 120 (60.3)
Dual Earned 79 (39.7)
Monthly Household Income
5000-12000 89 (37.7)
15080.40 (5477.56)13000-20000 116 (58.3)
21000≥ 14 (7.0)
Monthly Household Expenditure
5000-12000 71 (35.7) 14859.30 (5519.28)
13000-20000 116 (58.3)
2100≥ 12(6.0)
Monthly Savings of the Household
No savings 164 (82.4) 942.86 (161.40)
Have savings 35 (17.6)
Types of Houses
Kathcha 86 (43.2)
Semi-pakka 101 (50.8)
Pakka 12 (6.0)
Types of sanitation
Traditional 145 (72.9)
Modern 54 (27.1)
Sources of Drinking Water
Pond 66 (33.2)
Deep Tubewell 36 (18.1)
Rain Water 55 (27.6)
Others 42 (21.1)
Sources of Power
Solar 32 (16.1)
Electricity 163 (81.9)
Others 4 (2.0)
Information about loss of house and property
Yes 199 (100)
No 0 (0)
Level of Damage by Disaster
Less Damage 20 (10.1)
Medium Damage 86 (43.2)
Much Damage 93 (46.7)
Household survey, 2020-2021
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Health Problems and Challenges in Post-disaster Period
is section is about the post-disaster eects on health and challenges of women in man-
aging the situation which was measured by scale value. According to the collected data it
was seen that large proportion of the respondents (around 65 percent) experienced medi-
um level of physical health problems in post disaster period including fever, diarrhea, skin
disease, aches and pain. Only 2 percent of the respondents had to face low physical health
problems and other 32.2 percent had to face higher problems. Disasters had strongly aected
on psychological health. 50.8 percent respondents had to face higher mental health problem,
besides, 47.2 percent faced medium mental health problem and only 2 percent faced lower
problem in post-disaster period. In this section lower response indicate higher level of chal-
lenges and higher response indicates comparatively lower challenges. Moreover, 94 percent
respondents had to serious challenges of post-disaster and didn’t get any facility to face those
challenges. ey mainly had to face the problem of getting rst aid, availability of drinking
water, sanitation facilities etc.
Tabl e 5: Health Problems and Challenges in Post-disaster Period
Physical Health Problem in Post-disaster Period
Low (5-11) 4 (2.0)
16.60 & 2.79Medium (12-18) 131 (64.8)
High (19-25) 64 (32.2)
Mental Health Problem in Post-disaster Period
Low (4-9) 4 (2.0)
15.22 & 2.83Medium (10-15) 94 (47.2)
High (16-20) 101 (50.8)
Facilities to Face Challenges of Women in Post-disaster period
Low (5-14) 187 (94.0) 11.05 & 2.09
High (15-25) 12 (6.0)
Household survey, 2020-2021
Physical Health Problems in Post-disaster Period and Its Covariates (Chi-square test)
Pearson’s Chi Square test had been done to show the association between socio-eco-
nomic variables and physical health problem. Table shows that, marital status (sher’s ex-
act test=12.132, p<0.002), types of family (sher’s exact test=16.311, p<0.000), sources of
drinking water (sher’s exact test=31.881, p<0.000) and mental health problem (sher’s exact
test=31.948, p<0.000) were highly signicant with the physical health problem which was
experienced by women in post-disaster period.
Challenges of Women in Post-disaster Health Management:
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Tabl e 6: Physical Health Problems in Post-disaster Period and its Covariates
Independent Variables Physical Health Problems in Post-disaster Period Test Statistics(df ) P value
Low (5-11) Medium (12-18) High (19-25)
Marital Status of the Respondents
Married 2 (1.1) 115 (63.9) 63 (35.0) 12.132b
(2) 0.002**
Widow 2 (10.5) 16 (84.2) 1 (5.3)
Types of Family by Nature
Nuclear 2 (1.9) 85 (79.4) 20 (18.7) 16.311b
(2) 0.000**
Extended 2 (2.2) 46(50) 44 (47.8)
Sources of Drinking Water
Pound 0 (0) 31 (47) 35 (53)
31.881b
(6) 0.000**
Deep Tube-well 0 (0) 24 (66.7) 12 (33.4)
Rain Water 0 (0) 42 (76.4) 13 (23.6)
Others 4 (9.5) 34 (81) 4 (9.5)
Mental Health Problem in Post-disaster Period
Low 0 (0) 4 (100) 0 (0)
31.948b
(4) 0.000**
Medium 4 (4.3) 76 (80.9) 14 (14.9)
High 0 (0) 51 (50.5) 50 (49.5)
b Fisher’s exact test reported (expected cell less than 5)
**p≤0.01, *p≤0.05
Mental Health Problems in Post-disaster Period and its Covariates (Chi-square test)
Table number 7 is about the mental health problem of women in post-disaster period and
its covariate. Pearson’s Chi Square test had been done to elaborate the association between
variables. It is found that, types of family (nature) (sher’s exact test=8.009, p<0.010), head
of the household (sher’s exact test=11.309, p<0.017), types of family (income) (sher’s exact
test=10.677, p<0.003), year of schooling (sher’s exact test=34.938, p<0.000), and physical
health problem (sher’s exact test=31.948, p<0.000), faced by women in post-disaster period
had a higher level of signicance with the mental health problem of the respondents.
