| Objective:
We aimed to compare the pregnancy status of the pregnant women and birth status of their
newborns, socioeconomic status, and access to health services, between high- and low-damage areas
in Heris, affected by the Varzaghan Earthquake, 2012.
Methods:
The study was conducted on pregnant women at any trimester of pregnancy (with complete
medical pro
fi
les in local health centers) in August 2012 (time of the earthquake) who lived in Heris and
delivered up to March 2013. Data were obtained on pregnancy- and infant-related variables, housing,
socioeconomic status, and access to health services, including food supplies, before and after the
earthquake.
Results:
Family income and mothers
’
education were lower in highly damaged areas. Among these
women, underweight at
fi
rst trimester of pregnancy was higher, and weight gain during the last trimester
was lower, compared with low-damage regions. Preterm delivery was higher in low-damage areas. Birth
indices of the infants were not signi
fi
cantly different between the 2 areas; however, in highly damaged
areas, moderate malnutrition was more prevalent among children under 1 year (weight-for-age) and
under 2 years (height-for-age).
Conclusions:
Socioeconomic status of mothers was lower in highly damaged areas and might have played
a role in their own and newborns
’
health status. |