Gender and Public Health Emergency Preparedness Among United States Adults

Public health emergency preparedness can improve a community’s ability to cope health outcomes associated with environmental disasters and complex emergencies. Previous studies of gender and preparedness have yielded mixed results. The objective of this study was to examine the association between gender and public health emergency preparedness among U.S. adults using data from the behavioral risk factors surveillance system (BRFSS). Data was analyzed from the 2006–2012 BRFSS for 96,137 adults from 10 states. Three self-reported preparedness behaviors were evaluated: household preparedness (3-day supply of water, 3-day supply of food, battery-operated radio, and flashlight), emergency evacuation plan, and 3-day supply of medication. Multivariable log-binomial regression was used to estimate associations between gender and each preparedness behavior. Gender-specific regression analyses were also conducted to identify determinants of public health emergency preparedness. After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, women were less likely to report household preparedness (PR 0.71, 95% CI 0.67–0.75) and a 3-day supply of medication (PR 0.89, 95% CI 0.79–0.99) than men. Among women, being divorced, widowed or separated (PR 0.84, 95% CI 0.71, 1.00) and living in a household with children (PR 0.84, 95% CI 0.77, 0.92) was inversely associated with reported household preparedness. This study adds to the epidemiology literature regarding gender and preparedness behaviors in the United States. Future investigations are warranted to confirm these findings and inform practices aimed at improving public health emergency preparedness.