Impact of the Red River Catastrophic Flood on Women Giving Birth in North Dakota, 1994–2000

Abstract

To document changes in birth rates, birth outcomes, and pregnancy risk factors among women giving birth after the 1997 Red River flood in North Dakota. We analyzed detailed county-level birth files pre-disaster (1994-1996) and post-disaster (1997-2000) in North Dakota. Crude birth rates and adjusted fertility rates were calculated. The demographic and pregnancy risk factors were described among women delivering singleton births. Logistic regression was conducted to examine associations between the disaster and low birth weight (<2,500 g), preterm birth (<37 weeks), and small for gestational age infants adjusting for confounders. The crude birth rate and direct-adjusted fertility rate decreased significantly after the disaster in North Dakota. The proportion of women giving birth who were older, non-white, unmarried, and had a higher education increased. Compared to pre-disaster, there were significant increases in the following maternal measures after the disaster: any medical risks (5.1-7.1%), anemia (0.7-1.1%), acute or chronic lung disease (0.4-0.5%), eclampsia (0.3-2.1%), and uterine bleeding (0.3-0.4%). In addition, there was a significant increase in births that were low birth weight (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.03-1.21) and preterm (OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.03-1.16) after adjusting for maternal characteristics and smoking. Following the flood, there was an increase in medical risks, low birth weight, and preterm delivery among women giving birth in North Dakota. Further research that examines birth outcomes of women following a catastrophic disaster is warranted.

Reproductive and Birth Outcomes in Haiti Before and After the 2010 Earthquake

“…1 The large majority of these studies addressing birth weight after disaster or terrorist attacks were conducted in the United States and Canada, [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] Europe, [12][13][14][15] or Asia (China, 16 Taiwan, 17 Japan, 18 and Thailand 19 ). Only 3 were conducted in South American settings (Colombia 20 and Chile 21,22 ) and none, to our knowledge, in Africa or the Caribbean, although one recent study addressed the relationship between ethnic violence in Kenya and birth weight.…”

“…23 Generally, studies find that disaster is associated with lower birth weight, with effect sizes ranging from 9 to 175 g for absolute birth weight 7,13,15,19,20,[22][23][24] and relative risks of 1.2 to 3.3 for low birth weight (<2500 g). 2,3,25,26 However, the evidence is mixed, with some studies finding no effect or a reduction in risk 4,27 and some showing conflicting findings for the same disaster. [2][3][4]10,27,28 In addition, some studies show effects in one trimester only, and the studies do not agree on which trimester is most vulnerable.…”

Cluster Sampling with Referral to Improve the Efficiency of Estimating Unmet Needs among Pregnant and Postpartum Women after Disasters

“…However, research to date has reported mixed results on the exact effects of disasters on maternal and child health outcomes. Some studies have found an increase in low birth weight and preterm deliveries after disasters (Tong, Zotti & Hsia, 2011), whereas others found no consistent effect (Hamilton, 2009;Harville, Xiong & Buekens, 2009), and still other studies showed the effects varied depending on disaster exposure (Xiong et al, 2008;Engel., Berkowitz, Wolff, & Yehuda, 2005;Lipkind, Curry, Huynh, Thorpe, & Matte, 2010).…”

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

“…They were exposed to threats by disruptions in the supply of clean water for drinking and bathing, lack of access to information and strategies due to loss of electricity, inadequate access to safe food, exposure to environmental toxins, interruption of health care, crowded conditions in shelters, and disruption of public health and clinical care infrastructure (Callaghan et al, 2007;J. W. Mills, 2009;Rotkin-Ellman, Wong, & Solomon, 2012;Tong, Zotti, & Hsia, 2011). In postdisaster situations, including but not limited to Hurricane Katrina, many women experienced maternal complications, as well as adverse birth outcomes such as preterm birth and low birth-weight of infants (Evans, Hu, & Zhao, 2010;Emily W. Harville et al, 2009;Leyser-Whalen, Rahman, & Berenson, 2011;Tong et al, 2011;Torche & Kleinhaus, 2012).…”

“…W. Mills, 2009;Rotkin-Ellman, Wong, & Solomon, 2012;Tong, Zotti, & Hsia, 2011). In postdisaster situations, including but not limited to Hurricane Katrina, many women experienced maternal complications, as well as adverse birth outcomes such as preterm birth and low birth-weight of infants (Evans, Hu, & Zhao, 2010;Emily W. Harville et al, 2009;Leyser-Whalen, Rahman, & Berenson, 2011;Tong et al, 2011;Torche & Kleinhaus, 2012).…”