Maternal Mental Health after a Wildfire: Effects of Social Support in the Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo Study

Verstraeten, Barbara; Elgbeili, Guillaume; Hyde, Ashley; King, Suzanne; Olson, David M.

doi:10.1177/0706743720970859

Cited by 21 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…In the adult population, the rate of probable PTSD based on a survey screening 3 months post-wildfire was found to be 24% and 60% in two separate studies [ 36 , 57 ]. At 6 months after a wildfire, the one month prevalence rate of PTSD in adults was 12.8%–26% [ 34 , 75 ]. At 18 months after the Fort McMurray wildfire, rates of likely PTSD continued to be higher than prior to the trauma, with studies finding similar rates, within 10.2%–13.6% [ 32 , 64 , 71 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of Wildfires on Mental Health: A Scoping Review

Eboreime

Agyapong

2021

Behavioral Sciences

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One of the many consequences of climate change is an increase in the frequency, severity, and, thus, impact of wildfires across the globe. The destruction and loss of one’s home, belongings, and surrounding community, and the threat to personal safety and the safety of loved ones can have significant consequences on survivors’ mental health, which persist for years after. The objective of this scoping review was to identify primary studies examining the impact of wildfires on mental health and to summarize findings for PTSD, depression, anxiety, and substance use. Literature searches on Pubmed and Embase were conducted in February and April of 2021, respectively, with no date restrictions. A total of 254 studies were found in the two database searches, with 60 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. Three other studies were identified and included based on relevant in-text citations during data abstraction. The results show an increased rate of PTSD, depression, and generalized anxiety at several times of follow-up post-wildfire, from the subacute phase, to years after. An increased rate of mental health disorders post-wildfire has been found in both the adult and pediatric population, with a number of associated risk factors, the most significant being characteristics of the wildfire trauma itself. Several new terms have arisen in the literature secondary to an increased awareness and understanding of the impact of natural disasters on mental health, including ecological grief, solastalgia, and eco-anxiety. There are a number of patient factors and systemic changes that have been identified post-wildfire that can contribute to resilience and recovery.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of Wildfires on Mental Health: A Scoping Review

Eboreime

Agyapong

2021

Behavioral Sciences

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“…Of the included studies in this review, 13 were quantitative (10 retrospective cohort studies, 24 , 25 , 27 – 34 one case–control study, 35 one time-stratified case–crossover study, 36 and one longitudinal study 37 ), 2 used mixed methods, 23 , 38 and one was a qualitative study 39 ( Table 3 ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…study, 38 which used feeding an infant 0–36 months of age at the time of exposure to wildfire as inclusion criteria. Eight studies focused on local populations exposed to a single, specific wildfire event, 23 – 25 , 28 , 34 , 37 – 39 whereas seven focused on longer term exposure to wildfire smoke across fire seasons over a span of years, 27 , 30 – 32 , 35 , 36 and one focused on exposure to mega-fire flame zones (that is, fires over 100,000 acres in size). 29 …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The two mixed methods, one qualitative, and one longitudinal study used purposive sampling, 23 , 37 – 39 and women were recruited into studies using social media, 23 , 37 – 39 mainstream media, 38 , 39 online forums, 23 , 37 websites, 23 , 37 and local medical services or community centres 23 , 37 to assist with recruitment. All qualitative studies collected maternal demographic data, and all measured exposure as direct exposure to and/or evacuation from a wildfire event.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Birth Outcomes, Health, and Health Care Needs of Childbearing Women following Wildfire Disasters: An Integrative, State-of-the-Science Review