Tabl e 7: Mental Health Problems in Post-disaster Period and its Covariates
Independent Variables Mental Health Problems in Post-disaster Period Test Statistics(df)P value
Low (4-9) Medium (10-15) High (16-20)
Types of Family by Nature
Nuclear 4 (3.7) 42 (39.3) 61 (57) 8.009b
(2) 0.010**
Extended 0 (0) 52 (56.5) 40 (43.5)
Head of the Household
Husband 4 (2.8) 58 (41.1) 79 (56)
11.309b
(4) 0.017**
Self 0 (0) 2 (28.6) 5 (71.4)
Others 0 (0) 34 (66.7) 17 (33.3)
Types of Family by Income
Single Earned 4 (3.3) 46 (38.3) 70 (58.3) 10.677b
(2) 0.003**
Dual Earned 0 (0) 48 (60.8) 31 (39.2)
Year of Schooling of the Respondents
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Illiterate 0 (0) 12 (30.8) 27 (69.2)
34.938b
(8) 0.000**
Primary Level 0 (0) 40 (44) 51 (56)
Secondary Level 0 (0) 34 (61.8) 21 (38.2)
Higher Secondary 4 (33.3) 6 (50) 2 (16.7)
Tertiary Level 0 (0) 2 (100) 0 (0)
Physical Health Problem in Post-disaster Period
Low 0 (0) 4 (100) 0 (0)
31.948b
(4) 0.000**
Medium 4 (3.1) 76 (58) 51(38.9)
High 0 (0) 14 (21.9) 50 (78.1)
b Fisher’s exact test reported (expected cell less than 5)
**p≤0.01, *p≤0.05
Challenges of Women in Post-disaster Health Management and Its
Covariates (Chi-square test)
A Pearson’s Chi Square test for independence with α= .05 had been done to exhibit the
relation between dierent variables and challenges of women in post-disaster period which
showed that employment status of women (sher’s exact test= 4667, p<0.024) was signicant
with challenges of women. Another result shows the signicant connection between occupa-
tion and challenges (sher’s exact test=10.928, p<0.019). According to the independence test
head of the household was also signicant with the challenges faced by women in Dacope
Upazila (sher’s exact test= 10.928, p<0.058). Challenges of women were highly signicant
with types of houses (sher’s exact test= 16.023, p<0.000), table illustrates that the monthly
income (sher’s exact test= 16.201, p<0.001) and monthly savings (sher’s exact test= 14.990,
p<0.001) of the respondent were also signicant with challenges. Side by side, monthly
household income (sher’s exact test=19.994, p<0.000) and household savings (sher’s exact
test=7.029, p<0.019) were signicant with the challenges. Moreover, both physical (sher’s
exact test=6.352, p<0.044) and mental (sher’s exact test=6.483, p<0.043) health problems of
the respondent were also signicant with the challenges.
