Changes in the pattern of service utilisation and health problems of women, men and various age groups following a destructive disaster: a matched cohort study with a pre-disaster assessment

Abstract

Changes in the pattern of service utilisation and health problems of women, men and various age groups following a destructive disaster: a matched cohort study with a pre-disaster assessment AbstractObjectives: Female gender and young age are known risk factors for psychological morbidity after a disaster, but this conclusion is based on studies without a pre-disaster assessment. The aim of this study in family practice was to investigate if these supposed risk factors would still occur in a study design with a pre-disaster measurement. Methods:A matched cohort study with pre-disaster (one year) and post-disaster (five years) data. Community controls (N = 3164) were matched with affected residents (N = 3164) on gender, age and socioeconomic status. Main outcome measures were utilization rates measured by family practice attendances and psychological, musculoskeletal and digestive health problems as registered by the family practitioner using the International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC).Results: Affected residents of female and male gender and in five age groups all showed increases in utilization rates in the first post-disaster year and in psychological problems when compared to their pre-disaster baseline levels. The increases showed no statistically significant changes, however, between women and men and between all age groups. Conclusion:Gender and age did not appear to be disaster-related risk factors in this study in family practice with a pre-disaster base line assessment, a comparison group and using existing registries. Family practitioners should not focus specifically on these risk groups.

Disparities in health care among Vietnamese New Orleanians and the impacts of Hurricane Katrina

“…Disasters present a wide range of mental and physical health challenges to survivors (Norris et al 2002a; Norris, Friedman, and Watson 2002b; Phifer, Kaniasty and Norris 1988; Soeteman, Yzermans, and Spreeuwenberg 2008). Hurricane Katrina was no exception.…”

Primary Health care and Disasters—The Current State of the Literature: What We Know, Gaps and Next Steps

“…Preparedness-In terms of preparedness, there are some examples in the US 10 and the United Kingdom 11, 12 that using current PHC infrastructure can help build capacity for community disaster risk reduction and for disaster response (The community health center example in the US and primary care trusts in the UK). 13,20,31,51,52 This increased utilization pattern is not just related to servicing the needs of the injured, but also reflects the psychosocial needs of those who were affected by the disaster. 13,14 Examples include surge capacity of the known health care providers, but also consideration of roles of lay people in the health response, as well as alternate models of care like the Canadian example of home based hospital care.…”

“…(13,20,31,51,52) Preparedness (disaster response planning) and response (disaster needs assessment) (13,20,31,51,52) Preparedness (disaster response planning) and response (disaster needs assessment)…”

Disaster and poverty : the differential impacts of disaster on the poor in the Gulf Coast region.

“…Several disaster studies recurrently document disproportionate effects on women and girls with respect to health and safety, income, social power, human rights, and life (Callaghan et al, 2007;Emily W. Harville, Xu, & Buekens, 2009;Seager, 2006;Soeteman et al, 2008). Due to women's relative lack of power and control in society, they tend to view disaster threats as more risky and they are also more likely to respond to calls for evacuation in comparison to their male counterpart (Brezina, 2008;J.…”

“…O. P. Diaz, 1999;Felix et al, 2011;Guha-Sapir et al, 2007;Kronenberg et al, 2010;Madrid & Grant, 2008;Pfefferbaum et al, 2010). Most commonly observed traumatic reactions in school-aged children include certain fears, separation problems, sleep difficulties, reenactment of the trauma in play, regression, physical complaints, irritability, survival guilt, deterioration in academic performance, anxiety of recurrence of the trauma, and trauma-related guilt (Barrett, Ausbrooks, & Martinez-Cosio, 2012;Kronenberg et al, 2010;Soeteman et al, 2008). Posttraumatic stress symptoms are associated with negative school performance and exposure for both children and adolescents (R. T. Jones et al, 2009;Şahin, Batıgün, & Yılmaz, 2007;Zubenko & Capozzoli, 2002).…”