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Maternal and Child Health Journal
Published in: Maternal and Child Health Journal 11/2015

01-11-2015

Birth Outcomes in a Disaster Recovery Environment: New Orleans Women After Katrina

Authors: Emily W. Harville, Gloria Giarratano, Jane Savage, Veronica Barcelona de Mendoza, TrezMarie Zotkiewicz

Published in: Maternal and Child Health Journal | Issue 11/2015

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Abstract

Objectives

To examine how the recovery following Hurricane Katrina affected pregnancy outcomes.

Methods

308 New Orleans area pregnant women were interviewed 5–7 years after Hurricane Katrina about their exposure to the disaster (danger, damage, and injury); current disruption; and perceptions of recovery. Birthweight, gestational age, birth length, and head circumference were examined in linear models, and low birthweight (<2500 g) and preterm birth (<37 weeks) in logistic models, with adjustment for confounders.

Results

Associations were found between experiencing damage during Katrina and birthweight (adjusted beta for high exposure = −158 g) and between injury and gestational age (adjusted beta = −0.5 days). Of the indicators of recovery experience, most consistently associated with worsened birth outcomes was worry that another hurricane would hit the region (adjusted beta for birthweight: −112 g, p = 0.08; gestational age: −3.2 days, p = 0.02; birth length: −0.65 cm, p = 0.06).

Conclusions

Natural disaster may have long-term effects on pregnancy outcomes. Alternately, women who are most vulnerable to disaster may be also vulnerable to poor pregnancy outcome.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Birth Outcomes in a Disaster Recovery Environment: New Orleans Women After Katrina
Authors
Emily W. Harville
Gloria Giarratano
Jane Savage
Veronica Barcelona de Mendoza
TrezMarie Zotkiewicz
Publication date
01-11-2015
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Maternal and Child Health Journal / Issue 11/2015
Print ISSN: 1092-7875
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6628
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-015-1772-4

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