Overview of the Strengths and Challenges Associated with Healthcare Service Rendered in the First 10 Days after the Great Flood in Northern Iran, 2019

Abstract

Background: Iran is a disaster-prone country, and many flood events occur in its provinces annually. The unprecedented amount of rainfall in the northern region of Iran (from March 17 to 22, 2019) led to flash flooding of the Golestan Province. Objectives: This study assessed the challenges and strengths of health-related needs in the first 10 days after the great flood in Golestan; via interviews with experts. Methods: This cross-sectional and qualitative study was carried out in Gonbad-e-Kavoos, Anbar Alum, Aq-Qala, Simin Shahr, and Gomishan cities of the flood-hit province of Golestan from March 21 to April 13, 2019. The data were collected using the researcher’s field observations and interviews with 26 experts and policymakers. Results: The findings were categorized into 10 main groups namely mental health, environmental health, health education, maternal, infant, and child health, nutrition, epidemics, drugs, mobile hospitals, non-communicable diseases, and management.  Environmental health issues were faced with a wide range of challenges. Conclusion: Due to the insufficient development of many health infrastructures in underdeveloped and developing countries, health policymakers and disaster management experts should collaborate before and after the disaster to detect and resolve the flaws. This will help reduce health problems and challenges when a natural disaster occurs, particularly by diminishing the number of morbidities and mortalities.