The Current Health and Wellbeing of the Survivors of the Rana Plaza Building Collapse in Bangladesh: A Qualitative Study.

Kabir, H; Maple, M; Islam, MS; Usher, K

The Current Health and Wellbeing of the Survivors of the Rana Plaza Building Collapse in Bangladesh: A Qualitative Study.

Kabir, H Maple, M Islam, MS Usher, K

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Publisher:: MDPI
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2019, 16, (13), pp. E2342
Issue Date:: 2019-07-02

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Kabir, H
dc.contributor.author	Maple, M
dc.contributor.author	Islam, MS
dc.contributor.author	Usher, K https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9686-5003
dc.date.accessioned	2022-09-16T01:11:50Z
dc.date.available	2019-07-01
dc.date.available	2022-09-16T01:11:50Z
dc.date.issued	2019-07-02
dc.identifier.citation	Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2019, 16, (13), pp. E2342
dc.identifier.issn	1661-7827
dc.identifier.issn	1660-4601
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/161841
dc.description.abstract	This study aims to identify the ongoing physical and psychological health vulnerabilities of the readymade garment (RMG) factory workers involved in the Rana Plaza building collapse in 2013, along with their experiences within the current socioeconomic and political contexts of Bangladesh. Seventeen Rana Plaza survivors participated in unstructured, face-to-face, in-depth interviews. Interviews were thematically analyzed using Haddon's matrix to examine pre-event, event, and post-event injury experiences. The collapse of the Rana Plaza building resulted in significant physical and emotional trauma for those who survived the event. The majority of the participants were forced to attend work on the day of the collapse. Participants reported physical health complaints related to bone injuries/fractures and amputation, severe headache, kidney problems, and functional difficulties. In addition to the reported physical health issues, the participants revealed psychological health issues including trauma, depression and suicidal ideation, sleep disorders, anxiety, and sudden anger. Participants described barriers to their potential for re-employment in the RMG sector and outlined their limited access to free healthcare for follow-up treatment. Those who survived the collapse of the Rana Plaza building continue to experience significant adverse physical and emotional outcomes related to the disaster. Yet, they have little recourse to ensure the availability of adequate health care and rehabilitation. Given the international reliance on the Bangladeshi RMG industry, continued pressure to ensure care is provided for these survivors, and to reduce the risk of future disasters, is necessary.
dc.format	Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	MDPI
dc.relation.ispartof	Int J Environ Res Public Health
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.3390/ijerph16132342
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.classification	Toxicology
dc.subject.mesh	Adult
dc.subject.mesh	Anxiety
dc.subject.mesh	Bangladesh
dc.subject.mesh	Depression
dc.subject.mesh	Disasters
dc.subject.mesh	Employment
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Health Status
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.subject.mesh	Mental Health
dc.subject.mesh	Psychological Trauma
dc.subject.mesh	Qualitative Research
dc.subject.mesh	Sleep Wake Disorders
dc.subject.mesh	Structure Collapse
dc.subject.mesh	Survivors
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Depression
dc.subject.mesh	Anxiety
dc.subject.mesh	Mental Health
dc.subject.mesh	Disasters
dc.subject.mesh	Health Status
dc.subject.mesh	Qualitative Research
dc.subject.mesh	Adult
dc.subject.mesh	Survivors
dc.subject.mesh	Employment
dc.subject.mesh	Bangladesh
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.subject.mesh	Structure Collapse
dc.subject.mesh	Sleep Wake Disorders
dc.subject.mesh	Psychological Trauma
dc.title	The Current Health and Wellbeing of the Survivors of the Rana Plaza Building Collapse in Bangladesh: A Qualitative Study.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	16
utslib.location.activity	Switzerland
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.date.updated	2022-09-16T01:11:48Z
pubs.issue	13
pubs.publication-status	Published online
pubs.volume	16
utslib.citation.issue	13

Abstract:

This study aims to identify the ongoing physical and psychological health vulnerabilities of the readymade garment (RMG) factory workers involved in the Rana Plaza building collapse in 2013, along with their experiences within the current socioeconomic and political contexts of Bangladesh. Seventeen Rana Plaza survivors participated in unstructured, face-to-face, in-depth interviews. Interviews were thematically analyzed using Haddon's matrix to examine pre-event, event, and post-event injury experiences. The collapse of the Rana Plaza building resulted in significant physical and emotional trauma for those who survived the event. The majority of the participants were forced to attend work on the day of the collapse. Participants reported physical health complaints related to bone injuries/fractures and amputation, severe headache, kidney problems, and functional difficulties. In addition to the reported physical health issues, the participants revealed psychological health issues including trauma, depression and suicidal ideation, sleep disorders, anxiety, and sudden anger. Participants described barriers to their potential for re-employment in the RMG sector and outlined their limited access to free healthcare for follow-up treatment. Those who survived the collapse of the Rana Plaza building continue to experience significant adverse physical and emotional outcomes related to the disaster. Yet, they have little recourse to ensure the availability of adequate health care and rehabilitation. Given the international reliance on the Bangladeshi RMG industry, continued pressure to ensure care is provided for these survivors, and to reduce the risk of future disasters, is necessary.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/161841