Chars are riverine islands and are particularly vulnerable to natural hazards, including floods, bank erosion, cyclone, which significantly impacts the health of the char dwellers. During a disaster women are highly vulnerable compared to the men due to traditional gender roles and caregaving and socioeconomics inequalities. Therefore, this study aims to explore how frequent flooding affects water, sanitation facilities, and food security, and examine its impact on women’s health in disaster-prone areas like Nirmal Char. The study used a mixed-methods approach, and 320 households were randomly selected for the primary survey, and key informant interviews were conducted with health workers and elected panchayat members. A chi-squared test was performed to show the relationship between income, access to safe water, household type, and food insecurity. Results indicate that 88.75% of the households were exposed to unsafe drinking water, and approximately 90% indulged in open defecation during a flood, further increasing health risks. Over 60% of households experienced outbreaks of diarrhoea, most of whom were women. Also, 90% of families suffered from symptoms like fever, sore throat, and cough. The reproductive health problem was reported by 16.88% of families, and 65.63% of the respondents reported that they were mentally stressed.

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Disaster Risks and Women’s Health: Water and Sanitation Challenges in Flood-Prone Nirmal Char, Murshidabad

  • Snehashis Alam,
  • Mohan Kumar Bera

摘要

Chars are riverine islands and are particularly vulnerable to natural hazards, including floods, bank erosion, cyclone, which significantly impacts the health of the char dwellers. During a disaster women are highly vulnerable compared to the men due to traditional gender roles and caregaving and socioeconomics inequalities. Therefore, this study aims to explore how frequent flooding affects water, sanitation facilities, and food security, and examine its impact on women’s health in disaster-prone areas like Nirmal Char. The study used a mixed-methods approach, and 320 households were randomly selected for the primary survey, and key informant interviews were conducted with health workers and elected panchayat members. A chi-squared test was performed to show the relationship between income, access to safe water, household type, and food insecurity. Results indicate that 88.75% of the households were exposed to unsafe drinking water, and approximately 90% indulged in open defecation during a flood, further increasing health risks. Over 60% of households experienced outbreaks of diarrhoea, most of whom were women. Also, 90% of families suffered from symptoms like fever, sore throat, and cough. The reproductive health problem was reported by 16.88% of families, and 65.63% of the respondents reported that they were mentally stressed.