Prevalence and risk factors of post-traumatic stress disorders among the survivors of 2015 Nepal earthquake, in Dhading, Nepal

Background: Nepal is considered to be the 11th most earthquake prone country in the world. On Saturday, 25 April2015 an earthquake of magnitude 7.9 on Richter scale struck in Barpak of central Nepal. It results over 8,790 casualties and 22,300 injuries. Mental health disturbances, especially post-traumatic stress disorders are major public health issues arising in the aftermath of such natural disasters of higher intensity. Aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorders (PTSD) and perceived social support, their risk factors and relationship of PTSD to perceived social support among survivors of the Barpak earthquake in Dhading District, Nepal. Methods: Cross sectional study was conducted among the five hundred and thirty-five survivors from the rural Dhading District. A conjoint study tool had been administered for evaluating Post traumatic stress disorders and perceived social support by using the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C) questionnaire and Oslo Social Support Scale. Univariate analysis was done for the description of sample characteristics. Chi-square test was done to establish the association between predictors and outcome variable of interest. Further, binary regression model was used to adjust the confounders. Results: The prevalence of PTSD among survivors was 18.5%. Significant risk factors of PTSD included gender (females 26.31%, males 11.80%), age (18–35 years 10.85%, 36–59 years 23.89%, ≥60 years 45.09), lost their job or income generating activities of the family(60%). Approximately 62 percent of PTSD was attributable for low social support. Multivariate logistic regression showed that females, older people, lost of job, difficulty in communication were significantly more likely to develop PTSD. Prevalence of the low social support was found to be 25.2%. Conclusions: Posttraumatic stress symptoms remained relatively common among survivors nine month after Barpak earthquake. It is important to provide psychological aid and social support for survivors to decrease health burden from PTSD, especially for females, old age survivors and those who lost their job and income generation activities.