Impacts of Flooding on People’s Health in Wieng Kook Sub–district, Muang District, Nongkhai Province

Abstract

The objective of this investigation was to study the impact of flooding on people’s health at the Wieng
Kook Sub – district in the year 2008. Data were collected from 187 heads of households through an interview
by asking how they had been affected by the flood. The study was conducted from January to March 2010.
Additional information about water related diseases in the affected area was obtained from the Office of
Disease Control 6, Khon Kaen Province. Conventional descriptive statistics were used for data analysis.
The flooding which lasted from August to September 2008 affected the health of the people in various
ways. It was found that 25.1% of the respondents had been injured in an accident largely due to falls because
of the slippery conditions of the walking grounds. Suffering from water related diseases during the time of
flooding was mentioned from 64.2% of the study participants. The most frequent disease reported had been
fungus infection of the feet followed by skin rash and conjunctivitis. The diseases were caused by a shortage
of clean water which made it difficult to maintain a good personal hygiene and properly washing clothes,
conditions which results in the infection of eyes and the skin. Up to 27.3% of the respondents worried about
damages to their homes and property. This resulted in insomnia which was reported by of 72.7% of the study
participants. The statistics of the Office of Disease Control proofed that during the flooding, in particular in
August 2008, conjunctivitis occurred in epidemic proportions. Besides the shortage of clean water, other
environmental problems were related to the shortage of storage room for cooking equipment. It was found that
free floating garbage entered the house and the toilets were out of order. After the floods receded mosquitoes
became a real nuisance. A positive effect of the environmental disaster had been that people developed a
strong feeling of togetherness and much more help were given to neighbors and other villagers and the
assistance of the government during this time was very much appreciated.
It is concluded that the local government and other agencies concerned should initiate any tangible
policy and plans in remedying environmental health impacts both during and after the flooding events. Public
participation in community health care should be advocated as well as monitoring of the health service during
inundation should be enhanced.