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Article History

Received: 5 December 2025

Accepted: 27 February 2026

First Online: 4 March 2026

Declarations

:

: This study is part of an approved research project from the Ethical Clearance Committee of the Bangladesh University of Professionals, Dhaka, Bangladesh (Ref. No. 23.0.902.858.07.786.24/60). This study adhered to all ethical principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki and its subsequent amendments regarding the use of human subjects [ ]. Before participation, informed consent was obtained from all participants, with clear information provided about the study objectives, procedures, potential risks, and the voluntary nature of participation. Participants were informed of their right to decline to answer any question or to withdraw from the interview at any time, without consequences. Given the sensitive nature of mental health and disaster-related experiences, interviewers were trained to recognize signs of emotional distress during the interviews. Participants who expressed severe emotional distress during the interview were provided with verbal information about health services and community-based support mechanisms, and interviews were paused or discontinued at the participant’s request. No participant was pressured to continue the interview while distressed. Considering the inclusion of sensitive topics such as domestic violence, additional precautions were implemented to ensure participant safety. Whenever possible, interviews were conducted in private settings. Participants were informed that they could skip any question or terminate the interview at any time without consequences. In cases where distress or violence was disclosed, interviewers responded with support without probing further and provided verbal information on locally available health services and community-based support options. No identifying information was recorded, and responses related to violence were collected using neutral, non-judgmental language to minimize risk. These procedures were designed to prioritize participant safety and emotional well-being throughout data collection. To maintain confidentiality, no personally identifiable information was recorded in the survey dataset. Data were stored in electronic files accessible only to the research team, and any hard copies of questionnaires were kept in secure, locked locations. Sensitive information, such as mental health symptoms, chronic illness, and household experiences, was collected using neutral language and discussed in private settings whenever possible. Interviewers were instructed not to probe beyond participants’ comfort levels, especially on sensitive topics. All data are reported in aggregate form to prevent the identification of individual participants.

: Not applicable.

: The authors declare no competing interests.