Residents In Temporary Housing Research Articles

Hypertension treatment status and ultrasonic cardiography findings in temporary housing residents after the Kumamoto earthquake: a cross-sectional study

Background: We aimed to investigate and report the relationship between hypertension treatment status and cardiac functions among temporary housing residents after the Kumamoto earthquake. Material and methods: Ultrasonic cardiography examinations were conducted for 56 residents at temporary housing complexes in Minami Aso village in Kumamoto Prefecture in December 2016. The subjects were divided into the following three groups according to the incidence of hypertension and the antihypertensive treatment status: normal (without hypertension), treated, and untreated. Subsequently, their cardiac functions were compared. Results: Age and BMI were found to be positive predictors for hypertension. Moreover, age, LAVI, and LVMI tended to be higher in the untreated group than in the treated group. Moderate or severe mitral regurgitation was significantly more common in the untreated group than in the treated group. Conclusions: Controlling blood pressure may help to prevent new cardiac diseases (e.g., valve regurgitation) among survivors after a major disaster. In addition, for survivors who are severely affected by psychological stress, improving the mental stress support system may be an effective measure to reduce health problems.

Association between Temporary Housing Habitation after the 2011 Japan Earthquake and Mite Allergen Sensitization and Asthma Development

Introduction: We previously reported an increased prevalence of asthma in adults who lived in temporary housing after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. The goal of the current study was to investigate changes in asthma prevalence and mite-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) titers in temporary housing residents during 2014–2019. Methods: By using the Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines, we diagnosed asthma in Ishinomaki city temporary housing residents aged 15 years or older. We then analyzed serum antigen-specific IgE levels to Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f), Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p), and Aspergillus fumigatus. Results: The prevalence of asthma exceeded 20% across all age-groups throughout the study period. The proportion of study participants with a “positive” antigen-specific IgE titer (i.e., ≥0.35 IU_A/mL) was higher in asthmatics than in nonasthmatics for Der f and Der p but not for Aspergillus fumigatus. Among residents ≥50 years old who were diagnosed with asthma, the percentage with a Der f-specific IgE titer ≥0.10 IU_A/mL was higher than the proportion with ≥0.35 IU_A/mL. Among study participants, asthma onset occurred before the earthquake, during residence in shelters or temporary housing, and (starting in 2016) after moving out of temporary housing. The Der p-specific IgE level was positively correlated with the duration of temporary housing (p < 0.05, r = 0.41) and inversely correlated with the time elapsed since moving out of temporary housing (p < 0.05, r = −0.35). Conclusion: Mite allergen sensitization was found in both asthmatic and nonasthmatic temporary housing residents after the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami; asthma developed even after subjects moved out of temporary housing.

Dislocation, Social Isolation, and the Politics of Recovery in Post-Disaster Japan.

What happens when temporary shelters become permanent homes? What are the psychosocial impacts of prolonged dislocation, and how might these effects be mitigated through grassroots community activities? Based on fieldwork and interviews with residents in temporary housing and volunteer support groups in northeastern Japan conducted from 2014–2018, this article analyzes the ongoing challenges of delayed recovery, chronic dislocation, and social isolation among survivors of the March 11, 2011 disaster in Japan, with a particular focus on the residents of temporary facilities in Natori City, Miyagi Prefecture. I examine how the complexity of the disaster-recovery process within the local politics of the region has produced new tensions, creating a particular “zoned liminality” for displaced residents while undermining the social nexus of community relations. Then I reflect on certain challenges in treating the psychosocial trauma among survivors, and how their particular needs are addressed through new citizen-based volunteer movements offering holistic activities. These grassroots activities do not necessarily solve the breakdown of social bonds nor improve residents’ prospects of returning home. However, by alleviating survivors’ sense of social isolation and loneliness, this “humanistic” approach highlights the possibilities of participatory-style psychosocial support that goes beyond conventional biomedical services and top-down, state-driven policies.