Tabl e 8: Challenges of Women in Post-disaster Health Management and Its
Covariates (Chi-square test)
Independent Variables Challenges of Women Test Statistics(df)P value
Low (5-14) High (15-25)
Employment Status of the Respondents
Unemployed 161 (95.8) 7 (4.2) 4.667b
(1) 0.024*
Employed 26 (83.9) 5 (16.1)
Occupation of the Respondents
Housewife 161 (95.8) 7 (4.2)
10.928b
(4) 0.019*
Tailor 4 (80) 1 (20)
Day Labor 13 (92.9) 1 (7.1)
Job Holder 5 (83.3) 1 (16.7)
Business 4 (66.7) 2 (33.3)
Head of the Household
Husband 133 (94.3) 8 (5.7)
10.928b
(2) 0.058*
Self 5 (71.4) 2 (28.6)
Others 49 (96.1) 2 (3.9)
Types of houses
Challenges of Women in Post-disaster Health Management:
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Kathcha 76 (88.4) 10 (11.6)
16.023b
(2) 0.000**
Semi-pakka 101 (100) 0 (0)
Pakka 10 (83.3) 2 (16.7)
Monthly Income of the Respondent
No income 161 (95.8) 7 (4.2)
16.201b
(3) 0.001**
5000-8000 21 (95.5) 1 (4.5)
9000-12000 3 (42.9) 4 (57.1)
13000-15000 2 (100) 0 (0)
Monthly Savings of the Respondents
No savings 176 (96.2) 7 (3.8) 14.990b
(1) 0.001**
Have savings 11 (68.8) 5 (31.3)
Total Income of the Household (monthly)
5000-12000 59 (85.5) 10 (14.5)
19.994b
(2) 0.000**
13000-20000 116 (100) 0 (0)
21000≥ 12 (85.7) 2 (14.3)
Monthly Household Savings
No Savings 158 (96.3) 6 (3.7) 7.029b
(1) 0.008*
Have Savings 29 (82.9) 6 (17.1)
Physical Health problems
Low 4 (100) 0 (0)
6.352b
(2) 0.044*
Medium 127 (96.9) 4 (3.1)
High 56 (87.5) 8 (12.5)
Mental Health Problems
Low 4 (100) 0 (0)
6.483b
(2) 0.043*
Medium 84 (89.4) 10 (10.6)
High 99 (98) 2 (2)
b Fisher’s exact test reported (expected cell less than 5)
**p≤0.01, *p≤0.05
Bivariate Correlation
Table number 9 illustrates the direction and strength of relationship between challenges
of women in post-disaster health management and its covariates. Monthly income (r=.153*)
and physical health problem (r=.150**) had lower positive correlation with challenges faced
by the respondents. Surprisingly it is found that, year of schooling, family size and mental
health problem had no signicant relationship with the challenges.
Tabl e 9: Challenges of Women in Post-disaster Health Management and its
Covariates (Correlation).
Variables 1 2 3 4 5 6
1. Challenges
2. Year of Schooling .100
3. Monthly Income .153*.189**
4. Family Size .122 -.084 -.104
5. Physical Health Problems .250** -.078 .068 -.085
6. Mental Health Problems -.114 -.402** -.008 -.007 .389**
*p≤0.05, **p≤0.01
Low= ≤ .29, Moderate= .30-.49, High= ≥ .50
Rajani Akter, Tuhin Roy, Rina Aktar
International journal of disaster risk management • (IJDRM) • Vol. 5, No. 1
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Ordinary Least Square Regression
Table 10 displays the ordinary least square regression predicting Challenges of Women in
Post-disaster Health Management where independent variables were some variables and the
value of R2 = .152 which implies in this study that mentioned variables claried the challenges
of women 15 percent. Among the factors, physical health problem (β=.339**), mental health
problem (β=.218**), and family size (β=.145*) positively impacted on the challenges of wom-
en in post-disaster health management. On the other hand, age of the participants and year
of schooling had no impact on challenges of women in post-disaster health management.
Table 10: OLS Predicting Challenges of Women in Post-disaster Health Management
Independent Variable
Dependent Variable:
Challenges of Women
β (S.E.a)
R2.152
(Constant) 6.746 (1.432)
Factors
Age .136 (.017)
Year of Schooling .129 (.050)
Family Size .145* (.091)
Physical Health Problem .339** (.055)
Mental Health Problem .218** (.059)
a Standard Error
*p≤0.05, **p≤0.01
5. Discussion
According to the collected data it was seen that large proportion of the respondents
(around 65 percent) experienced medium level of physical health problems in post disas-
ter period including fever, diarrhea, skin disease, aches and pain. Only 2 percent of the re-
spondent’s had to face low physical health problems and other 32.2 percent had to face high-
er problems. On the contrary, Mondal et al. (2018) found that physical health problems in
post-disaster period like cholera, diarrhea, fever, skin diseases had strong correlation with
drinking water. 50.8 percent respondents had to face higher mental health problem, besides,
47.2 percent faced medium mental health problem and only 2 percent faced lower problem
in post-disaster period. Another study of (Schwartz, Liu, Lieberman-Cribbin, & Taioli 2017)
tried to nd out the mental eect of disaster as a result from Hurricane Sandy at New York
which takes place in 2012. Moreover, 94 percent respondents had to serious challenges of
post-disaster and didn’t get any facility to face those challenges. On the other hand, another
study found that, women took more challenge and responsibility than men during and aer
disaster, researcher found that the reason of women vulnerability is poverty and traditional
gender role in family (Reyes & Lu 2016).
