Flood Vulnerability to the Health of Rural People and Child Education in Bagmati Province of Nepal

Abstract

The flood of 2021 damaged physical, economic, and social property. The flood mainly impacted people's livelihoods, health, and children's education. The primary impact of floods was on people's health and children's education in rural areas. This study aims to address the gap in health hazards and educational challenges faced by rural people affected by the 2021 floods in Bagmati province, Nepal. Researchers employed a descriptive study along with mixed (qualitative and quantitative) methods. Data was collected through field surveys conducted from June 2024 to August 2024. Semi-structured questionnaires and face-to-face interviews were utilized to gather information. There were 380 samples that were affected by the floods in 2021 were selected using multi-stage sampling. The district was chosen through purposive sampling due to its unique physical, economic, and demographic characteristics. Households of respondents were selected using a simple random sampling method. Nearly 40 percent of respondents experienced physical health problems, while 60 percent faced mental health issues. The primary physical health problems include waterborne diseases, respiratory illnesses, and injuries. About 57 percent faced minor impact, and 42 percent faced moderate impact. The main mental health challenges are trauma, stress, and anxiety. Males were more affected (47.8 percent) than females (34.3 percent) by mental health hazards. More than two-thirds of children faced educational barriers due to the effects of the floods. Reasons for school disruptions include school closures, dropouts, and other factors. The reasons for school dropout were 70 percent school shutdowns, 51 percent changes of parents' employment, and 47 percent family relocation. Finally, special provisions for classrooms, reading materials, and school supplies are recommended for children in f lood-affected areas.