Onset and remission of common mental disorders among adults living in temporary housing for three years after the triple disaster in Northeast Japan: comparisons with the general population

BackgroundPeople living in temporary housing for long periods after a disaster are at risk of poor mental health. This study investigated the post-disaster incidence and remission of common mental disorders among adults living in temporary housing for the 3 years following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.MethodsThree years after the disaster, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 1089 adult residents living in temporary housing in the disaster area, i.e., the shelter group, and a random sample of 852 community residents from non-disaster areas of East Japan. The World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview was used to diagnose DSM-IV mood, anxiety, and alcohol use disorders. Information on demographic variables and disaster experiences was also collected.ResultsResponse rates were 49 and 46% for the shelter group and the community residents, respectively. The incidence of mood/anxiety disorder in the shelter group was elevated only in the first year post-disaster compared to that of the general population. The rate of remission for mood and anxiety disorders was significantly lower in the shelter group than in the community residents. The proportion seeking medical treatment was higher in the shelter group.ConclusionsThe onset of common mental disorders increased in the first year, but then levelled off in the following years among residents in temporary housing after the disaster. Remission from incident post-disaster mental disorders was slower in the shelter group than in the general population. Post-disaster mental health service could consider the greater incidence in the first year and prolonged remission of mental disorders among survivors with a long-term stay in temporary housing after a disaster.

Increase in asthma prevalence in adults in temporary housing after the Great East Japan earthquake

It is unknown whether disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis affect asthma development or exacerbation in adults. Here, we investigated whether asthma prevalence increased in those aged ≥15 years living in temporary housing after the Great East Japan Earthquake. We diagnosed asthma according to GINA guidelines in residents aged ≥15 years who were living, or had lived, in temporary housing in the city of Ishinomaki. We analyzed serum antigen-specific anti-immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody levels to Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f), Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus glaucus, Aspergillus amstelodami, and Aspergillus restrictus. The average age of the 337 inhabitants was 61.3 ± 15.8 years (men, 37.7%). The asthma prevalence was 24.9% according to respiratory specialist diagnosis. The antigen-specific IgE antibody titer against Der f, but none of the other test antigens, was significantly higher in the asthma group than in the no-asthma group (P < 0.01). Time of asthma onset was before the earthquake in 44.6%; in shelters, 9.5%, and after moving into temporary housing, 45.9%. In 71.4% of asthmatics there was exacerbation of asthma after temporary housing occupancy. Logistic regression revealed that the risk factors for developing asthma after moving into temporary housing were allergic rhinitis or allergic conjunctivitis (P < 0.05), family asthma history (P < 0.05), never having smoked (P < 0.01), and peripheral airways disorder (low % V50) (P < 0.05) but not depression. The earthquake and tsunami disasters increased mite allergen sensitization and exacerbation or development of asthma in temporary housing residents aged ≥15 years.

Cumulative incidence of suicidal ideation and associated factors among adults living in temporary housing during the three years after the Great East Japan Earthquake

BackgroundThe effect of disasters on suicidality is not known. We aimed to retrospectively determine the cumulative incidence of suicidal ideation during the 3 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake among residents in temporary housing without prior suicidal ideation, as compared to the general population. Moreover, we aimed to identify the risk factors for the onset of suicidal ideation. MethodsA cross-sectional survey involving face-to-face interviews was conducted 3 years after the earthquake with adult community residents in disaster-affected areas and a control area using the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview version 3.0. We compared the cumulative incidence of suicidal ideation between the two areas using the Cox proportional hazard model and examined risk factors for the onset of suicidal ideation using a multiple logistic regression analysis. ResultsAmong 1019 respondents in the disaster-affected areas, the cumulative incidence of suicidal ideation over 1, 2, and 3 years after the earthquake was 1.4%, 2.4%, and 2.8%, respectively, which was significantly higher than that in the control area. Not being married, being injured in the disaster, and poor subjective physical health were associated with the onset of suicidal ideation. LimitationsWe estimated the time of onset of suicidal ideation based on the respondents’ current age and self-reported onset age, which limits the accuracy of the onset timing. ConclusionsWe revealed a higher incidence of suicidal ideation in temporary housing residents and identified several risk factors, which suggests the importance of developing countermeasures to prevent suicide after a disaster.

Managing and bridging communities in temporary housing: case of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in Kesennuma City, Japan

Over the past years, many scholars emphasized the importance of maintaining social relations which were built before disasters into temporary housing communities. However, reality is that most of the temporary housing complexes need to develop newly community relations due to the difficulties of maintaining community ties built before disasters. This paper attempts to find community management issues in newly developed temporary housing communities and argues solutions to the issues of constructing social capital. Key findings from this study are summarized as follows: From bonding aspect, the challenges of community management in temporary housing are leadership, ownership, and participation. One of the suggestions to solve these challenges is to employ community organizers, and a union of existing neighborhood associations is supposed to be the community organizer. From bridging aspect, information sharing among presidents of the neighborhood association in temporary housing was effective for the improvement of community management in the neighborhood associations. If this information sharing is run by an external organization, the external organization can be a bridging organization to make weak ties among neighborhood associations, which overcomes negative impacts of social capital. From linking aspect, particularly housing reconstruction is a big concern for residents in temporary housing and gives impact to community management, and therefore, linking information on housing reconstruction process to management of neighborhood associations in temporary housing is significant. To foster three categories of social capital in temporary housing, key is a bridging organization as an external organization, which functions to link among neighborhood associations and neighborhood associations to external resources.