In this study it also found a signicant association between those physical health problems
and sources of drinking water (sher’s exact test=31.881, p<0.000). In this study also found
that year of schooling (p<0.000), classication of family by income (p<0.003) and mental
health problem (p<0.000) were highly associated with mental health problem (Schwartz, Liu,
Lieberman-Cribbin & Taioli ,2017) also found a positive association between loss of wealth
and property with mental health eects of disaster in post-disaster period. In the contrary,
Challenges of Women in Post-disaster Health Management:
A Study in Khulna District
International journal of disaster risk management • (IJDRM) • Vol. 5, No. 1
63
Bell and Folkerth (2016) had found a strong correlation between mental illness from disaster
and domestic violence which was also seen from qualitative part of this research paper.
Apart from socioeconomic condition and other facilities create challenges for women in
post disaster period, the study was mainly designed to know the challenges of women in
post-disaster period. Mondal et al. (2018) showed that married women faced more challeng-
es than other but unfortunately there was no signicant relationship between marital status
and challenges in this study; one the other hand, physical health problems had higher level
of signicance with marital status (p<0.002) of women. Reyes & Lu (2017) identied that
vulnerability and challenges mostly depend on socio-economic background of the people.
ere were also a signicant association which had been found between health (physical
p<0.044, & mental p<0.043) problem and challenges. Result from correlation, it was found
that monthly income (r=.153*) and physical health problem (r=.150**) had lower positive re-
lation with challenges of women but year of schooling, family size and mental health problem
had no signicant relationship with the challenges.
However, according to the study of Rashid & Halder (1998) and Mondal et. al (2018),
women during ood and other disasters didn’t have access to medical facilities, menstrual
hygiene as well as sanitation which makes post-disaster phase more challenging for them. In
this study it was found that, most of the women in Dacope Upazila didn’t get access to use
proper sanitation and medical facilities. Just aer disasters they were unable to get essenti-
alities like drinking water, rst aids and menstrual equipment which compelled them to live
in the unhygienic situation. Most of the women in North Kamarkhola village at post-disas-
ter period reused old cloths as menstrual equipment which even they didn’t wash properly.
Rahman (2013) and Sohrabizadeh et al. (2017) found that women experienced more violence
and domestic roles in post-disaster period because of their loss of wealth and economic in-
security. In this study it was also found that post-disaster phase brought a lot of pressure on
women by increasing their work (reconstruction) which was crying need for their recovery.
Conclusion
e ndings suggested that many socio-economic statues such as employment, income as
well as savings (both personal and household), and house type were the main factors to face
the challenges of women in post-disaster period. Both physical health problem and mental
health problems contributed a lot to impact on the challenges of women. Proper medical fa-
cilities were absent in post-disaster period, so women had to face in their physical problems.
Besides, pure drinking water was not available in post-disaster period and this was more re-
sponsible to make the situation worse for the women. So, government of Bangladesh should
give more focus to the women of this area so that they can be able to maintain a standard
of living with proper health and medical facilities. Present government of Bangladesh, has
already taken a program to ensure health facilities of women and children and established
13,000 community clinics around the country, many women are still unaware of the facilities.
Awareness programs should be increased by governments as well as NGOs. NGOs should
come forward to ensuring awareness of proper health management in post-disaster period.
Finally, more research is expected to identify the challenges faced by women in post-disaster
period and then the authority will take the steps to the welfare of health management among
the women in Bangladesh.
Rajani Akter, Tuhin Roy, Rina Aktar
International journal of disaster risk management • (IJDRM) • Vol. 5, No. 1
64
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