1
|
Scott MA, Olszowy KM, Dancause KN, Roome A, Chan C, Taylor HK, Marañon-Laguna A, Montoya E, Garcia A, Mares C, Tosiro B, Tarivonda L. Challenges and opportunities in rapid disaster research: lessons from the field in New Mexico and Vanuatu. FRONTIERS IN SOCIOLOGY 2023; 8:983972. [PMID: 37152207 PMCID: PMC10157172 DOI: 10.3389/fsoc.2023.983972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Rapid research is essential to assess impacts in communities affected by disasters, particularly those communities made "hard-to-reach" due to their active marginalization across history and in contemporary practices. In this article, we describe two rapid research projects developed to assess needs for and experiences of communities hard-hit by disasters. The first is a project on the COVID-19 pandemic in southern New Mexico (USA) that was developed to provide information to local agencies that are deploying programs to rebuild and revitalize marginalized communities. The second is a project on population displacement due to a volcanic eruption in Vanuatu, a lower-middle income country in the South Pacific, with mental and physical health outcomes data shared with the Vanuatu Ministry of Health. We describe the similar and unique challenges that arose doing rapid research in these two different contexts, the potential broader impacts of the research, and a synthesis of lessons learned. We discuss the challenges of rapidly changing rules and regulations, lack of baseline data, lack of survey instruments validated for specific populations and in local languages, limited availability of community partners, finding funding for rapid deployment of projects, rapidly training and working with research assistants, health and safety concerns of researchers and participants, and communicating with local and international partners. We also specifically discuss how we addressed our own personal challenges while also conducting time-intensive rapid research. In both studies, researchers shared results with governmental and non-governmental partners who may use the data to inform the design of their own relief programs. While different in context, type of disaster, and research strategy, our discussion of these projects provides insights into common lessons learned for working with communities at elevated risk for the worst outcomes during disasters, such as the need for flexibility, compromise, and good working relationships with community partners.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mary Alice Scott
- Department of Anthropology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, United States
| | - Kathryn M. Olszowy
- Department of Anthropology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, United States
- Department of Anthropology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, United States
- Department of Criminology, Anthropology, and Sociology, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH, United States
- *Correspondence: Kathryn M. Olszowy
| | - Kelsey N. Dancause
- Département des sciences de l'activité physique, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Amanda Roome
- Department of Anthropology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, United States
- Bassett Research Institute, Basset Healthcare Network, New York, NY, United States
| | - Chim Chan
- Department of Parasitology and Virology, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hailey K. Taylor
- Department of Anthropology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, United States
| | - Andrea Marañon-Laguna
- Department of Anthropology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, United States
| | - Emilee Montoya
- Department of Anthropology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, United States
| | - Alysa Garcia
- Department of Anthropology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, United States
| | - Claudia Mares
- Department of Health and Human Services, Las Cruces, NM, United States
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Nzayisenga E, Chan CW, Roome AB, Therrien AS, Sinclair I, Taleo G, Tarivonda L, Tosiro B, Malanga M, Tagaro M, Obed J, Iaruel J, Olszowy KM, Dancause KN. Patterns of distress and psychosocial support 2 years post-displacement following a natural disaster in a lower middle income country. Front Public Health 2022; 10:1017286. [PMID: 36438230 PMCID: PMC9692105 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1017286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Displacement due to natural disaster exposure is a major source of distress, and disproportionately affects people in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Public mental health resources following natural disasters and displacement are often limited in LMICs. In 2017, the population of one island in Vanuatu, a lower-middle income country, was displaced due to volcanic activity. Following the launch of a public mental health policy in 2009, psychosocial support interventions are increasingly available, providing an opportunity to assess relationships with distress following displacement. Methods 440 people contributed data. We assessed distress using a local adaptation of the Impact of Event Scale-Revised, and types of psychosocial support available and received, including from health professionals, support groups, and traditional networks such as chiefs, traditional healers, and church leaders. We analyzed relationships between distress and psychosocial support, controlling for sociodemographic covariates. Results Professional and group support was reported available by 86.8-95.1% of participants. Traditional support networks were widely used, especially by men. Availability of professional support predicted lower distress among men (p < 0.001) and women (p = 0.015) ( η p 2 = 0.026-0.083). Consulting church leaders for psychosocial support was associated with higher distress among men (p = 0.026) and women (p = 0.023) ( η p 2 = 0.024-0.031). Use of professional and group support was lower than reported availability. Discussion Increased collaboration between professional and traditional support networks could help respond to mental health needs following natural disasters in LMICs with limited infrastructure. Providing training and resources to church leaders might be a specific target for improvement. Promoting use of available services represents a continued public health need.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Nzayisenga
- Institut Santé et Sociéte (Institute of Health and Society), Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Chim W. Chan
- Department of Parasitology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Amanda B. Roome
- Bassett Research Institute, Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital, Cooperstown, NY, United States
| | - Ann-Sophie Therrien
