TABLE 1.
Demographic characteristics and earthquake related experiences in a cohort of Haitians in the BelAir-Nazon area of Port-au-Prince exposed to the January 12 earthquake, by sampling sitea
| Total (n = 1,313) | Camp (n = 522) | Community (n = 522) | Clinic (n = 269) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Characteristics | n (%)b | n (%)b | n (%)b | n (%)b | P valuei |
| Pre-earthquake factors | |||||
| Younger than 30 | 398 (30.8) | 197 (38.4) | 146 (28.4) | 53 (19.7) | <.01 |
| Female | 933 (71.1) | 371 (71.1) | 346 (66.3) | 216 (80.3) | <.01 |
| Married | 285 (21.7) | 77 (14.8) | 166 (31.8) | 42 (15.6) | <.01 |
| Number of children, mean (SD) | 2.3 (2.02) | 2.3 (2.09) | 2.12 (2.06) | 2.6 (1.76) | <.01 |
| Secondary education completed | 258 (20.1) | 56 (10.9) | 159 (31.5) | 43 (16.2) | <.01 |
| Mental illness of close friend/relative | 387 (29.7) | 137 (26.6) | 163 (31.5) | 87 (32.5) | >.05 |
| Prior history of violent traumac | 479 (36.5) | 177 (34) | 169 (32.4) | 133 (49.4) | <.01 |
| Peri-earthquake factors | |||||
| Major damage to housed | 757 (57.8) | 360 (69.1) | 236 (45.4) | 161 (59.9) | <.01 |
| Trapped by rubble during earthquake | 82 (6.3) | 43 (8.3) | 25 (4.8) | 14 (5.2) | .049 |
| Physically injured as a result of earthquake | 228 (17.4) | 99 (19) | 86 (16.5) | 43 (16) | >.05 |
| Saw dead bodies during/after earthquake | 1,210 (93) | 500 (96.5) | 465 (90.5) | 245 (91.1) | <.01 |
| Involved in rescue/recovery efforts | 429 (33) | 159 (31) | 187 (36.1) | 83 (31) | >.05 |
| Number of relatives and close friends killed or injured | |||||
| None | 123 (9.5) | 67 (13) | 37 (7.2) | 19 (7.1) | <.01 |
| Between 1 and 5 | 581 (44.7) | 237 (45.8) | 236 (45.8) | 108 (40.3) | |
| Between 6 and 10 | 307 (23.6) | 111 (21.5) | 124 (24.1) | 72 (26.9) | |
| Greater than 10 | 289 (22.2) | 102 (19.7) | 118 (22.9) | 69 (25.7) | |
| Post-earthquake factors | |||||
| Family member has mental illness | 91 (6.9) | 16 (3.1) | 47 (9) | 28 (10.4) | <.01 |
| Lost job as a result of earthquakee | 270 (20.9) | 111 (21.6) | 115 (22.5) | 44 (16.5) | <.01 |
| Low social supportf | 462 (35.3) | 188 (36.2) | 160 (30.8) | 114 (42.4) | <.01 |
| Had PTSDg | 310 (24.6) | 151 (29.7) | 95 (19.1) | 64 (25.2) | <.01 |
| Had MDDh | 371 (28.3) | 150 (28.8) | 114 (21.9) | 107 (39.8) | <.01 |
We recruited a representative sample of participants from three sampling frame: official internally displaced person’s camps in the area, participants who were still in their residence, and participants from a large community clinic in the middle of the catchment area.
Totals may not add up due to missing data.
Number of lifetime traumatic events greater than 5.
Major damage refers to houses that were uninhabitable or demolished as a result of the earthquake; referent is no damage or some damage but still habitable.
Respondent lost job or head of household lost job.
Lowest social support tertile; social support was measured by summing responses to four questions regarding support from family and friends measured on a Likert type scale.
To have PTSD, respondents had to meet DSM criteria A through E as well as have impairment or distress.
To have MDD, respondents had to endorse at least 5 PHQ items and have impairment.
χ2 P value.