Physical performance deterioration of temporary housing residents after the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Disaster has a negative impact on health conditions, especially on those of temporary housing residents. Health status has a close relationship with physical activity and performance. However, few reports have assessed physical performance among residents living in temporary housing. In this study, we compared physical capabilities between the elderly who evacuated to temporary housing and those who stayed in their own homes after the Great East Japan Earthquake.Subjects were recruited from those over 65 years of age who participated in the medical check-ups for temporary housing residents (TH group) or check-ups for residents of downtown areas (control group) in Soma City, Fukushima, in 2012. The subjects underwent grip strength, one-leg standing (OLS), and timed up and go tests (TUG).In total, 1890 participants were recruited. The TH group showed significantly stronger grip strength than that of the control group. On the other hand, the TH group showed weaker standing stability, according to decreased OLS and increased TUG scores.We revealed that standing stability was impaired among elderly temporary housing residents 1.5 years after the disaster. Disaster responders should take into account the health risks associated with living in temporary housing.

福島県南相馬市における仮設住宅住民の震災後の生活の特徴

福島県南相馬市における仮設住宅住民の震災後の生活の特徴

福島県南相馬市における仮設住宅住民の震災後の生活の特徴

目的 : 南相馬市の仮設住宅住民の仕事と余暇の特徴と, 生活と健康関連QOLの関連を明らかにすること.方法 : 仮設住宅住民115名を対象に, 平成24年8月の1ヶ月の間で以下の調査を行った. 1. 基本情報 (性別, 年齢, 職業, 経済状況) 2. 生活調査 a) 典型的な1日に行う活動と要する時間 b) 各活動は対象者にとって仕事, ADL, 余暇, 休息のいずれに該当するか 3. 健康関連QOL (調査票はSF-36を使用)結果 : 有効回答は90名 (男性38名, 女性52名, 平均年齢69.9±11.9歳) であった. SF-36は多くの項目で国民標準値を下回った. 仕事において, 男女ともに食事を仕事と捉える者がいた. 余暇において, 女性が余暇と捉える活動は, ボランティア等から提供される活動が多く見られた. 男性が余暇と捉える活動のうち, 提供される活動は少なかった. 生活と健康関連QOLの関連では, 女性は50代以下において余暇時間と負の相関 (r=-0.89) , 70代以上において余暇時間と正の相関が認められた (r=0.48) . 男性では有意な相関は認められなかった.結論 : 70代以上の女性に対する活動提供は有効である. 男性に対する活動提供の内容を検討する必要がある.

The present status of temporary housing residents in Natori and Iwanuma city

The present status of temporary housing residents in Natori and Iwanuma city

東日本大震災被災住民の生活について─多賀城市仮設住宅住民への聞き取り調査から─

東日本大震災被災住民の生活について─多賀城市仮設住宅住民への聞き取り調査から─

Mental Health of Temporary Housing Residents with Individual Experiences in Miyako City

Mental Health of Temporary Housing Residents with Individual Experiences in Miyako City

Physical Activities of Daily Living of Temporary Housing Residents Based on Physical Activities Monitoring and E-SAS Research in Miyako City

Physical Activities of Daily Living of Temporary Housing Residents Based on Physical Activities Monitoring and E-SAS Research in Miyako City

A Practical Approach to Temporary Housing for Disaster Victims

The purpose of this study is to reveal the residential environment of temporary housing for disaster victims and propose supporting measures, taking a practical approach to temporary housing for victims of two disasters, the 7.13 flood and the Chuetsu earthquake, both of which occurred in 2004 in Chuetsu, the middle area of Niigata Prefecture in Japan. By means of on-site investigation and a "temporary open café" project providing practical support for residents in temporary housing, this study arrived at the following conclusions.(1) Knowledge of how to improve temporary residential units was shared with neighbors, but it was not spread among the temporary sites. (2) The communities in temporary housing were based on former neighborhood communities. It was useful that people who used to be neighbors were housed at the same temporary site and a common room was built at each temporary site. (3) The community in temporary housing was exclusive. However, in the second stage of recovery, the temporary cafés became useful as places where residents could escape the bonds of these communities. (4) During the one and half years after the earthquake, special places providing opportunities for communication and refreshment were produced by residents in the temporary sites.