- Département des sciences de l'activité physique (Department of Physical Activity Sciences), Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Isabelle Sinclair
- Institut Santé et Sociéte (Institute of Health and Society), Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Kathryn M. Olszowy
- Department of Anthropology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, United States
| | - Kelsey N. Dancause
- Institut Santé et Sociéte (Institute of Health and Society), Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada,Département des sciences de l'activité physique (Department of Physical Activity Sciences), Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada,*Correspondence: Kelsey N. Dancause ;
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zhang J, Deng X, Liu H, Xu X, Fang R. Evaluation of the mental health status of community healthcare workers during the COVID-19 outbreak. Medicine (Baltimore) 2021; 100:e24739. [PMID: 33578622 PMCID: PMC10545142 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000024739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly spread across China and many countries worldwide, and community healthcare workers at the front lines of disease control are under high physical and mental pressure. This study investigated the mental health status of community healthcare workers during the COVID-19 outbreak in Sichuan Province, China. This cross-sectional study, which was conducted from February 8 to 18, 2020, involved 450 healthcare workers in 18 community hospitals who had worked for more than 1 year. A self-designed demographic data questionnaire and Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90) were provided to the participants through links and quick response codes. The respondents completed and submitted the questionnaires online. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze multiple factors related to the SCL-90 scores of these community healthcare workers in China. For the 450 community healthcare workers who completed the study, the median scores in each SCL-90 factor were lower than the Chinese norms, and 119 (26.4%) participants were SCL-90 positive. Among them, 178 participants were doctors and had the highest scores on most SCL-90 factors except for obsessive compulsiveness, hostility, phobic anxiety, and psychoticism (P < 0.05). The top 3 positive items for doctors working in the community were obsessive compulsiveness, others, and somatization, and those among nurses were obsessive compulsiveness, others, and hostility. Sex, type of workers, and occupational exposure risk to COVID-19 were independent risk factors for the mental health status of the community healthcare workers. Overall, the community healthcare workers experienced psychological problems during the COVID-19 outbreak in Sichuan Province, China. More attention should be paid to the mental health of these workers, and their mental status should be regularly assessed. Psychological interventions should be provided to those with serious mental problems through networks or telephone visits.
Collapse
|
4
|
Therrien AS, Buffa G, Roome AB, Standard E, Pomer A, Obed J, Taleo G, Tarivonda L, Chan CW, Kaneko A, Olszowy KM, Dancause KN. Relationships between mental health and diet during pregnancy and birth outcomes in a lower-middle income country: "Healthy mothers, healthy communities" study in Vanuatu. Am J Hum Biol 2020; 33:e23500. [PMID: 32918311 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Poor maternal mental health during pregnancy is associated with adverse birth outcomes, including lower birthweight and gestational age. However, few studies assess both mental health and diet, which might have interactive effects. Furthermore, most studies are in high-income countries, though patterns might differ in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). OBJECTIVES To analyze relationships between mental health and diet during pregnancy with birth outcomes in Vanuatu, a lower-middle income country. METHODS We assessed negative emotional symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress (referred to as "distress") and dietary diversity during pregnancy, and infant weight and gestational age at birth, among 187 women. We used multivariate linear regression to analyze independent and interactive relationships between distress, dietary diversity, and birth outcomes, controlling for sociodemographic and maternal health covariates. RESULTS There were no direct linear relationships between dietary diversity or distress with infant birthweight or gestational age, and no curvilinear relationships between distress and infant outcomes. We observed interactive relationships between distress and dietary diversity on birthweight, explaining 2.1% of unique variance (P = .024). High levels of distress predicted lower birthweights among women with low dietary diversity. These relationships were not evident among women with moderate or high dietary diversity. CONCLUSIONS Relationships between mental health and diet might underlie inconsistencies in past studies of prenatal mental health and birthweight. Results highlight the importance of maternal mental health on birthweight in LMICs. Interactive relationships between mental health and diet might ultimately point to new intervention pathways to address the persistent problem of low birthweight in LMICs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ann-Sophie Therrien
- Department of Physical Activity Sciences, University of Quebec in Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Giovanna Buffa
- Department of Anthropology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, USA
| | - Amanda B Roome
- Bassett Research Institute, Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital, Cooperstown, New York, USA
| | - Elizabeth Standard
- Department of Anthropology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, USA
| | - Alysa Pomer
- Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Jimmy Obed
- Ministry of Health, Port Vila, Republic of Vanuatu
| | - George Taleo
- Ministry of Health, Port Vila, Republic of Vanuatu
| | | | - Chim W Chan
- Department of Parasitology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Akira Kaneko
- Department of Parasitology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan.,Island Malaria Group, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kathryn M Olszowy
- Department of Anthropology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA
| | - Kelsey N Dancause
- Department of Physical Activity Sciences, University of Quebec in Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Psychosocial distress among women following a natural disaster in a low- to middle-income country: "healthy mothers, healthy communities" study in Vanuatu. Arch Womens Ment Health 2019; 22:825-829. [PMID: 31165924 DOI: 10.1007/s00737-019-00980-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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.
Collapse
|