Assessing public health risk factors for internally displaced households in North Darfur, Sudan. Issue 2 (3rd April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mahmoud, Elfadil Mohammed; Pal, Indraijt; Ahmad, Mokbul Morshed
• Is Part Of: Disaster prevention and management. Volume 30:Issue 2(2021)
• Page Start: 225
• Page End: 239
• Publication Date: 2020-04-03
• Subjects: Sudan -- IDPs -- Composite index method -- North Darfur -- Public health risk factors assessment; Emergency management -- Periodicals; Disaster relief -- Periodicals; 363.3405
• DOI: 10.1108/DPM-04-2019-0105
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0965-3562

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to assess the public health risk factors of internally displaced households and suggest appropriate measures and strategies for health risk reduction in the context of IDPs. Design/methodology/approach: The composite Index (CI) method was used to compare the public health risk factors at the household level in three IDP camps. A set of 22 indicators were studied in 326 households. Households were selected by using a two-stage cluster sampling technique. Findings: The findings indicate that the Shangil Tobaya camp is at the highest risk for communicable diseases (63.6%) followed by Zamzam (52.4%) and Abu Shouk (42.7%) at the household level. Eight indicators appeared to have made differential impacts between Abu Shouk and Shangil Tobaya, these include: level of education, walking time to health facilities, water source, latrines type, safe disposal of child feces, frequency of visit by pregnant women to antenatal care services, place of delivery and women delivering their children with the help of skilled birth attendants. Research limitations/implications: Since the selection criteria of the camps were predefined; there are variations in the number of samples between the camps. Therefore, the generalizability may be compromised. Social implications: Increased access to healthcare services particularly reproductive health services to the most vulnerable groups (women). Community involvement in services management to promote ownership. Originality/value: The methods used in this study is original and flexible and can be replicated for other emergency areas and risks.