Abstract
Traditional approaches to risk communication ignore the emotional, cognitive and social factors that interact to influence the meaning people attribute to hazards and protective actions. The aim of this study was to investigate the emotional and cognitive factors predicting preparedness intention and community’s preparedness for flood hazards. A cross-sectional study was conducted between June and July 2015, in Dire Dawa town, Ethiopia. Using stratified systematic random sampling, a structured questionnaire was administered to individuals aged 18 and over in 660 households. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) (STATA version 13.0). The study participants’ mean age was 34 years, ranging from 18 to 80 (SD = 12) with equal gender balance. SEM analysis revealed that the total effects of preparedness intention (path coefficient (β) = 0.202, 95% CI: [0.036, 0.369]), past flood disaster experience (β = 0.034, 95% CI: [0.008, 0.061]), trust (β = 0.100, 95% CI: [0.059, 0.142]), anxiety (β = 0.026, 95% CI: [0.018, 0.034), positive outcome expectancy (β = − 0.139, 95% CI: [− 0.253, − 0.026]), negative outcome expectancy (β = 0.105, 95% CI: [0.062, 0.149]), perceived flood likelihood (β = 0.049, 95% CI: [0.012, 0.086]) and consequence (β = − 0.040, 95% CI: [− 0.077, − 0.003]) on community preparedness for flood hazards were statistically significant. The main implication of these findings is that people affected by hazard events in the past experience more anxiety and are more likely to participate in community preparedness activities than those who were not affected.
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Acknowledgement
The authors would like to express their gratitude to the Dire Dawa Administrative Council Health Bureau for its cooperation during the data collection process. Similarly, our appreciation goes to the nine Kebeles of Dire Dawa town for allowing us to collect the data and their administrative supports. We are also grateful to the data collectors for their dedication and the study participants from nine Kebeles for their time and willingness to take part in the study.
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The STATA data-set (without personal identifiers) is available from the first/corresponding author and can be obtained upon request.
Appendix: Measurement tool
Appendix: Measurement tool
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Ejeta, L.T., Ardalan, A., Paton, D. et al. Emotional and cognitive factors influencing flood preparedness in Dire Dawa town, Ethiopia. Nat Hazards 93, 715–737 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-018-3321-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-018-3321-0