Disaster preparedness among women with a recent live birth in Hawaii, a cross-sectional study, results from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), 2016

AbstractObjectivesThis study examines emergency preparedness behaviors among women with a recent live birth in Hawaii.MethodsUsing the 2016 Hawaii Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring Survey we estimated weighted prevalence of eight preparedness behaviors.ResultsAmong 1010 respondents (weighted response rate=56.3%), 79.3% reported at least one preparedness behavior and 11.2% performed all eight behaviors. The prevalence of women with a recent live birth in Hawaii reporting preparedness behaviors includes: 63.0% (95% CI: 58.7-67.1%) having enough supplies at home for at least seven days, 41.3% (95% CI: 37.1-45.6%) having an evacuation plan for their child(ren), 38.7% (95% CI: 34.5, 43.0) having methods to keep in touch, 37.8% (95% CI: 33.7, 42.1) having an emergency meeting place, 36.6% (95% CI: 32.6, 40.9) having an evacuation plan to leave home, 34.9% (95% CI: 30.9, 39.2) having emergencies supplies to take with if they have to leave quickly, 31.8% (95% CI: 27.9, 36.0) having copies of important documents, 31.6% (95% CI: 27.7, 35.8) having practiced what to do.ConclusionOne in ten women practiced all eight behaviors indicating more awareness efforts are needed among this at-risk population in Hawaii. Hawaii can measure the effect of interventions to increase preparedness by tracking this question over time.Significance“What is already known on this subject?”Preparedness is associated with reduced vulnerability, and postpartum women are considered an at-risk population in the post-disaster period with special clinical needs. One prior study has assessed disaster preparedness among postpartum women.“What this study adds?”This is the first study to describe a methodology to analyze the eight-part PRAMS emergency preparedness question. Among recently postpartum women in Hawaii, about 80% practiced at least one of eight emergency preparedness measures assessed and about 10% practiced all behaviors.

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Disaster Preparedness Among Women With a Recent Live Birth in Hawaii – Results From the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), 2016

Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness ◽

10.1017/dmp.2021.274 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Penelope Strid ◽

Carlotta Ching Ting Fok ◽

Marianne Zotti ◽

Holly B. Shulman ◽

Jane Awakuni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Monitoring System ◽

Live Birth ◽

Emergency Preparedness ◽

Disaster Preparedness ◽

Response Rate ◽

Pregnancy Risk ◽

Evacuation Plan ◽

The Impact ◽

Weighted Prevalence

Abstract Objective: The aim of this study was to examine emergency preparedness behaviors among women with a recent live birth in Hawaii. Methods: Using the 2016 Hawaii Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, we estimated weighted prevalence of 8 preparedness behaviors. Results: Among 1010 respondents (weighted response rate, 56.3%), 79.3% reported at least 1 preparedness behavior, and 11.2% performed all 8 behaviors. The prevalence of women with a recent live birth in Hawaii reporting preparedness behaviors includes: 63.0% (95% CI: 58.7-67.1%) having enough supplies at home for at least 7 days, 41.3% (95% CI: 37.1-45.6%) having an evacuation plan for their child(ren), 38.7% (95% CI: 34.5-43.0%) having methods to keep in touch, 37.8% (95% CI: 33.7-42.1%) having an emergency meeting place, 36.6% (95% CI: 32.6-40.9%) having an evacuation plan to leave home, 34.9% (95% CI: 30.9-39.2%) having emergency supplies to take with them if they have to leave quickly, 31.8% (95% CI: 27.9-36.0%) having copies of important documents, and 31.6% (95% CI: 27.7-35.8%) having practiced what to do during a disaster. Conclusions: One in 10 women practiced all 8 behaviors, indicating more awareness efforts are needed among this population in Hawaii. The impact of preparedness interventions implemented in Hawaii can be tracked with this question over time.

