Assessing the Effect of Knowledge on Flood Disaster Awareness in School-Aged Children

Abstract

Introduction: School-age children are more vulnerable and are at greater risk of being affected by floods. Knowledge of flood disaster from early age has an important role in increasing awareness, especially at primary school in flood prone area. This research is to measure the correlation between the level of knowledge and awareness of flood disasters among primary school students. Methods: This quantitative research was carried out by distributing a validated questionnaire to 97 students, from three selected flood-prone primary schools in Segamat, Johor. Results: The research highlighted that the level of knowledge and awareness on flood disasters of students was 4.24 (SD ±0.36) which indicated a high level. The correlation of level of knowledge and awareness of flood disasters showed a significant correlation (r=0.275, p<0.05). Conclusion: The findings signify that increasing the level of knowledge on flood emergencies will result in high level of awareness among students at primary school. Thus, it is crucial to implement effective flood preparedness action initiatives to enhance the knowledge of flood disasters among school-aged children especially in flood-prone areas.