COVID-19 slightly reduced family resilience, coping, and disaster preparedness in ISTIFAR's Lombok study.

Abstract

The study aimed to evaluate the longitudinal impact of ISTIFAR programme (Islamic-Based Training for Family Resilience) to the family state of coping, resilience and disaster preparedness on longitudinal observation. A quasi-experimental design was employed with pre- and post-test intervention group only. The sample size was 63 families that survived the earthquake, which sampled using purposive sampling. The sampling criteria were disaster survivor, head of household, Muslim and mentally healthy. The variable was pre- and post-observation of coping, family resilience and disaster preparedness, with confounding factor of stress. The interview performed by structured questionnaire. The data analysed with Mann-Whitney U test and ordinal regression (α < 0.05). The result was a statistical difference between the observation of 6 months prior and follow-up but a slight decline in all variables mean. In detail, coping (p = 0.000), family resilience (p = 0.000) and the disaster preparedness (p = 0.023). There was no statistical correlation between the coping, family resilience and the disaster preparedness towards pandemic stress (p = 0.747). Islamic-Based Training for Family Resilience positively impact coping, resilience and disaster preparedness, albeit slight declines over 6 months, but no evident correlation with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic stress.

Contribution: This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by highlighting the effectiveness of authentic disaster preparedness facilitated through ISTIFAR among vulnerable families. It suggests that enhancing resilience, particularly concerning disaster preparedness and, notably, amids the COVID-19 pandemic, can be achieved through authentic local methodologies. The grounded approach proves beneficial, indicating that interventions within communities should not be universally applicable but tailored to leverage local community wisdom.