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Communicating Public Health Preparedness Information to Pregnant and Postpartum Women: An Assessment of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web Pages

Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness ◽

10.1017/dmp.2015.2 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 134-137

Author(s):

Brianna McDonough ◽

Elizabeth Felter ◽

Amia Downes ◽

Jeanette Trauth

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Disease Control ◽

Emergency Preparedness ◽

Disaster Preparedness ◽

Postpartum Women ◽

Web Pages ◽

Low Literacy ◽

Public Health Preparedness ◽

Control And Prevention ◽

Centers For Disease Control

AbstractPregnant and postpartum women have special needs during public health emergencies but often have inadequate levels of disaster preparedness. Thus, improving maternal emergency preparedness is a public health priority. More research is needed to identify the strengths and weaknesses of various approaches to how preparedness information is communicated to these women. A sample of web pages from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention intended to address the preparedness needs of pregnant and postpartum populations was examined for suitability for this audience. Five of the 7 web pages examined were considered adequate. One web page was considered not suitable and one the raters split between not suitable and adequate. None of the resources examined were considered superior. If these resources are considered some of the best available to pregnant and postpartum women, more work is needed to improve the suitability of educational resources, especially for audiences with low literacy and low incomes. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2015;9:134-137)

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A qualitative survey of household emergency preparedness for the elderly and the medically frail living in coastal urban communities

Journal of Emergency Management ◽

10.5055/jem.0493 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 143-163

Author(s):

Tara N. Heagele, PhD, RN, PCCN, EMT

Keyword(s):

Emergency Preparedness ◽

Disaster Preparedness ◽

Protective Action ◽

The Elderly ◽

Hurricane Sandy ◽

Situational Analysis ◽

Community Members ◽

Emergency Plans ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Study Results

Objective: To understand how elderly and medically frail adults have experienced disasters and how this experience impacts what they do now to prepare for disasters and to generate theory regarding the process through which community members prepare for disasters.Design: This study employed a qualitative descriptive methodology, Situational Analysis (SA), to explore the social processes of disaster preparedness in vulnerable community members. The Protective Action Decision Model was used to inspire the interview guide and initial coding of the data. Discourse analysis was performed on noninterview data.Setting: A coastal urban community heavily damaged by Hurricane Sandy in 2012.Participants: Convenience sample of 33 elderly or medically frail community members.Results: Based on the findings, it was theorized that these community members are unprepared for disasters. Their lack of preparedness is due in large part to a lack of education on how best to prepare. If these community members are incidentally prepared, it is largely due to their past experience with disaster or their professional experience. The preparedness discourse did not recognize the extent to which elderly and medically frail populations rely on institutions and social support networks to meet their disaster resilience antecedents.Conclusions: Community interventions such as distributing disaster supply kits and offering evacuation assistance can help to overcome situational impediments to preparedness and provide the best chance for community members to survive disasters without becoming ill or injured. Study results can inform emergency plans and policy efforts to better meet the needs of these community members during disasters.

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Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS): Unintended Pregnancy among Women Having a Live Birth

Journal of Women s Health & Gender-Based Medicine ◽

10.1089/jwh.1.1999.8.587 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 8 (5) ◽

pp. 587-589 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

INDU B. AHLUWALIA ◽

CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON ◽

MARY ROGERS ◽

CATHY MELVIN ◽

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Monitoring System ◽

Unintended Pregnancy ◽

Live Birth ◽

Pregnancy Risk

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Disaster Preparedness Among Families of Children With Special Health Care Needs

Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness ◽

10.1001/dmp.2010.28 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 240-245 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Lisa R. Baker ◽

Mark D. Baker

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

At Risk ◽

Disaster Preparedness ◽

Special Health Care Needs ◽

Health Care Needs ◽

Care Needs ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Special Health Care ◽

Risk Population ◽

Special Health

ABSTRACTFamilies with children with special health care needs may present a challenge for disaster responders. This study examined the level of personal disaster preparedness among this at-risk population in relation to the general population, and explores whether special health care needs or perception of disaster risk affects preparedness levels. A convenience sample of 145 families presenting to an urban tertiary care children's hospital was surveyed using a previously validated instrument to gather information on levels of preparedness and factors influencing preparedness. In spite of significant special health care needs and concern about disasters, families remain unprepared for a disaster event. Health care and psychosocial support workers are in a unique position to increase preparedness levels in this at-risk population.(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2010;4:240-245)

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