Disaster preparedness and management plan for the hospitals within Addis Ababa Administration Health Bureau, Ethiopia

Abstract

The study aimed at developing a disaster preparedness and management plan for the hospitals in Addis Ababa Administration Health Bureau. The objectives of the study were to explore and describe the nature and types of disasters encountered in the hospitals, hospitals' response to the disaster, ensuring preparedness for and management of disasters, the challenges facing hospitals in disaster management, and the effects of disasters in hospitals. The mixed-methods research design was used to conduct the study. The data were collected from hospital staff working under the Addis Ababa City Administration Health Bureau. A questionnaire and individual in-depth interviews were employed to collect the data. A simple descriptive statistic was used to analyse the data for the quantitative phase, as well as frequency distribution tables and graphs. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis. The study revealed that, for most people, 40.7% of the incidents that occur in hospitals result from transportation accidents. Only 11.9% of hospital employees in the study area were members of disaster management committees; emergency supplies were not readily available for immediate distribution, there was a poor security service, and only 23.8% had received disaster management training. This study concludes that Addis Ababa city administration hospitals are below standard regarding disaster preparedness and disaster management. Finally, the study recommends that government officials and policymakers should design appropriate policies and interventions to empower hospital staff to fill gaps by themselves, particularly managers living in administrative areas in the hospital.