Psychological distress among a population-representative sample of residents of four slum neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Olga TYMEJCZYK; Vanessa R. RIVERA; Mireille PECK; Audrey DORÉLIEN; Jacky S. PETION; Grace SEO; Kathleen F. WALSH; Jean W. PAPE; Margaret L. McNAIRY; Daniel W. FITZGERALD; Denis NASH; Angela PARCESEPE

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2019.11.103

Psychological distress among a population-representative sample of residents of four slum neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Olga TYMEJCZYK, Vanessa R. RIVERA, Mireille PECK, Audrey DORÉLIEN, Jacky S. PETION, Grace SEO, Kathleen F. WALSH, Jean W. PAPE, Margaret L. McNAIRY, Daniel W. FITZGERALD, Denis NASH, Angela PARCESEPE

Social Policy & Policy Analysis

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Abstract

Background: Almost one billion people live in slum environments across low- and middle-income countries. Little is known about the mental health status of slum residents or its associations with living conditions. Methods: A cross-sectional, population-representative survey was conducted among 892 adults in four slum communities in Port-au-Prince. Psychological distress was assessed with the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K-6). Log-binomial regression modeled the association of sociodemographic variables, living conditions, and material hardship and severe psychological distress [SPD]. Results: Eighty-six percent of adults reported psychological distress (24% severe and 62% moderate). Reliance on an outdoor drinking water source (versus bottled water) and a pit toilet (versus a flush toilet) were marginally positively associated with SPD (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR]=1.42, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00–2.02 and aPR=1.74, 95% CI: 0.96–3.15, respectively). The prevalence of SPD was higher among women (versus men, aPR=1.66, 95% CI: 1.26–2.19), residents who had foregone healthcare to afford food (versus those who had never done so, aPR=1.60, 95% CI: 1.16–2.45), and persons who drank alcohol at least twice a week (versus monthly or less, aPR=1.73, 95% CI: 1.22–2.45). Limitations: Data were cross-sectional and lacked information on potential risk factors such as exposure to trauma. Conclusions: Psychological distress was highly prevalent and associated with poor living conditions. Prospective studies on the mechanisms through which slum living conditions are associated with psychological distress are needed. Research should also assess the feasibility and acceptability of implementation strategies to increase access to mental health screening and treatment for slum residents.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	241-245
Number of pages	5
Journal	Journal of Affective Disorders
Volume	263
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2019.11.103
State	Published - Feb 15 2020

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The study was funded by the Fogarty International Center (through the VECD Fogarty Global Health Fellows Program), the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the National Institute of Mental Health, and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health ( NIH ) ( D43 TW009337 , D43 TW009606-03S1 , K01 MH114721 , R24 HD041023 , and R01 HL143788 ).The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019

Keywords

Haiti
Material hardship
Psychological distress
Slum

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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TYMEJCZYK, O., RIVERA, V. R., PECK, M., DORÉLIEN, A., PETION, J. S., SEO, G., WALSH, K. F., PAPE, J. W., McNAIRY, M. L., FITZGERALD, D. W., NASH, D., & PARCESEPE, A. (2020). Psychological distress among a population-representative sample of residents of four slum neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Journal of Affective Disorders, 263, 241-245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2019.11.103

TYMEJCZYK, O, RIVERA, VR, PECK, M, DORÉLIEN, A, PETION, JS, SEO, G, WALSH, KF, PAPE, JW, McNAIRY, ML, FITZGERALD, DW, NASH, D & PARCESEPE, A 2020, 'Psychological distress among a population-representative sample of residents of four slum neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince, Haiti', Journal of Affective Disorders, vol. 263, pp. 241-245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2019.11.103

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title = "Psychological distress among a population-representative sample of residents of four slum neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince, Haiti",

abstract = "Background: Almost one billion people live in slum environments across low- and middle-income countries. Little is known about the mental health status of slum residents or its associations with living conditions. Methods: A cross-sectional, population-representative survey was conducted among 892 adults in four slum communities in Port-au-Prince. Psychological distress was assessed with the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K-6). Log-binomial regression modeled the association of sociodemographic variables, living conditions, and material hardship and severe psychological distress [SPD]. Results: Eighty-six percent of adults reported psychological distress (24% severe and 62% moderate). Reliance on an outdoor drinking water source (versus bottled water) and a pit toilet (versus a flush toilet) were marginally positively associated with SPD (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR]=1.42, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00–2.02 and aPR=1.74, 95% CI: 0.96–3.15, respectively). The prevalence of SPD was higher among women (versus men, aPR=1.66, 95% CI: 1.26–2.19), residents who had foregone healthcare to afford food (versus those who had never done so, aPR=1.60, 95% CI: 1.16–2.45), and persons who drank alcohol at least twice a week (versus monthly or less, aPR=1.73, 95% CI: 1.22–2.45). Limitations: Data were cross-sectional and lacked information on potential risk factors such as exposure to trauma. Conclusions: Psychological distress was highly prevalent and associated with poor living conditions. Prospective studies on the mechanisms through which slum living conditions are associated with psychological distress are needed. Research should also assess the feasibility and acceptability of implementation strategies to increase access to mental health screening and treatment for slum residents.",

