TY - JOUR
T1 - Hurricane Maria's Impact on Punta Santiago, Puerto Rico
T2 - Community Needs and Mental Health Assessment Six Months Postimpact
AU - Ferré, Isabella M.
AU - Negrón, Stephanie
AU - Shultz, James M.
AU - Schwartz, Seth J
AU - Kossin, James P.
AU - Pantin, Hilda
PY - 2018/1/1
Y1 - 2018/1/1
N2 - ObjectivesThis pilot study aimed to assess the community needs and population health status for the low-income town of Punta Santiago, situated on the southeastern coast of Puerto Rico at the point where Hurricane Maria made landfall on September 20, 2017.MethodsA cross-sectional, interviewer-administered survey was conducted 6 months after the storm with a representative random sample of 74 households. The survey characterized population demographics and resident needs in relation to storm damage and disruption. The survey also assessed prevalence and symptom severity of major depression, generalized anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder.ResultsMost of Punta Santiago was without electrical power and more than half of households sustained severe damage. Residents reported loss of jobs, decreased productivity, school closures, dependency on aid for basic necessities, increased risk for vector-borne diseases, unrelenting exposure to heat and humidity, and diminished health status. Two-thirds (66.2%) of the respondents had clinically significant symptom elevations for at least 1 of the 3 common mental disorders assessed: major depression, generalized anxiety, or posttraumatic stress disorder.ConclusionsPilot survey results, along with other studies conducted in Punta Santiago, can be used to provide guidance for interventions with this community as well as with other low-income, storm-affected areas. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2018;page 1 of 6).
AB - ObjectivesThis pilot study aimed to assess the community needs and population health status for the low-income town of Punta Santiago, situated on the southeastern coast of Puerto Rico at the point where Hurricane Maria made landfall on September 20, 2017.MethodsA cross-sectional, interviewer-administered survey was conducted 6 months after the storm with a representative random sample of 74 households. The survey characterized population demographics and resident needs in relation to storm damage and disruption. The survey also assessed prevalence and symptom severity of major depression, generalized anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder.ResultsMost of Punta Santiago was without electrical power and more than half of households sustained severe damage. Residents reported loss of jobs, decreased productivity, school closures, dependency on aid for basic necessities, increased risk for vector-borne diseases, unrelenting exposure to heat and humidity, and diminished health status. Two-thirds (66.2%) of the respondents had clinically significant symptom elevations for at least 1 of the 3 common mental disorders assessed: major depression, generalized anxiety, or posttraumatic stress disorder.ConclusionsPilot survey results, along with other studies conducted in Punta Santiago, can be used to provide guidance for interventions with this community as well as with other low-income, storm-affected areas. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2018;page 1 of 6).
KW - climate drivers
KW - community needs assessment
KW - depression
KW - generalized anxiety
KW - psychopathology
KW - PTSD
KW - tropical cyclone
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U2 - 10.1017/dmp.2018.103
DO - 10.1017/dmp.2018.103
M3 - Article
C2 - 30394256
AN - SCOPUS:85056181576
JO - Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness
JF - Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness
SN - 1935-7893
ER -