Flood Disasters and Health Among the Urban Poor

TL;DR

This study examines how flood disasters impact the mental and physical health of urban poor populations in Indonesia, revealing increased morbidities and depressive symptoms, with effects lasting longer among the vulnerable.

Contribution

It provides new empirical evidence on the health impacts of floods on urban poor, especially mental health, using survey data from Indonesia.

Findings

Floods increase acute morbidities among urban poor

Depressive symptoms rise and persist longer after floods

Wealthier populations show no health effects from floods

Abstract

Billions of people live in urban poverty, with many forced to reside in disaster-prone areas. Research suggests that such disasters harm child nutrition and increase adult morbidity. However, little is known about impacts on mental health, particularly of people living in slums. In this paper we estimate the effects of flood disasters on the mental and physical health of poor adults and children in urban Indonesia. Our data come from the Indonesia Family Life Survey and new surveys of informal settlement residents. We find that urban poor populations experience increases in acute morbidities and depressive symptoms following floods, that the negative mental health effects last longer, and that the urban wealthy show no health effects from flood exposure. Further analysis suggests that worse economic outcomes may be partly responsible. Overall, the results provide a more nuanced understanding of the morbidities experienced by populations most vulnerable to increased disaster occurrence.