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Megumi Kano, MPH, School of Public Health, Center for Public Health & Disasters, University of California, Los Angeles, 1145 Gayley Ave. Suite 304, Los Angeles, CA 90024, 310-794-0864, megkano@ucla.edu, Marizen Ramirez, PhD, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and Southern California Injury Prevention Research Center, 10911 Weyburn Ave., Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90024, and Kimberley Shoaf, DrPH, Center for Public Health & Disasters, University of California, Los Angeles, 1145 Gayley Avenue, Suite 304, Los Angeles, CA 90024.
Earthquakes commonly occur worldwide often causing considerable adverse social, economic, and health outcomes. Understanding the various causal factors of injuries in earthquakes can help improve efforts to minimize earthquake-related casualties. On August 17, 1999, a M7.4 earthquake struck the Kocaeli province of Turkey, killing 15,000 people and injuring at least 23,000. Several of the casualties were among children. Although many studies have examined psychological impacts of earthquakes on children, little epidemiological research has focused on earthquake-related physical injuries among children. Potential exposures other than structural (building) damage have also been neglected in studies of earthquake-related injury. A household survey was conducted 19-21 months after the earthquake in the city of Gölcük in Kocaeli. Information was collected on household composition, building damage, and demographic and injury characteristics of all members of the household. The sample consisted of 615 children ages 0-19 from 300 households. Multivariate logistic regression models were constructed to predict injury risk to children as a function of gender, age group, birth order, disposition of other family members, household size, building height and building collapse. Sixty children sustained injuries (fatal and non-fatal) for an overall rate of 9.8 per 100 children. Results indicate that female gender, ages 10-14, having other family members injured, small family size, and building collapse were independently associated with a higher risk of injury. The findings suggest that larger households possess resources that protect children from injuries in earthquakes. Further understanding of the household context of child injuries in earthquakes is warranted.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to
Keywords: Disasters, Children
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.