A survey on environmental Health challenges after an earthquake with the aim of improving educational materials for health assistants, a case study Kermanshah rural areas.

Abstract

Introduction:environmental health challenges after 2017 earthquake of Kermanshah province with 7.3 magnitude, was the main subject of this study. The situation and operation of environmental health in different parts of drinking water, human feces disposal, solid waste and wastewater disposal, residency and food hygiene have been surveyed by standard check lists. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in 63 earthquake-stricken villages of Sarpol-e-Zahab city with a population of 12053 in the form of 2868 households and data collection was performed using the environmental health assessment and performance matrix. Results:Findings showed that sanitatized wells and springs were used by 61% and 39% of the all target population, respectively. Remained chlorine in drinking water for 99.86% of the samples was disireable and only in 0.14% of the cases it was beyon standards. In case of toilets, it was found that 66% and 12% of people provided with sanitized and unsanitized toilets, respectively. Damaged toilets and conexes without toilets were used by 11.4% and 10.6% of hoseholds, respectively. Almost in 18% of the cases solid waste was collected by municipalities, while in 9% of the cases it has been unhygienic and was dispersed in the environment. Open dumping was found to be the waste disposal method in 72% of the cases. According to the results obtained, sewage collection networks covered 7.29% of households, 31.95% discharged their waste into the absorption well, and 61.12% of households discharged into the environment, directly. The share of residential building, damaged buildings without residents, and damaged buildings with11 residents was 30.65%, 62.69% and 6.66%, respectively. Temporary accommodation in the earthquake-stricken areas was also provided by condominiums, tents and capers or pavilions. 96.97%, 2.18% and 0.83% of residents were accomodated by conex, tent, and others, respectively. Food preparation in 90.82% of hoseholds was in kitchen, and in 9.18% of the cases it was prepared outside. Also conserved foods was kept in refrigerator in 89.22% of the cases and in environment temperature in 10.77% of the cases. Canclusion: Based on different environmental and health issues found in this survey, providing educational packages are suggested in parts of supplying safe drinking water, sewage disposal, sanitary disposal of solid waste, safe residency, and hygenic nutrition