A report on the reproductive health of women after the massive 2008 Wenchuan earthquake
Received 14 May 2009; received in revised form 12 August 2009; accepted 22 September 2009. published online 05 November 2009.
Abstract
Objective
To evaluate the reproductive health of women in the aftermath of the 2008 Richter scale 8.0 Wenchuan earthquake in China.
Methods
Gynecologists surveyed 170 women using a questionnaire inquiring about symptoms of reproductive tract infection, menstruation disorders, satisfaction with sexual life, and desire for fertility.
Results
The rates of symptoms of lower genital tract infection were higher after than before the earthquake (50.0% vs 26.5%), as were the rates for pelvic inflammatory disease (35.9% vs 19.4%) and menstruation disorders (51.8% vs 22.4%) (P<0.05 for all). At the same time, the women's satisfaction with their sexual life was markedly decreased; 89.4% of them said they would not pursue a plan to become pregnant; and 67.1% said they would request pregnancy termination if they became pregnant.
Conclusion
The findings of this first population-based assessment of reproductive health following the massive Wenchuan earthquake may help in shaping public health measures benefiting women surviving large-sale disasters.
aDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Xijing Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
bDepartment of Burns, Xijing Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
cDepartment of Epidemiology, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
dDepartment of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
Corresponding author. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Xijing Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical University, 17# Changle West Road, Xi'an 710032, China. Tel.: +86 29 84771126.
ABSTRACT