ASSESSING THE PSYCHOSOCIAL IMPACTS OF FLOODS
Abstract
Malawi is highly vulnerable to the impacts of extreme weather events given its location along the great African Rift Valley, rapid population growth, unsustainable urbanization, climate variability and change, and environmental degradation. Flood is the most devastating and widely distributed natural disaster causing losses to lives, property and infrastructure damage. Flood disaster has severe psychosocial consequences. The emotional wounds may be less visible than the destruction of homes, but it takes far longer to recover from emotional impact than to overcome material losses. The psychosocial approach looks at individuals in the context of the combined influence that psychological factors and the surrounding social environment have on the physical and mental wellness of people and their ability to function.
The purpose of the study was to assess the psychosocial impacts of floods. In this research data was collected in Nchalo which is located in T/A Ngabu in Chikwawa district. A total of 40 interviews were completed, 45% were males. The victims experienced so many losses for example housed hold items, livestock and even loved ones. Flood victims furthermore showed signs and symptoms of psychological problems such as PTSD and depression. These signs and symptoms were: re-experiencing the traumatic problems though nightmares/flashbacks, changes in sleep, loss in pleasure in things once enjoyed and lack of association with others. On average PTSD is reported at 52.5% and depressions at 56.3%. finally, the victims were able to cope up these signs and symptoms of psychological problems through prayer life, doing household chores, business, acceptance and letting] g it goes, make themselves busy and many more. The Government in line with DoDMA promote psychosocial in response and recovery stages to reduce this adverse impacts people have faced. Certainly, the victims need to undergo clinical assessment to ascertain diagnosis of the psychological problems shown. Lastly, it would be of great importance if the government emphasized on inclusion of various interventions to promote the health of the victims directly and indirectly. This would then help the victims attain an optimal level of health that includes the physiological, psychological, socio-cultural, developmental, and spiritual dimensions
Research summary
Malawi is highly vulnerable to the impacts of extreme weather events given its location along the great African Rift Valley, rapid population growth, unsustainable urbanization, climate variability and change, and environmental degradation. The emotional wounds may be less visible than the destruction of homes, but it takes far longer to recover from emotional impact than to overcome material losses. The psychosocial approach looks at individuals in the context of the combined influence that psychological factors and the surrounding social environment have on the physical and mental wellness of people and their ability to function. finally, the victims were able to cope up these signs and symptoms of psychological problems through prayer life, doing household chores, business, acceptance and letting] g it goes, make themselves busy and many more.