Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and a supertyphoon: A quantitative study in Cebu, Philippines
Issued Date
2024-12-05
Resource Type
eISSN
27673375
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85211720634
Journal Title
PLOS Global Public Health
Volume
4
Issue
12
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
PLOS Global Public Health Vol.4 No.12 (2024)
Suggested Citation
Ylade M., Adhikari B., Crisostomo M.V., Daag J.V., Cuachin A.M., Lopez M.H., Macasero A., Agrupis K.A., Deen J. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and a supertyphoon: A quantitative study in Cebu, Philippines. PLOS Global Public Health Vol.4 No.12 (2024). doi:10.1371/journal.pgph.0004008 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/102440
Title
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and a supertyphoon: A quantitative study in Cebu, Philippines
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Pandemics and natural disasters are recognized to cause major disruptions. The main objective of this study was to explore the impacts of COVID-19 and supertyphoon Odette in Cebu, Philippines. A total of 2630 participants were interviewed exploring the impacts of COVID-19 and supertyphoon Odette. The majority of the respondents (2486/2630; 94.5%) had financial problems due to COVID-19. Almost three out of four respondents (1962/2630; 74.6%) experienced moderate to severe impact on their mental health. Almost a third of the respondents (874/2630; 33.2%) reported moderate to severe impact on their physical well-being, mostly related to weight-related disorders. Almost half of the respondents (1248/2630; 47.5%) experienced moderate to severe impacts on their relationships with family members, relatives, friends and neighbors. More than two-thirds of the respondents (1673/2360; 63.6%) reported moderate to severe financial problems due to supertyphoon Odette. Households who were financially impacted by Supertyphoon Odette were more likely not have recently migrated to their current residence (p<0.001), and to have lower monthly expenditure (p = 0.020). The specific financial problems reported by the majority (1671/2360; 64.5%) were increased expenses, followed by inability to work (623/2360; 23.7%). Almost two-thirds of the respondents (1680/2360; 63.9%) reported having mental health problems. The majority of respondents (1853/2360; 70.5%) had moderate to severe impacts on their living conditions, disrupted by interruption in electricity, water supplies, and house damage. The COVID-19 pandemic and supertyphoon Odette had multi-faceted effects with immediate and long-term implications and greater impacts among poorer households. Public health measures to counteract the consequences of both of these incidents require a multi-pronged and targeted approach.