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Chapter 9 - Epidemiology of Disasters and the Spitak Earthquake

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 May 2022

By
Vahe Khachadourian  and
Haroutune K. Armenian
Edited by
Armen Goenjian ,
Alan Steinberg  and
Robert Pynoos
Armen Goenjian
Affiliation:
David Geffen School of Medicine; UCLA/Duke University National Center for Child Traumatic Stress
Alan Steinberg
Affiliation:
UCLA/Duke University National Center for Child Traumatic Stress
Robert Pynoos
Affiliation:
UCLA/Duke University National Center for Child Traumatic Stress
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Summary

Disasters have short and long-term negative effects on a large array of physical and mental health outcomes. Epidemiology offers a variety of tools and methodologies for conducting a needs assessment, surveillance, and longitudinal research aimed at identifying adverse outcomes and developing strategies for preventing disease and promoting health. The application of epidemiological methods has advanced our understanding of pervasive morbidity and mortality often experienced in the aftermath of disasters. Findings from epidemiological studies have implications for improving the allocation of resources and developing interventions targeting these adverse outcomes. In this chapter, we briefly highlight developments in the epidemiology of disasters. We present common study designs employed in disaster response and research and provide examples of applications of these methods in studying the consequences of the 1988 Spitak earthquake in Armenia. The chapter concludes with a brief discussion of recent developments in research methodology and their potential implications for disaster researchers and public health practitioners focusing on prevention and mitigation.

Keywords

disasterepidemiologySpitak earthquakeobservational studiescausal inferenceresearch methods
Type
Chapter
Information
Lessons Learned in Disaster Mental Health
The Earthquake in Armenia and Beyond
 , pp. 152 - 161
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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