FLOOD DISASTER PREPAREDNESS: KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE AMONG MALAYSIAN
Hazirah A. R., Nur Ain Sufiya M., Nurul Atina M. A., Dalila Sobrina A. K., Muhammad Aqmar Najmi M. N., Muhammad Fatih Fazari M. F., Muhammad Arman M. A. K., Muhammad Fathy Salmy A., Omar M. & Harif Fadzilah C. H.
abstract
Floods pose a significant threat to lives and property, and recent events in Malaysia underscore the need for robust disaster preparedness. This study explores the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) of Malaysians regarding flood disaster preparedness to enhance community resilience. The survey, distributed nationwide, involved 442 respondents and utilized demographic factors such as gender, age, ethnicity, education, income, and residency. Findings indicate that Malaysians exhibit varied levels of knowledge, attitudes, and practices, with notable disparities across socio-demographic factors. While educational qualifications positively influence knowledge, gender, ethnicity, and income impact attitudes and practices. The study highlights the importance of targeted education, awareness campaigns, and practical initiatives to bridge gaps and enhance disaster readiness. Despite limitations, including a short research period and biased sample composition, the study provides valuable insights for policymakers and researchers aiming to improve flood preparedness in Malaysia. Recommendations include extending research duration, increasing sample diversity, and incorporating face-to-face surveys for enhanced reliability. Strengthening disaster preparedness activities is vital for building a resilient and well-informed society.
references
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24. Noorhashirin, H., Nor Faiza, T., Mohammad Farhan, R., & Juni, M. H. (2016). Assessing malaysian disaster preparedness for flood. International Journal of Public Health and Clinical Sciences, 3(2), 1–16.
25. Albris, K., Lauta, K. C., & Raju, E. (2020). Strengthening Governance for Disaster Prevention: The Enhancing Risk Management Capabilities Guidelines. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 47(June 2019), 101647. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2020.101647
2. Ahmad, S., Bin, H., Muzamil, S., Zainun, N. Y., Ajman, N. N., Sulaiman, N., Khahro, S. H., Rohani, M., Mohd, S., Mohd, B., & Ahmad, H. (2022). Proposed Framework for the Flood Disaster Management Cycle in Malaysia. Sustainability (Switzerland), 14, 1–21.
3. Rosmadi, H. S., Ahmed, M. F., Mokhtar, M. Bin, & Lim, C. K. (2023). Reviewing Challenges of Flood Risk Management in Malaysia. Water (Switzerland), 15(13), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15132390
4. Mazlan, A. G., Zaidi, C. C., Wan-Lotfi, W. M., & Othman, B. H. R. (2005). On the current status of coastal marine biodiversity in Malaysia. Indian Journal of Marine Sciences, 34(1), 76–87.
5. Elum, Z. A., & Lawal, O. (2022). Flood risk perception, disaster preparedness and response in flood-prone urban communities of Rivers State. Jamba: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies, 14(1), 1–10.https://doi.org/10.4102/JAMBA.V14I1.1303
6. Albumijdad, J. R., Alismail, A. S., Albesher, M. A., & Alhajri, A. M. (2022). Attitude, knowledge, and barriers towards research analysis and writing in Saudi Arabia. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 11, 2123–2128. https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc
7. Andrade, C. (2020). Sample Size and its Importance in Research. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 42, 102–103. https://doi.org/10.4103/IJPSYM.IJPSYM
8. Aung, K. T., Nurumal, M. S., & Ahayalimudin, N. A. (2019). Nurses ’ knowledge , Attitude and Practices ( KAP ) During Flood Disaster Affected East Coast Region in Malaysia. IOSR Journal of Nursing and Health Science (IOSR-JNHS), 8(4), 51–59. https://doi.org/10.9790/1959-0804085159
9. Torani, S., Majd, P. M., Maroufi, S. S., Dowlati, M., & Sheikhi, R. A. (2019). The importance of education on disasters and emergencies: A review article. Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 8(85), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.4103/jehp.jehp
10. Seddighi, H., Sajjadi, H., Yousefzadeh, S., López López, M., Vameghi, M., Rafiey, H., Khankeh, H. R., & Garzon Fonseca, M. (2020). Students’ preparedness for disasters in schools: A systematic review protocol. BMJ Paediatrics Open, 4(1), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjpo-2020-000913
11. Shah, M. A. R., Rahman, A., & Chowdhury, S. H. (2020). Assessing sustainable development of flood mitigation projects using an innovative sustainability assessment framework. Sustainable Development, 28(5), 1404–1417. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.2094
12. Raghupathi, V., & Raghupathi, W. (2020). The influence of education on health: An empirical assessment of OECD countries for the period 1995-2015. Archives of Public Health, 78(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-020-00402-5
13. Reyes, D. D., & Lu, J. L. (2016). Gender dimension in disaster situations: A case study of flood prone women in malabon city, metro manila. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 15, 162–168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2015.11.001
14. Bethel, J. W., Burke, S. C., & Britt, A. F. (2013). Disparity in disaster preparedness between racial/ethnic groups. Disaster Health, 1(2), 110–116. https://doi.org/10.4161/dish.27085
15. Shariff, N. N. M., & Hamidi, Z. S. (2019). Community-based approach for a flood preparedness plan in Malaysia. Jamba: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies, 11(1), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.4102/jamba.v11i1.598
16. Enarson, E., Fothergill, A., & Peek, L. (2018). Gender and Disaster: Foundations and New Directions for Research and Practice. Handbooks of Sociology and Social Research, 205–223. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-63254-4_11
17. Stough, L. M., Kang, D., & Lee, S. (2018). Seven school-related disasters: Lessons for policymakers and school personnel. Education Policy Analysis Archives, 26(August). https://doi.org/10.14507/epaa.26.3698
18. Janizadeh, R., Omidvari, F., Motlagh, Z., & Jahangiri, M. (2023). Disaster Preparedness: Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Hospital Staff. Health in Emergencies and Disasters Quarterly, 8(3), 185–192. https://doi.org/10.32598/hdq.8.3.482.1
19. Ao, Y., Zhou, X., Ji, F., Wang, Y., Yang, L., Wang, Q., & Martek, I. (2020). Flood disaster preparedness: experience and attitude of rural residents in Sichuan, China. Natural Hazards, 104(3), 2591–2618. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-020-04286-0
20. Chagutah, T. (2009). Towards improved public awareness for climate related disaster risk reduction in South Africa: A Participatory Development Communication perspective. Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies, 2(2). https://doi.org/10.4102/jamba.v2i2.19
21. Wang, L., Cui, S., Li, Y., Huang, H., Manandhar, B., Nitivattananon, V., Fang, X., & Huang, W. (2022). A review of the fl ood management : from fl ood control to fl ood resilience. Heliyon, 8(e11763), 1–12.
22. Singh, H., & Subramaniam, S. (2009). Health emergency and disaster preparedness in Malaysia. Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health, 40(SUPPL. 1), 11–15.
23. FEMA. (2019). Planning Considerations: Evacuation and Shelter-In-Place. In Federal Emergency Management Agency (Issue July). https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1533580334064-72e9356ed35b726b1a25f4a8c3372c9d/DRAFT_Planning_Considerations_Evacuation_and_Shelter-in-Place_201808.pdf
24. Noorhashirin, H., Nor Faiza, T., Mohammad Farhan, R., & Juni, M. H. (2016). Assessing malaysian disaster preparedness for flood. International Journal of Public Health and Clinical Sciences, 3(2), 1–16.
25. Albris, K., Lauta, K. C., & Raju, E. (2020). Strengthening Governance for Disaster Prevention: The Enhancing Risk Management Capabilities Guidelines. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 47(June 2019), 101647. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2020.101647