| Summary: | Ashenafi Habte Woyessa,1 Misganu Teshome,2,3 Befirdu Mulatu,4 Muktar Abadiga,5 Nesru Hiko,1 Burtukan Kebede5 1Department of Emergency and Critical Care Nursing, Institute of Health Science, Wollega University, Nekemte, Ethiopia; 2School of Nursing and Midwifery, Institute of Health Science, Wollega University, Nekemte, Ethiopia; 3Department of Midwifery, Institute of Health Science, Wollega University, Nekemte, Ethiopia; 4Department of Public Health, Institute of Health Science, Wollega University, Nekemte, Ethiopia; 5Department of Nursing, Institute of Health Science, Wollega University, Nekemte, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Ashenafi Habte WoyessaDepartment of Emergency and Critical Care Nursing, Institute of Health Science, Wollega University, Nekemte, EthiopiaTel +251 922183065Fax +251 576617980Email ashexman2015@gmail.comPurpose: Despite the fact that hospitals are always at a high risk of disasters, the preparedness status in many of the Ethiopian hospitals is not well recognized. It is with this research gap in mind that this study motivated the authors to assess disaster preparedness level in selected hospitals of the western part of Ethiopia and their authorities’ risk perceptions.Methods: This was a facility-based study conducted by using mixed qualitative and quantitative research designs among selected hospitals of western Ethiopia. While disaster and emergency readiness was evaluated using a modified World Health Organization observation check list. The key informant interview method was used to assess the disaster risk perception of the hospitals’ authorities in the study area.Results: The overall level of emergency and disaster preparedness in the selected hospitals was weak with an average calculated preparedness score of 45.6%. The score of readiness in terms of disaster response and recovery planning was 33.3%. Moreover, we have not got a documented disaster plan in all of the hospitals and the hazard-specific response sub plans were also not consistently in place. Of prime concerns, this study has revealed that there was no patient evacuation plan in all of the selected hospitals. The human resource preparations of the hospitals were relatively better with an average readiness score of 60%. The study has found that no committee was responsible for emergency readiness at all of the sampled hospitals. The hospital authorities’ disaster risk perception was found to vary according to the type of calamities and this was from moderate to high level.Conclusion: This study concludes that although their authorities’ risk perception of disasters was high, the selected hospitals were ill-prepared for the potential disaster strikes in this study area.Keywords: disaster, emergency, hospitals, perception, preparedness, western Ethiopia
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