Evans

Bansal

Schoenaker

et al. 2022

Environ Health Perspect

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Background: The frequency and severity of extreme weather events such as wildfires are expected to increase due to climate change. Childbearing women, that is, women who are pregnant, soon to be pregnant, or have recently given birth, may be particularly vulnerable to the effect of wildfire exposure. Objectives: This review sought to systematically assess what is known about birth outcomes, health, and health care needs of childbearing women during and after exposure to wildfires. Methods: An integrative review methodology was utilized to enable article selection, data extraction, and synthesis across qualitative and quantitative studies. Comprehensive searches of SCOPUS (including MEDLINE and Embase), CINAHL, PubMed, and Google Scholar identified studies for inclusion with no date restriction. Included studies were independently appraised by two reviewers using the Crowe Critical Appraisal Tool. The findings are summarized and illustrated in tables. Results: Database searches identified 480 records. Following title, abstract, and full text screening, sixteen studies published between 2012 and 2022 were identified for this review. Eleven studies considered an association between in utero exposure to wildfire and impacts on birth weight and length of gestation. One study reported increased rates of maternal gestational diabetes mellitus and gestational hypertension following exposure; whereas one study reported differences in the secondary sex ratio. Two studies reported higher incidence of birth defects following in utero exposure to wildfire smoke. Three studies reported increased mental health morbidity, and one study associated a reduction in breastfeeding among women who evacuated from a wildfire disaster. Discussion: Evidence indicates that wildfire exposure may be associated with changes to birth outcomes and increased morbidity for childbearing women and their babies. These effects may be profound and have long-term and wide-ranging public health implications. This research can inform the development of effective clinical and public health strategies to address the needs of childbearing women exposed to wildfire disaster. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP10544

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“…Data resulting from this study have been presented at local, national, and international meetings. Two papers have been published (119,120) while several others are under review or in preparation.…”

Section: Disseminationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Fort McMurray Mommy Baby Study: A Protocol to Reduce Maternal Stress Due to the 2016 Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo, Alberta, Canada Wildfire

Hyde

Verstraeten

Olson

et al. 2021

Front. Public Health

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Introduction: Data show that maternal stress triggered by exposure to a natural disaster before, during or just after pregnancy is associated with adverse pregnancy and newborn outcomes. In this paper, the first aim is to describe our efforts to test a simple, low-cost intervention to large numbers of women following a major natural disaster. The second aim is to outline the challenges faced and lessons learned during the execution of this natural disaster study.Methods: The setting was the May 2016 Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo wildfire in northern Alberta, Canada. Women who were pregnant or preconception at the time of the disaster were invited to participate via social media. This prospective cohort study included a randomized controlled trial to test the effectiveness of an expressive writing intervention on the levels of prenatal maternal stress and maternal, birth, and early childhood outcomes. At recruitment and at multiple timepoints postpartum, a battery of questionnaires was administered to evaluate objective and subjective stress exposure to the fire as well as maternal mental health, resilience and its contributing factors as well as infant developmental milestones. Qualitative content analysis of the expressive writing was conducted.Discussion: There is an increasing need to develop effective, wide-spread, rapid, and low-cost interventions to reduce prenatal maternal stress, increase resilience, and improve pregnancy outcomes following a natural disaster. Though analysis of data is ongoing, we highlight the strengths of this study which include strong community participation, rapid recruitment of eligible participants, low-cost intervention and data acquisition, and successful testing of the intervention. We acknowledge the challenges we encountered including the high rate of participant disqualifications or losses due to incomplete collection of online data; evacuation, dispersal, and inconsistent return to homes; and the high levels of stress accumulated post-disaster which led to inability to complete the study. Despite potential challenges, there remains a need for such research amid natural disasters.

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Maternal Mental Health after a Wildfire: Effects of Social Support in the Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo Study

Cited by 21 publications

References 67 publications

The Impact of Wildfires on Mental Health: A Scoping Review

The Impact of Wildfires on Mental Health: A Scoping Review

Birth Outcomes, Health, and Health Care Needs of Childbearing Women following Wildfire Disasters: An Integrative, State-of-the-Science Review

The Fort McMurray Mommy Baby Study: A Protocol to Reduce Maternal Stress Due to the 2016 Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo, Alberta, Canada Wildfire

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