Mosquito breeding sites and People’s knowledge of mosquitoes and mosquito borne diseases: A comparison of temporary housing and non-damaged village areas in Sri Lanka after the tsunami strike in 2004

Although it is very important in view of public health to understand the mosquito breeding sites and key reservoirs existing around residential areas, such information is lacking in temporary housing sites constructed after the serious tsunami strikes on 26 December 2004 in Sri Lanka. This study clarified the situation regarding mos- quito breeding 14 months after the tsunami in Sri Lanka by surveying temporary housing and non-damaged village areas, and also by examining people's knowledge related to mosquito breeding sites and mosquito-borne diseases. The relative frequency of mosquito larvae in was significantly higher in temporary housing than in village areas. The prevalence of storage containers at temporary housing and village areas was not significantly different. It was found that in temporary housing sites were the main breeding site of Culex quin- quefasciatus Say, Cx. tritaeniorhynchus Giles, and Aedes albopictus Skuse whereas storage containers in village areas were the main breeding site of Cx. quinquefasciatus and Ae. albopictus. No mosquitoes bred in storage con- tainers in the temporary housing but some Ae. albopictus did so in village areas. The questionnaires indicated a significant difference between residents of temporary housing and villages in response to the question: Do you know where mosquitoes breed? The proportion of the wastewater pools response was higher among temporary housing residents than among village residents. This knowledge among temporary housing residents may relate to the fact that are latent breeding sites for mosquitoes in temporary housing sites. Although resi- dents in the temporary housing sites put salt and abluent into storage containers to prevent mosquitoes from breed- ing, receiving a constant supply of provided the best breeding site for mosquitoes.

Access to Health Services and Care-seeking Behaviors After the 2007 Ica Earthquake in Peru

To assess care-seeking behaviors, perceptions of quality, and access to health services among populations affected by the 2007 Peruvian earthquake. A stratified cluster survey design was used to allow for comparison between urban, periurban, and rural populations of the 4 provinces most affected by the earthquake. Forty-two clusters of 16 households (n = 672) were interviewed approximately 6 months after the earthquake. Of all of the respondents, 38% reported that a household member sought medical care within 2 weeks after the earthquake. Earthquake-related injury, presence of a chronic medical condition, and residence in temporary housing were significantly associated with care seeking in adjusted models. Individuals experiencing earthquake-related injuries and those with chronic medical conditions, respectively, were 7.1 times (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.7-13.7) and 1.9 times (95% CI 1.3-2.9) more likely to seek medical care; temporary housing residents were 1.7 times (95% CI 1.0-2.8) more likely to seek care than those residing in permanent housing. Earthquake-related injury and chronic medical conditions were associated with care seeking in the first 2 weeks after the 2007 Ica earthquake. Households living in temporary housing were more likely to seek medical care than those residing in permanent structures, suggesting that displaced people are more likely to need medical attention.

Posttraumatic symptoms among victims of the Great Hanshin–Awaji Earthquake in Japan

Two comparative studies conducted in the early and reconstruction stages following the 1995 Hanshin–Awaji earthquake in Japan are presented. In the first study, posttraumatic symptoms among younger evacuees (&lt;60 years) were compared with the symptoms among the elderly evacuees (≥ 60 years) in the same shelter. In the first study, though most of the symptoms remained unchanged among the younger subjects from the time of the third‐week assessment to that of the eighth week, the symptoms improved among the elderly subjects. In the second study, the psychological effects of those who were living in temporary housing and those who were not were compared during the reconstruction stage. That study demonstrated that the temporary housing residents had high exposure to the traumatic event, poor socioeconomic status, and various secondary stressors. The result of these factors is that they have a higher chance of facing various types of mental health problems. By examining the data obtained from these studies, the characteristics of psychological distress and coping among survivors at the different stages after the earthquake, and matters of future concern relating to the kind of mental health care required at each stage, are discussed.

Housing Demands of Temporary Housing Residents after South-Hyogo Earthquake in view of Life Support Service

Housing Demands of Temporary Housing Residents after South-Hyogo Earthquake in view of Life Support Service