Effective Communication for Disaster Management and Livelihood Vulnerability Options: A Systematic Review

This paper presents a systematic review of relevant secondary materials on effective communication for disaster management. The paper undertook a copious review of secondary information on the concept of disaster risk communication and its ramifications on livelihood vulnerability, obtained from Google and other search engines data bases. Using the risk perception and planned behaviour theories, we espoused that the drivers of disasters and associated risks can be categorized into anthropogenic (human) and geogenic (natural) in nature. The discourse also revealed that individual’s ability to secure sustainable livelihood, determines their affinity to devote some time and resources towards the compliance of disaster risk information communicated. Since some of the measures of protecting investments and livelihoods could be capital intensive, respondents would, usually want to be gainful in their occupations, or upgrading in their existing jobs, before they could develop the resilient capabilities for disaster management. It can therefore be deduced that people’s vulnerability to risk is influenced largely by both gender and livelihood strategies. A stakeholder integration of efforts, based on the utility of the two theories espoused, should be the guiding framework in generating and disseminating risk communication among disaster risk stake-actors, in their scheme of affairs. Keywords: effective communication, disaster, vulnerability, risk, and livelihood DOI: 10.7176/JEES/10-10-04 Publication date:October 31st 202

National estimates for maternal mortality: an analysis based on the WHO systematic review of maternal mortality and morbidity

BACKGROUND: Despite the worldwide commitment to improving maternal health, measuring, monitoring and comparing maternal mortality estimates remain a challenge. Due to lack of data, international agencies have to rely on mathematical models to assess its global burden. In order to assist in mapping the burden of reproductive ill-health, we conducted a systematic review of incidence/prevalence of maternal mortality and morbidity. METHODS: We followed the standard methodology for systematic reviews. This manuscript presents nationally representative estimates of maternal mortality derived from the systematic review. Using regression models, relationships between study-specific and country-specific variables with the maternal mortality estimates are explored in order to assist further modelling to predict maternal mortality. RESULTS: Maternal mortality estimates included 141 countries and represent 78.1% of the live births worldwide. As expected, large variability between countries, and within regions and subregions, is identified. Analysis of variability according to study characteristics did not yield useful results given the high correlation with each other, with development status and region. A regression model including selected country-specific variables was able to explain 90% of the variability of the maternal mortality estimates. Among all country-specific variables selected for the analysis, three had the strongest relationships with maternal mortality: proportion of deliveries assisted by a skilled birth attendant, infant mortality rate and health expenditure per capita. CONCLUSION: With the exception of developed countries, variability of national maternal mortality estimates is large even within subregions. It seems more appropriate to study such variation through differentials in other national and subnational characteristics. Other than region, study of country-specific variables suggests infant mortality rate, skilled birth attendant at delivery and health expenditure per capita are key variables to predict maternal mortality at national level

Improving fire risk communication between authorities and micro entrepreneurs

The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.This study conceptualizes how fire management authorities can empower non-expert public to participate in fire risk communication processes and increase their own responsibilities for managing fire preventive, protective and recovery processes effectively. Drawing narratives from ten disaster management experts working at government institutions and nine micro entrepreneurs operating self-sustaining businesses in different merchandized lines in Ghana, we analyzed the data thematically and explored new insights on mental models to generate a two-way fire risk communication model. The findings suggest that fire management authorities planned fire disasters at the strategic level, collaborated with multiple stakeholders, disseminated information through many risk communication methods, and utilized their capabilities to manage fire at the various stages of fire risk communication, but the outcomes were poor. The micro entrepreneurs sought to improve fire management outcomes through attitude change, law enforcement actions, strengthened security and better public trust building. The study has implications for policymakers, governments and risk communication authorities of developing countries to strengthen their fire disaster policies to minimize commercial fire incidents and address the damaging effects of fire on people’s livelihoods, businesses, properties and environments. Our proposed two-way fire risk communication model is a new theoretical lens for experts and the non-expert public to assess each other’s beliefs about risk information and manage fire risk communication effectively at all stages

Improving fire risk communication between authorities and micro entrepreneurs: A mental models study of Ghanaian central market fires

This study conceptualizes how fire management authorities can empower non-expert public to participate in fire risk communication processes and increase their own responsibilities for managing fire preventive, protective and recovery processes effectively. Drawing narratives from ten disaster management experts working at government institutions and nine micro entrepreneurs operating self-sustaining businesses in different merchandized lines in Ghana, we analyzed the data thematically and explored new insights on mental models to generate a two-way fire risk communication model. The findings suggest that fire management authorities planned fire disasters at the strategic level, collaborated with multiple stakeholders, disseminated information through many risk communication methods, and utilized their capabilities to manage fire at the various stages of fire risk communication, but the outcomes were poor. The micro entrepreneurs sought to improve fire management outcomes through attitude change, law enforcement actions, strengthened security and better public trust building. The study has implications for policymakers, governments and risk communication authorities of developing countries to strengthen their fire disaster policies to minimize commercial fire incidents and address the damaging effects of fire on people’s livelihoods, businesses, properties and environments. Our proposed two-way fire risk communication model is a new theoretical lens for experts and the non-expert public to assess each other’s beliefs about risk information and manage fire risk communication effectively at all stages