Pregnant Women’s Experiences during Hurricane Maria: Impact, Personal Meaning, and Health Care Needs

Abstract

During a disaster, pregnant women are considered among the most vulnerable. Background: On 20 September 2017, the Caribbean was hit by a category 4 hurricane. The purpose of the study was to explore the impact on pregnant women during and after the hurricane regarding access to health care, social services, and support systems. Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted to 10 women that were pregnant during the event. Qualitative inquiry based on the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis framework was used to interpret the narratives. Results: Five major themes emerged: meaning of living through a disaster, fear, the dual burden of protecting themselves and their unborn baby, disruption in health care, and coping mechanisms. Despite the negative feelings, most participants experienced positive transformations. They narrated how they stayed calm and coped in order to protect their pregnancy. Their overall evaluation of the healthcare system was positive. The support of friends and family was crucial pre and post-disaster. Conclusions: The interviews provided a wealth of firsthand information of women experiencing a natural disaster while pregnant. The findings underscore the need to incorporate emotional support in the preparedness and response plans for pregnant women. Educating, empowering, and incorporating families and communities is vital in these efforts.

Disruptions in Oncology Care Confronted by Patients with Gynecologic Cancer Following Hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico

“… 26 Our observations align with common cultural values in the Puerto Rican community and Hispanics in general, where family relationships are often prioritized before an individual’s well-being. 26 , 31 Similar to other studies exploring people’s experiences post Hurricane Maria, 31 we also found that local communities, including neighbors, local organizations, and clinics, provided support and resources to help patients with their financial, physical, and psychological needs.…”

Climate Change-Related Environmental Exposures and Perinatal and Maternal Health Outcomes in the U.S.

“…Hurricane Sandy related power outages were associated with an increase in emergency department visits for pregnancy complications [45]. Two studies examined the effect of hurricane exposure on the usage and access to maternal healthcare and support services [41,42]. The gestational month of the first prenatal care visit was found to be significantly later within the one-year period after Hurricane Michael in Florida [41].…”

“…The gestational month of the first prenatal care visit was found to be significantly later within the one-year period after Hurricane Michael in Florida [41]. Interviews conducted on pregnant women exposed to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico illustrated that women were concerned about losing their pregnancy, worried about not having access to healthcare, and fearful of negative birth outcomes including premature birth [42]. Grech et al determined that the male to female birth ratio increased following Hurricane Katrina [34].…”

The impact of prolonged landscape fire smoke exposure on women with asthma in Australia

“…Direct comparison between our study and existing literature is difficult given the scarcity of published studies regarding the concern of pregnant women about the effects of fire events on their pregnancy. A study of the experience of pregnant women during Hurricane Maria in the Caribbean reported that pregnant women were worried about losing their pregnancy due to the Hurricane [52]. Our findings highlight the need for emotional support for pregnant women and addressing their concern during landscape fire events, which may have an impact on their pregnancy outcomes.…”