title: Communicable and non-communicable diseases in the Solomon Islands villages during recovery from a massive earthquake in April 2007.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The major causes of mortality and morbidity have changed from infectious diseases and malnutrition conditions to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Melanesian societies. However, a massive earthquake and its related changes might have disturbed the patterns. This study aimed to explore which health problems were likely to be prevalent during the recovery process from the 2 April 2007 earthquake in the Solomon Islands.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were recruited in Titiana, a severely damaged village located near a town; Tapurai, a severely damaged remote village; Mondo, a severely damaged, medium urban village; and Olive, a control village. Health indicators measured were classified into communicable and nutritional conditions (malaria, malnutrition, infection status and child growth) and NCDs (overweight/obesity, hypertension and diabetes).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Titiana residents were more at risk of infectious conditions (C-reactive protein greater than and equal to 1 mg/dL) and obesity (BMI greater than and equal to 30 kg/m²). Tapurai and Mondo residents were at risks of infectious conditions and becoming overweight (BMI greater than and equal to 25 kg/m²), respectively. Titiana and Mondo residents complained about insufficient subsistence production.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The urban communities were found to be at risks of both communicable and NCDs. Controlling the urbanisation as well as providing continuous support against infectious conditions during the recovery process would be beneficial.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan. furusawa@asafas.kyoto-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Takuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Furusawa
authors.forename: Hana
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Furusawa
authors.forename: Ricky
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Eddie
authors.forename: Makiva
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tuni
authors.forename: Freda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pitakaka
authors.forename: Shankar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aswani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055866:Earthquakes; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007239:Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008542:Melanesia / Q000453:epidemiology; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012931:Social Environment; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data