Abstract
OBJECTIVES: On June 6(th) 2007, a tropical Cyclone Gonu striked the coastline of Oman. The purpose of this study is to compare number of patients and pattern of illnesses between disaster (June 2007) and peace times (June 2006/2008). METHODS: Descriptive comparative analysis of all patients who visited primary health centers in Wilayat A'Seeb during the index days. Electronic database collected from the Health Centers (HC) were grouped into four groups; infection-related, trauma-related, acute non trauma-related, and miscellaneous group. Data were analyzed to find difference of patient influx and disease patterns between disaster and peace times. RESULTS: HC visits during the index days decreased from 9006 in 2006 to 8687 in 2007 then increased to 8786 in 2008. Neither between years variation nor between disaster and peace times difference was found to be statistically significant. The proportion of patient visited the HC due to infection-related illnesses changed from 30% in 2006, 31% in 2007, and 24% in 2008 (p<0.0001). The proportion of patients visited the HC due to trauma-related illnesses had changed from 4% in 2006, to 6.7% in 2007, and to 4.4% in 2008. (p<0.0001). Proportions for acute non trauma-related visits were 27% in 2006, 24% in 2007, and 23% in 2008 (p<0.0001). Miscellaneous group accounted for 38% in 2006, 37% in 2007, and 47% in 2008 (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Tropical Cyclone Gonu caused statistically significant increase in percentages of infectious and trauma-related visits. The overall ratios of total visits did not differ from peace times.