Dietary difficulties among vulnerable people affected by the Kumamoto Earthquake

Abstract

This study aimed to reveal dietary difficulties among vulnerable people affected by the Kumamoto Earthquake. We analyzed 148 copies of assessment sheets for special need diets recorded by the members of Japan Dietetic Association-Disaster Assistance Team dispatched to the damaged areas and summarized their complaints by life stage and symptoms. A total of 432 people were grouped into four life stages; three lactating woman, three infants, 13 1-to-6 year-old children, and 282 elderly people. The two most complaints by the elderly were “low in vegetables” (17.6%) and “meal is hard” (14.4%). It is often pointed out the shortage of vegetables in the shelter meals, but because elderly people usually eat more vegetables than in other ages, it is possible that they may feel a lack of vegetables strongly during a disaster. According to the analysis by symptoms, hypertension (41.0%) was the most prevalent followed by constipation (21.7%), diabetes (19.7%), and difficulty in eating and swallowing (11.1%). They were frequently observed symptoms among elderly people and also reported in the Great East Japan Earthquake. It was suggested that dietary difficulties among vulnerable people could be caused by lacks of information about special needs diets and food distribution system as well as diets low in vegetables.