Routine healthcare for families in transition after a natural disaster

Abstract

Objective: to present the healthcare routines of families in transition after natural disasters based on the Family Routines and Rituals theoretical framework. Method: this qualitative study of multiple cases was developed based on six rural families in southern Brazil, 2 years after a natural disaster. The data were collected through participant observation, interviews, narratives, genograms, ecomaps, and routine calendars, and a narrative analysis was conducted.Results: families showed notable episodes of illness that required professional assistance during post-disaster care, daily routine care, and other routines associated with healthcare services.Conclusion: these results reinforce the need for nurses to attend to family experiences during transitions after natural disasters and to prepare for the changes and needs with regard to healthcare and its promotion.Descriptors: Nursing; Family Health; Health Promotion; Natural Disasters. IntroductionIn 2008, the Vale do Itajaí in Santa Catarina, Brazil was the site of one of the most devastating regional natural disasters. The economic and social losses significantly changed the lives of numerous families in both the rural and urban areas of most municipalities. In one rural location in particular, flooding was associated with landslides that caused the loss of the homes and deaths of adults and children, resulting in unexpected transitions to their families. The community remained closed for a long period of time, and these families relocated to public shelters or the homes of family and friends. Healthcare facilities were also affected, which interfered with the local healthcare providers. As life changed after the disaster, issues emerged with regard to the routines of the families who faced the disaster, especially concerning healthcare promotion.Although every natural disaster is unique depending on the affected areas and their different levels of vulnerability as well as the differences in social, economic, and health conditions, similarities exist and should be considered by nations in planning and attending to major issues (1) . In Brazil, floods are the most frequent type of natural disaster, and past occurrences in the south, southeast, and northeast regions have presented similar scenarios with respect to family life situations including stays in public shelters for months and delays in the reconstruction phase of the affected areas. During the reconstruction phase of the disaster cycle, several decisions and actions must be taken to return the context/environment to the normal situation as close as possible. The primary consideration is the time it takes to achieve such conditions (1) . Moreover, the reconstruction period provides an opportunity to develop health mitigation programs and strengthen disaster preparedness programs. However, natural disaster preparation is practically nonexistent in Brazil, with a limited scope at the population, health professional, state, and municipality levels. Thus, it is necessary to discuss and consider the implic...

Critical Requirements for Nursing Practice in Rural Disasters Caused by Floods

“…This situation has become worrying in the rural context because in this context natural resources are decreasing, poverty is frequent and conditions of access to health care services are precarious, affecting current global rural population health condition (2) . Brazil detects a great amount of floods and sliding (3) which result in difficult access to public health services, caused by lack of transportation, due to poor conditions of the roads (4) . The unexpected transition after natural disasters by flood has impacted services routines, indicating the necessity of health professional preparation to mitigate their consequences and face emerging needs, with measures to preserve the environment and provide health care.…”

Rural families' interpretations of experiencing unexpected transition in the wake of a natural disaster

“…The socio-environmental vulnerability of populations results in exposure to a disaster, with consequences on health that may be direct or indirect, with short or long-term effects 15 both in the physical and psychological health of the people exposed. Communities affected by disasters become communities in transition 16 thus it is believed that the lives of families in close proximity to these catastrophic situations have to deal with unexpected and immediate changes that interfere with their health, and this particularly true for women, the elderly and children 17 . Social networks play a vital role in how a community responds to extreme climate events, strengthening the capacities of bonding and bridging networks for disaster recovery, which is an important feature to promote a community's resilience 18,19 .…”