European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background: Health cadres hold enormous potential for flood disaster risk reduction (DRR) such as in reducing public health risks and building community resilience. However, they must risk their own lives to save others in disaster situations. Involving them, focusing on primary health care in the context of flood DRR, should be considered in this scheme.
Aim: This research aims to explore the factors related to intentions among health cadres to participate in flood DRR in Semarang, Indonesia.
Methods: A qualitative study was conducted from February to May 2019 in Semarang. Focus group interviews were conducted with 22 participants (health cadres, supervisors of health cadres, the head of Puskesmas, and municipal health officers). Content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data.
Results: Four themes of factors related to intentions among health cadres to participate in flood DRR emerged from the interview data, namely: tugas (a set of expectations to be carried out from encumbering the position of health cadres), existing supports, perceived insufficiency of supports, and existing obstacles. It was revealed that their intentions to participate in flood DRR was related to tugas, existing support, and perceived insufficiency of support.
Conclusions: Tugas, existing support, and perceived insufficiency of support are factors related to intentions among health cadres to participate in flood DRR in Semarang. The findings of this study may contribute as a strategy for the governments and stakeholders to optimize sustainable community healthcare for flood DRR performed by health cadres in Indonesia.