Protracted displacement and health correlates among survivors of Typhoon Haiyan: Analysis of health status among affected communities in Eastern Philippines

Abstract

Objectives: The association between displacement after disaster and mental health outcomes among survivors of the 2013 Super Typhoon Haiyan (locally: Yolanda) in the Philippines was explored in this study. In settings that are highly vulnerable to disasters, it important to examine the impact of post-disaster household displacement on health status of populations affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan. We looked at protracted displacement and impact on sleep, mood, perceived stress, posttraumatic stress, and perceived needs. Methods: The study surveyed 345 survivors using randomized cluster samples in Eastern Visayas, Philippines, 3-4 years after the disaster using self-report measures to assess for health status. Results: Displacement was found to be was found to be negatively associated with subjective health ratings and positively associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms, insomnia, anxiety, stress and trauma exposure. Conclusion: Findings underscore the association of displacement to poor health outcomes, in the background of a major disaster. Implications to public mental health interventions in disaster settings, especially in contexts where mental health resources are largely unavailable, are discussed.