극한기후 관련 집중호우로 인한 건강영향 실태에 대한 기초 조사

Abstract

Natural disasters cause significant damage worldwide. Heavy rains also increase health risks and affect public health. It is crucial to establish systematic survey systems to understand the health effects of climate change. Therefore, this survey-based pilot study aimed to identify the health effects of extreme rainfall. Meteorological data were collected from the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) in Seoul. The study subjects were the residents of Gaepo Xi, who visited a social welfare or health care center. All subjects agreed to participate in a survey conducted during and within 1 ~ 2 weeks of heavy rainfall. A total of 37 participants was included in the study. An analysis of the participants’ responses was conducted using the Public Health Assessment for Emergency Response (PHASER). The results indicated that women, apartment residents, elderly, and single households were more likely to report a higher rate. The survey revealed that the studied instance of heavy rainfall did not cause flood damage or health problems. In addition, the heavy rainfall did not affect health outcomes. However, a survey was conducted during and within 1 ~ 2 weeks of heavy rainfall using a validated tool among participants from various socioeconomic levels, including apartment residents in Gangnam-gu and those receiving nursing visits. To determine the health effects of heavy rainfall, more studies need to be conducted using secondary data, such as cohort and panel data. There is need for survey systems on the domestic and international policies related to the health effects of climate change.