Citation

Pomer A, Buffa G, Ayoub MB, Taleo F, Sizemore JH, Tokon A, Chan CW, Kaneko A, Obed J, Iaruel J, Taleo G, Tarivonda L, Dancause KN. Arch. Women Ment. Health 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Départment des sciences de l'activité physique, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s00737-019-00980-6

PMID

31165924

Abstract

Natural disasters have major consequences for mental health in low- and middle-income countries. Symptoms are often more pronounced among women. We analyzed patterns and predictors of distress among pregnant and non-pregnant women 3-4 and 15-16 months after a cyclone in Vanuatu, a low- to middle-income country. Distress levels were high among both pregnant and non-pregnant women, although pregnant women showed lower longer-term symptoms. Low dietary diversity predicted greater distress, which could affect women even in villages with little cyclone damage.

Language: en

Keywords

Developing country; Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs); PTSD; Pacific; Pregnancy