Hurricane Katrina experience and the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression among pregnant women.
OBJECTIVE
Little is known about the effects of disaster exposure and intensity on the development of mental disorders among pregnant women. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of exposure to Hurricane Katrina on mental health in pregnant women.


METHODS
Prospective cohort epidemiological study.


METHODS
Tertiary hospitals in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, U.S.A.


METHODS
Women who were pregnant during Hurricane Katrina or became pregnant immediately after the hurricane.


METHODS
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.


RESULTS
The frequency of PTSD was higher in women with high hurricane exposure (13.8 percent) than women without high hurricane exposure (1.3 percent), with an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 16.8 (95% confidence interval: 2.6-106.6) after adjustment for maternal race, age, education, smoking and alcohol use, family income, parity, and other confounders. The frequency of depression was higher in women with high hurricane exposure (32.3 percent) than women without high hurricane exposure (12.3 percent), with an aOR of 3.3 (1.6-7.1). Moreover, the risk of PTSD and depression increased with an increasing number of severe experiences of the hurricane.


CONCLUSIONS
Pregnant women who had severe hurricane experiences were at a significantly increased risk for PTSD and depression. This information should be useful for screening pregnant women who are at higher risk of developing mental disorders after a disaster.
Xiong
Xu
X
Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Harville
Emily W
EW
Mattison
Donald R
DR
Elkind-Hirsch
Karen
K
Pridjian
Gabriella
G
Buekens
Pierre
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D055867:Cyclonic Storms; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008145:Louisiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology*