Impact of hurricane Maria on physical activity, smoking, and alcohol use among Puerto Ricans
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View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Hurricane Maria decreased physical activity but increased alcohol use among Puerto Ricans. This study examined the disaster
Area Of Science
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Disaster Research
Background
- Hurricane Maria, a Category 5 storm, caused widespread devastation in Puerto Rico in September 2017.
- Natural disasters can significantly disrupt populations, impacting health behaviors and well-being.
- Understanding post-disaster health behavior changes is crucial for effective public health interventions.
Purpose Of The Study
- To investigate the impact of Hurricane Maria on physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption in Puerto Rico.
- To quantify the association between exposure to Hurricane Maria and changes in key health behaviors.
Main Methods
- Utilized data from the 2015-2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).
- Employed linear probability models and differences-in-differences estimators for causal inference.
- Analyzed a large, matched sample (N = 19,489) with a high proportion of Hispanic participants (99.1%).
Main Results
- Exposure to Hurricane Maria was associated with a 3% decrease in the probability of engaging in physical activity within the past 30 days.
- A statistically significant 2.7% increase in the probability of any alcohol consumption in the past 30 days was observed.
- No significant effects were found on smoking or binge-drinking behaviors.
Conclusions
- Hurricane Maria may have negatively impacted physical activity levels while potentially increasing alcohol consumption among the Puerto Rican population.
- Findings suggest that natural disasters can have differential effects on various health behaviors.
- Further research is needed to explore long-term impacts and inform targeted interventions for disaster survivors.
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