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Psychological sequels of flood on residents of southeast Caspian region

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Abstract

Flood is the most common disaster in the world and has acute or chronic health consequences including psychological sequels. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the main consequences. This study aimed to explore the psychological impacts (PTSD) in two flooded cities of Mazandaran Province, Neka and Behshahr, in the southeastern Caspian region that experienced flooding in 2012. A cross-sectional community-based study was performed on randomly selected samples of 400 individuals using GIS-based sampling from 139931 residents of the two flooded cities. The PTSS-10 questionnaire was used for data collection. The results showed that the overall stress disorder mean score among the participants was 2.59 out of 6. PTSD prevalence in the affected population was 64%. It was also found that stress scores significantly increased in younger people, male gender, the divorced, the widows or the widowers, and those who lost their properties (p < 0.05). Study findings showed that flood is a considerable stressor which develops PTSD. This finding should be taken into account in all four phases of disaster management cycle, and subsequently, specialized post-disaster mental health services must be provided for the afflicted population.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Hesam Seyedin & Nasrin sayfouri

  2. Candidate of Health in Emergencies and Disasters, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, No 6 Rashid Yasami St., Vali-e-asr Ave., Tehran, 1995614111, Iran

    Reza HabibiSaravi

  3. Student of Health in Disasters and Emergencies, School of HealthSafety and Environment, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Vahid Hoseini Djenab

  4. Iran Helal Applied Sciences Educational Institute, Tehran, Iran

    Fariba Ghasemi Hamedani

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  1. Hesam Seyedin
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  2. Reza HabibiSaravi
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  3. Nasrin sayfouri
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  4. Vahid Hoseini Djenab
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  5. Fariba Ghasemi Hamedani
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Correspondence to Reza HabibiSaravi.

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Seyedin, H., HabibiSaravi, R., sayfouri, N. et al. Psychological sequels of flood on residents of southeast Caspian region. Nat Hazards 88, 965–975 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-017-2926-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-017-2926-z

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