keywords = "Haiti, Material hardship, Psychological distress, Slum",

author = "Olga TYMEJCZYK and RIVERA, {Vanessa R.} and Mireille PECK and Audrey DOR{\'E}LIEN and PETION, {Jacky S.} and Grace SEO and WALSH, {Kathleen F.} and PAPE, {Jean W.} and McNAIRY, {Margaret L.} and FITZGERALD, {Daniel W.} and Denis NASH and Angela PARCESEPE",

note = "Funding Information: The study was funded by the Fogarty International Center (through the VECD Fogarty Global Health Fellows Program), the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the National Institute of Mental Health, and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health ( NIH ) ( D43 TW009337 , D43 TW009606-03S1 , K01 MH114721 , R24 HD041023 , and R01 HL143788 ).The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019",

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doi = "10.1016/j.jad.2019.11.103",

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T1 - Psychological distress among a population-representative sample of residents of four slum neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

AU - TYMEJCZYK, Olga

AU - RIVERA, Vanessa R.

AU - PECK, Mireille

AU - DORÉLIEN, Audrey

AU - PETION, Jacky S.

AU - SEO, Grace

AU - WALSH, Kathleen F.

AU - PAPE, Jean W.

AU - McNAIRY, Margaret L.

AU - FITZGERALD, Daniel W.

AU - NASH, Denis

AU - PARCESEPE, Angela

N1 - Funding Information: The study was funded by the Fogarty International Center (through the VECD Fogarty Global Health Fellows Program), the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the National Institute of Mental Health, and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health ( NIH ) ( D43 TW009337 , D43 TW009606-03S1 , K01 MH114721 , R24 HD041023 , and R01 HL143788 ).The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH. Publisher Copyright: © 2019

PY - 2020/2/15

Y1 - 2020/2/15

N2 - Background: Almost one billion people live in slum environments across low- and middle-income countries. Little is known about the mental health status of slum residents or its associations with living conditions. Methods: A cross-sectional, population-representative survey was conducted among 892 adults in four slum communities in Port-au-Prince. Psychological distress was assessed with the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K-6). Log-binomial regression modeled the association of sociodemographic variables, living conditions, and material hardship and severe psychological distress [SPD]. Results: Eighty-six percent of adults reported psychological distress (24% severe and 62% moderate). Reliance on an outdoor drinking water source (versus bottled water) and a pit toilet (versus a flush toilet) were marginally positively associated with SPD (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR]=1.42, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00–2.02 and aPR=1.74, 95% CI: 0.96–3.15, respectively). The prevalence of SPD was higher among women (versus men, aPR=1.66, 95% CI: 1.26–2.19), residents who had foregone healthcare to afford food (versus those who had never done so, aPR=1.60, 95% CI: 1.16–2.45), and persons who drank alcohol at least twice a week (versus monthly or less, aPR=1.73, 95% CI: 1.22–2.45). Limitations: Data were cross-sectional and lacked information on potential risk factors such as exposure to trauma. Conclusions: Psychological distress was highly prevalent and associated with poor living conditions. Prospective studies on the mechanisms through which slum living conditions are associated with psychological distress are needed. Research should also assess the feasibility and acceptability of implementation strategies to increase access to mental health screening and treatment for slum residents.

AB - Background: Almost one billion people live in slum environments across low- and middle-income countries. Little is known about the mental health status of slum residents or its associations with living conditions. Methods: A cross-sectional, population-representative survey was conducted among 892 adults in four slum communities in Port-au-Prince. Psychological distress was assessed with the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K-6). Log-binomial regression modeled the association of sociodemographic variables, living conditions, and material hardship and severe psychological distress [SPD]. Results: Eighty-six percent of adults reported psychological distress (24% severe and 62% moderate). Reliance on an outdoor drinking water source (versus bottled water) and a pit toilet (versus a flush toilet) were marginally positively associated with SPD (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR]=1.42, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00–2.02 and aPR=1.74, 95% CI: 0.96–3.15, respectively). The prevalence of SPD was higher among women (versus men, aPR=1.66, 95% CI: 1.26–2.19), residents who had foregone healthcare to afford food (versus those who had never done so, aPR=1.60, 95% CI: 1.16–2.45), and persons who drank alcohol at least twice a week (versus monthly or less, aPR=1.73, 95% CI: 1.22–2.45). Limitations: Data were cross-sectional and lacked information on potential risk factors such as exposure to trauma. Conclusions: Psychological distress was highly prevalent and associated with poor living conditions. Prospective studies on the mechanisms through which slum living conditions are associated with psychological distress are needed. Research should also assess the feasibility and acceptability of implementation strategies to increase access to mental health screening and treatment for slum residents.

KW - Haiti

KW - Material hardship

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VL - 263

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JO - Journal of Affective Disorders

JF - Journal of Affective Disorders

ER -

Psychological distress among a population-representative sample of residents of four slum neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access

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