Mental Health Disturbance after a Major Earthquake in Northern Peru: A Preliminary, Cross-Sectional Study

Mario J. Valladares-Garrido, Luis E. Zapata-Castro, Helena Domínguez-Troncos, Abigaíl García-Vicente, Darwin A. León-Figueroa, J. Pierre Zila-Velasque, Pamela Grados-Espinoza, David Astudillo-Rueda, C. Ichiro Peralta and Cristian Díaz-Vélez
Additional contact information
Mario J. Valladares-Garrido: Vicerrectorado de Investigación, Universidad Norbert Wiener, Lima 15046, Peru
Luis E. Zapata-Castro: School of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Piura, Piura 20002, Peru
Helena Domínguez-Troncos: School of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Piura, Piura 20002, Peru
Abigaíl García-Vicente: School of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Piura, Piura 20002, Peru
Darwin A. León-Figueroa: Emerging Diseases and Climate Change Research Unit, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima 15013, Peru
J. Pierre Zila-Velasque: Facultad de Medicina Humana, Universidad Nacional Daniel Alcides Carrión, Pasco 19001, Peru
Pamela Grados-Espinoza: Facultad de Medicina Humana, Universidad Nacional Daniel Alcides Carrión, Pasco 19001, Peru
David Astudillo-Rueda: School of Medicine, Universidad César Vallejo, Piura 20001, Peru
C. Ichiro Peralta: School of Medicine, Universidad Nacional Federico Villarreal, Lima 15088, Peru
Cristian Díaz-Vélez: Instituto de Evaluación de Tecnologías en Salud e Investigación-IETSI, EsSalud, Lima 15072, Peru

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 14, 1-17

Abstract: Little has been studied in Peru on the mental health repercussions after a major earthquake. We aimed to explore the factors associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms in people who experienced a 6.1 magnitude earthquake in Piura, Peru, on 30 July 2021. A preliminary cross-sectional study was conducted in the general population between August–September 2021. An online questionnaire was provided using PHQ-9, GAD-7, and other relevant measures. Generalized linear models were applied. Of the 177 participants, the median age was 22 years, the majority were female (56%), and many experienced depressive (52%) or anxiety symptoms (52%). Presence of depressive symptoms was associated with a personal history of mental disorder, moderate housing damage, social/material support from politicians, moderate food insecurity, and insomnia. Presence of anxiety symptoms was associated with physical injury caused by the earthquake, mild food insecurity, and insomnia. The development of depressive and anxiety symptoms following the 2021 earthquake experienced in Piura depended on multiple individual and socioeconomic factors. Additional studies should reinforce the factors identified here given the methodological limitations, such as the study design, sampling method, and sample size. This would lead to effective intervention measures to mitigate the impact of earthquakes on mental health.

Keywords: depression; anxiety; earthquakes; Peru (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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