A community based study on health impact of flood in a vulnerable district of West Bengal.

ABSTRACT

In order to ascertain the disaster vulnerability and health risks of flood in Hooghly district of West Bengal, this community based study was conducted through record analysis, interview of concerned authorities and household survey of morbidities before and after flood. Two blocks, with most of its population, were found to be the worst affected among all the disaster vulnerable blocks of the district. Incidence of diarrhoea, other enteric diseases and respiratory infections were significantly higher (P < 0.05) among the population in flood affected blocks, compared to the unaffected. The attack rate of diarrhoea in the flood affected population had increased significantly following flood (P < 0.05).