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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Daniel Bender, MHS, Health Services, Mississippi Department of Health, PO Box 1700, Jackson, MS 39215-1700, 601-576-7465, daniel.bender@msdh.state.ms.us, Juanita C. Graham, MSN RN, Health Services Chief Nurse, Mississippi Department of Health, PO Box 1700, Annex Room 201-D, Jackson, MS 39215-1700, and Lei Zhang, PhD MBA, Health Services Data Unit, Mississippi Department of Health, PO Box 1700, Jackson, MS 39215-1700.

Objective: To develop a toolkit to assess the reproductive health needs of women affected by natural disaster and use the data to promote and enhance evidence-based local programs and services to improve the reproductive health of women and their families. Setting: Hurricane Katrina caused extensive damage to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. In September 2005, about 45,000 families were displaced in Mississippi and 13,700 evacuees resided in registered Mississippi shelters. Due to the large mobilized population, special tools are needed to assess the reproductive health needs of women affected by hurricane Katrina. Methods: Mississippi Department of Health (MDH) developed tools in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the University of Mississippi School of Nursing. The most devastated areas are chosen as geographic areas of interest. A list of women aged 15-45 years from the FEMA registration database is selected as the sampling frame. Results: The MDH is currently testing the survey tool. Once completed, the questionnaires and sampling procedure will be modified /adjusted as needed. Data collection will begin March 2006. Survey results will be available September 2006. Conclusion: This survey remains in the preliminary stages. Conclusions will be drawn upon completion of data collection and analysis. Public Health Implications: The toolkit is intended for organizations that provide reproductive health services to disaster-affected women.

Learning Objectives: