Citation

Armenian HK, Noji EK, Oganesian AP. Bull. World Health Organ. 1992; 70(2): 251-257.

Affiliation

Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1992, World Health Organization)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

1600585

PMCID

PMC2393295

Abstract

The study attempts to identify predictors of injuries among persons who were hospitalized following the Armenian earthquake of 7 December 1988. A total of 189 such individuals were identified through neighbourhood polyclinics in the city of Leninakan and 159 noninjured controls were selected from the same neighbourhoods. A standardized interview questionnaire was used. Cases and controls shared many social and demographic characteristics; however, 98% of persons who were hospitalized with injuries were inside a building at the time of the earthquake, compared with 83% of the controls (odds ratio = 12.20, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 3.62-63.79). The odds ratio of injuries for individuals who were in a building that had five or more floors, compared with those in lower buildings, was 3.65 (95% CI = 2.12-6.33). Leaving buildings after the first shock of the earthquake was a protective behaviour. The odds ratio for those staying indoors compared with those who ran out was 4.40 (95% CI = 2.24-8.71).