Community preparedness for disaster response: A cross-sectional study of surveys among residents in Indonesia

Abstract

Disasters cause widespread disruption; therefore, communities must be capable of mitigation and preparedness to minimize casualties and reduce disaster risks. This study aimed to describe the level of community preparedness in facing disasters and to examine the relationship between knowledge and attitude toward disaster preparedness.Methods: This research employed a cross-sectional design involving 150 residents of Citengah Village, Indonesia, selected using a stratified proportional sampling technique.Results: The findings revealed that 66.7 percent of the respondents were categorized as being prepared for disasters, 60 percent had good knowledge, and 48.7 percent exhibited negative attitudes. There was a significant relationship between knowledge (p = 0.005) and attitude (p = 0.021) with community preparedness in disaster response.Conclusion: The study concludes that knowledge and attitude are significantly associated with disaster preparedness. The least developed preparedness parameter was resource mobilization (RM). Therefore, to enhance community preparedness and attitude, local governments and nurses should provide education and training on first aid and evacuation procedures, strengthen community empowerment, and promote intersectoral collaboration. Strengthening community-based RM mechanisms should also be prioritized. Community members should be actively involved in preparedness planning to identify their own needs and priorities in accessing disaster information.