Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is one of the most debilitating and costly mental health problems that can develop following exposure to natural disasters. Nevertheless, much remains unknown about how to best address PTSD and other mental health needs in disaster-stricken areas, particularly in rural and under-resourced areas. The present study is a population-based cross-sectional study conducted in rural areas that were affected by a destructive earthquake in Iran. The aim of the research is to explore the prevalence and determinants of PTSD among survivors 3 years after the earthquake. A multi-stage cluster random sampling technique was used to obtain a sample of 600 respondents between the ages of 18- and 87-years-old in affected areas. In the present sample, 224 individuals (37.3%) reported some PTSD symptoms. Factors associated with an increased likelihood of developing PTSD included being in a severely-stricken (as opposed to moderately-stricken) village and being female. However, there were no significant associations between PTSD and age groups, marital status, profession, and educational status. These results underscore the need for improved psychosocial interventions following disasters.
Keywords: Disaster; Earthquake; Iran; PTSD.