Comparison between the prevalence of probable post-traumatic stress disorder among different flood types in Thailand

Abstract

Floods are one of the most common natural disasters in Thailand. Floods may have a long-term psychological impact on survivals. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) usually diagnosed among flood victims. However, there is limited information on PTSD from different flooding events in Thailand. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of having probable PTSD among different flood types in Thailand. A secondary data analysis was performed using a dataset from previous cross-sectional survey conducted from 2019 to 2020 in Nakhon Sawan and Nakhon Si Thammarat provinces selected from the expert reviews’ discussion. The analysis was performed on 376 respondents experienced river flood, and 376 respondents experienced flash flood. Primary Care PTSD 5 (PC-PTSD-5) was used to detect probable PTSD. Chi-square and multiple logistic regression were used for determining the differences and associated factors among the two flood types. The prevalence of probable PTSD was 12.6% in total sample, 20.2% for river flood, and 5.1% for flash flood. The associated factors with probable PTSD in river-flooded areas are income, sickness (no treatment needed), and level of flood concern. While age, education, income, underlying disease, years of living in areas, migration, and sickness (treatment needed) were associated with flash flood. The associated risk factors in flash flood were migration (AOR: 6.06; 95% CI: 1.85 - 19.88), sickness (no treatment needed) (AOR: 5.08; 95% CI:1.68 - 15.38). While in river flood, monthly household income more than or equal to 6,001 Baht (AOR: 0.57; 95% CI: 0.33 - 0.99) and sicked (no treatment needed) (AOR: 0.12; 95% CI: 0.02 - 0.93) which showed 43% reduction in having probable PTSD, and 2) sicked (no treatment needed) reduced the chance of having probable PTSD. In conclusion, PTSD was detected in both flood types in Thailand. Therefore, public health authorities should not only focus on physical injuries or damages after flood events but also must address mental health issues. In addition, more attention and support are needed in areas affected by river floods compared to those affected by flash floods.