Public health status and influence factors after 2008 Wenchuan earthquake among survivors in Sichuan province, China: cross-sectional trial

Objectives: On 12 May 2008, an earthquake with a magnitude of 8.0 on the Richter scale struck in Sichuan province, China. After the disaster, approximately 5 million people were living in temporary shelters. The objectives of this study were: (1) to provide the basic information on public health outcomes among the survivors; (2) to compare these outcomes between counties affected to differing extents by the earthquake; and (3) to identify important policies and programmes associated with public health outcomes. Study design: Cross-sectional multicluster sample surveys were employed using data collected from two counties. Methods: Cross-sectional surveys were conducted in August 2008 in two counties in Sichuan province. The study outcomes [physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS)] were measured using Short Form-12. Independent demographic, socio-economic and trauma exposure variables were also measured. Multivariate regression analysis was conducted to investigate associations between the independent variables and PCS and MCS outcomes. Results: In total, 3862 interviews were completed in the two counties. The mean PCS score was 37.6 [95% confidence interval (95% CI 35.13 41.97) in Beichuan county and 45.4 (95% CI 44.30-45.95) in Langzhong county. MCS scores were 36.8 (95% CI 33.61-40.71) in Beichuan county and 49.6 (95% CI 49.69-50.01) in Langzhong county, well below the instrument norm of 50. Variables with negative associations with physical or mental health included: female gender, living in a temporary shelter, higher income, deaths among family/friends, family property damaged and illness within the past 2 weeks. Higher frequencies of trauma exposure (more than six trauma exposure events) showed a strong significant negative association with PCS and MCS in both counties. Conclusions: Interventions should be designed to focus on people without a household income (or a lower income), living in shelters or temporary houses. Governments should support income-generating activities and improve living conditions and public health status. (c) 2010 The Royal Society for Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.