Health Impacts on Pregnant Females during Disasters in Pakistan

Abstract

Introduction: Pakistan is vulnerable to many hazards due to its geography and climate condition, like floods, earthquakes, droughts and landslides. Some manmade hazards also provoking us like, road traffic accidents, fire, structural collapse, radiological and chemical spills etc. Pakistan have faced many of these which affects us badly at every perspective of life for example health, communication, water and sanitation and infrastructure.
This study focused on health problems experienced by pregnant females during any type of disasters. Females faced so many problems because of very sensitive issues like unavailability of health facilities, lack of food, and unavailability of clean water, accommodation and transportation.
Methodology: This is the descriptive cross-sectional study. The objective of the study was to identify health problems faced by the pregnant females during disasters. Annual disaster report of National Disaster Management Authority Pakistan and Pakistan Red Crescent Society is employed to identify these problems.
Discussion: Unexpected environmental events cause natural disasters which affect entire communities and are likely to endanger life and property. In addition to causing casualties and economic losses, exposure to natural disasters can precipitate transient and more enduring somatic and psychological symptoms that relate to posttraumatic stress disorder and depression.
Conclusion: Pakistan is exposed to different hazards due to its geography and climate situation. Catastrophic incidents, both natural and manmade, bring about heavy loss of human lives and livelihoods, damage to property and infrastructure. Such episodes can also aggravate natural processes, such like sudden tectonic movements, which promote earthquakes and tsunamis, resulting in frequent cyclones, continuous dry conditions cause prolonged droughts, severe storms, unexpected heavy rains, excessive snowfalls, floods, landslides, and avalanches, etc. The country is also vulnerable to manmade disasters, for example industrial hazards, bomb blasts, building fires, armed conflicts and nuclear and radiological events.