Zhiyong Qu1, Donghua Tian1, Qin Zhang2, Xiaohua Wang1, Huan He1, Xiulan Zhang3, Lili Huang4, Fan Xu1. 1. School of Social Development and Public Policy, China Institute of Health, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China. 2. MianZhu People's Hosiptal, Mianzhu, China. 3. School of Social Development and Public Policy, China Institute of Health, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China. Electronic address: zhang99@bnu.edu.cn. 4. Beijing Vocational College of Electronic Science and Technology, Beijing, China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: On May 12, 2008, a magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck China's southwestern Sichuan province. Recent studies have identified mental health problems among the survivors, but little is known about the impact of the Sichuan earthquake on the mental health of pregnant women in the area. The main objective was to assess the impact of the Sichuan earthquake on the mental health of pregnant women in earthquake stricken areas. METHODS: During November 2009 and January 2010, 311 pregnant women were interviewed. Symptoms of PTSD were measured using IES-R, while symptoms of antenatal depression were measured using EPDS. RESULTS: The prevalence rate of PTSD symptoms was 12.2% (95% CI, 9.0-16.4). The rate of major depression was 40.8% (95% CI, 35.5-46.4). Living through an earthquake has been significantly correlated with PTSD but no significant correlation has been found with depression. The perceived stresses of pregnancy are significantly correlated with both depression and PTSD. LIMITATIONS: Lack of long term follow up data and comparison group from non earthquake struck area. CONCLUSIONS: 18 months after the Sichuan earthquake, the incidence of depression and PTSD were still quite high among pregnant women in the earthquake stricken areas. Depression was more common than PTSD. Living through an earthquake has been significantly correlated with PTSD but not with depression.
BACKGROUND: On May 12, 2008, a magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck China's southwestern Sichuan province. Recent studies have identified mental health problems among the survivors, but little is known about the impact of the Sichuan earthquake on the mental health of pregnant women in the area. The main objective was to assess the impact of the Sichuan earthquake on the mental health of pregnant women in earthquake stricken areas. METHODS: During November 2009 and January 2010, 311 pregnant women were interviewed. Symptoms of PTSD were measured using IES-R, while symptoms of antenatal depression were measured using EPDS. RESULTS: The prevalence rate of PTSD symptoms was 12.2% (95% CI, 9.0-16.4). The rate of major depression was 40.8% (95% CI, 35.5-46.4). Living through an earthquake has been significantly correlated with PTSD but no significant correlation has been found with depression. The perceived stresses of pregnancy are significantly correlated with both depression and PTSD. LIMITATIONS: Lack of long term follow up data and comparison group from non earthquake struck area. CONCLUSIONS: 18 months after the Sichuan earthquake, the incidence of depression and PTSD were still quite high among pregnant women in the earthquake stricken areas. Depression was more common than PTSD. Living through an earthquake has been significantly correlated with PTSD but not with depression.