Loss Of Resources And Hurricane Experience As Predictors Of Post-Partum Depression Among Women In Southern Louisiana

Ehrlich, Matthew; Harville, E; Xiong, Xu; Buekens, Pierre; Pridjian, Gabriella; Elkind‐Hirsch, Karen

doi:10.1016/j.annepidem.2008.08.086

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

References 15 publications

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“…Many women indicate gaining nontangible resources after birth, such as meaning, sense of pride, and positive feelings about oneself (47). In our study, we found that having high loss of nontangible resources and low hurricane experience together yielded higher depression rates than having low loss of resources but high hurricane experience (48). It is possible that, for many women, the increased positive resources associated with becoming a mother help make up psychologically for the other resources lost in the storm.…”

Section: But I Think On the Other Hand It Gave Me Strength And Persmentioning

confidence: 51%

Hurricane Katrina and Perinatal Health

Harville¹,

Xiong²,

Buekens

2009

Birth

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We review the literature on the effects of Hurricane Katrina on perinatal health, and providing data from our own research on pregnant and postpartum women. After Katrina, obstetric, prenatal, and neonatal care was compromised in the short term, but increases in adverse birth outcomes such as preterm birth, low birthweight, and maternal complications were mostly limited to highly exposed women. Both pregnant and postpartum women had rates of post-traumatic stress disorder similar to, or lower than, others exposed to Katrina, and rates of depression similar to other pregnant and postpartum populations. Health behaviors, such as smoking and breastfeeding, may have been somewhat negatively affected by the disaster, whereas effects on nutrition were likely associated with limited time, money, and food choices, and indicated by both weight gain and loss. We conclude that, with a few specific exceptions, postdisaster concerns and health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women were similar to those of other people exposed to Hurricane Katrina. In such situations, disaster planners and researchers should focus on providing care and support for the normal concerns of the peripartum period, such as breastfeeding, depression, and smoking cessation. Contraception needs to be available for those who do not want to become pregnant. Although additional physical and mental health care needs to be provided for the most severely exposed women and their babies, many women are capable of surviving and thriving in postdisaster environments.

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Section: But I Think On the Other Hand It Gave Me Strength And Persmentioning

confidence: 51%