Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of PREPARE participants: Mean ± SD or n (%)
| Overall | SOALS | COSSMA | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
| |||
| Sample Size (N) | 489 | 364 | 125 |
|
| |||
| Mean age ± SD | 59.8 ± 7.1 | 58.7 ± 6.8 | 62.9 ± 7.1 |
|
| |||
| Female | 368 (75.3) | 280 (76.9) | 88 (70.4) |
|
| |||
| Mixed/unspecified race | 241 (49.3) | 187 (51.4) | 54 (43.2) |
|
| |||
| > High School Diploma Education | 298 (60.9) | 269 (73.9) | 29 (23.2) |
|
| |||
| Household Income < $20,000 | 281 (57.5) | 175 (48.1) | 106 (84.8) |
|
| |||
| Preparedness before Maria | |||
| Low | 124 (25.4) | 98 (26.9) | 26 (20.8) |
| Moderate | 164 (33.5) | 112 (30.8) | 52 (41.6) |
| High | 201 (41.1) | 154 (42.3) | 47 (37.6) |
|
| |||
| Health impact of hurricanes (self)1 | 170 (34.8) | 116 (31.9) | 54 (43.2) |
|
| |||
| Health impact of hurricanes (family)1 | 178 (36.4) | 129 (35.4) | 49 (39.2) |
|
| |||
| Financial impact of the Hurricanes | 348 (71.2) | 274 (75.3) | 74 (59.2) |
|
| |||
| Duration of Power Loss | |||
| < 1 month | 18 (3.7) | 16 (4.5) | 2 (1.6) |
| 1 – 3 months | 204 (42.2) | 177 (49.3) | 27 (21.6) |
| > 3 months | 262 (54.1) | 166 (46.2) | 96 (76.8) |
|
| |||
| Disruption of the principal source of drinking water2 | |||
| % with disruption | 260 (53.2) | 181 (49.7) | 79 (63.2) |
|
| |||
| Duration of drinking water disruption3 | |||
| 1 day to < 1 month | 119 (47.8) | 88 (51.2) | 31 (40.3) |
| 1 – 3 months | 92 (36.0) | 65 (37.8) | 27 (35.1) |
| > 3 months | 38 (15.3) | 19 (11.1) | 19 (24.7) |
|
| |||
| Stored water lasted for3 | |||
| < 1 month | 155 (62.5) | 110 (63.6) | 45 (60.0) |
| 1 – 3 months | 81 (32.7) | 60 (34.7) | 21 (28.0) |
| > 3 months | 12 (4.8) | 3 (1.7) | 9 (12.0) |
|
| |||
| Drinking water disruption compared to how long the stored water lasted | |||
| Same | 20 (8.3) | 15 (8.9) | 5 (6.9) |
| Shorter time | 93 (38.6) | 68 (40.5) | 25 (34.3) |
| Water disruption for longer time | 128 (53.1) | 85 (50.6) | 43 (58.9) |
|
| |||
| Duration stored food lasted | |||
| < 1 month | 259 (55.0) | 220 (62.3) | 39 (33.1) |
| 1 – 3 months | 188 (39.9) | 121 (34.3) | 67 (56.8) |
| > 3 months | 24 (5.1) | 12 (3.4) | 12 (10.2) |
|
| |||
| Diet changes due to power loss4 | |||
| < 1 month | 86 (21.6) | 85 (23.6) | 1 (2.7) |
| 1 – 3 months | 186 (46.7) | 172 (47.7) | 14 (37.8) |
| > 3 months | 126 (31.7) | 104 (28.8) | 22 (59.5) |
|
| |||
| Diet changes up to interview date5 | 138 (28.2) | 101 (27.8) | 37 (29.6) |
|
| |||
| Experiences of hurricanes Irma and Maria served greatly6 to prepare better for future events | 411 (84.1) | 316 (86.8) | 95 (76.0) |
Abbreviations: SOALS = San Juan Overweight Adults Longitudinal Study; COSSMA = Corporation of Health Services and Advanced Medicine; SD = Standard Deviation.
1
What was the impact of the hurricanes on personal health? On family members’ health?
2
Did you have a post-María disruption of your usual source of drinking water?
3
Only reported by those who had a disruption in the principal source of drinking water.
4
How long did you have to change your eating habits due to a lack of refrigeration or cooking means?
5
As of today, has the impact of the hurricanes on access to shops or impact on finances resulted in a long-term change in your daily diet?
6
High degree or very high degree.