The prevalence and risk factors of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder among workers injured in Rana Plaza building collapse in Bangladesh

• Published in: American journal of industrial medicine Vol. 58; no. 7; pp. 756 - 763
• Main Authors: Fitch, Taylor, Villanueva, Gabriela, Quadir, Mohammad M., Sagiraju, Hari K. R., Alamgir, Hasanat
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.07.2015; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Adult; Bangladesh - epidemiology; Employment - psychology; Female; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Marital Status; Occupational Diseases - epidemiology; Occupational Diseases - etiology; Odds Ratio; Prevalence; Rana; Risk Factors; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - epidemiology; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - etiology; Structure Collapse; Survivors - psychology; Textile Industry; Work - psychology; Young Adult; Bangladesh
• ISSN: 0271-3586; 1097-0274
• DOI: 10.1002/ajim.22471

Objectives Prevalence and risk factors of PTSD among injured garment workers who survived a major factory collapse. Methods Survivors receiving treatment or rehabilitation care at one year post event were surveyed, which included Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist Specific version. Results The respondents consisted of 181 people with a mean age of 27.8 years and a majority had less than high school education (91.2%). Multivariable logistic regression found that the odds of having PTSD was higher among married (OR: 3.2 [95% CI: 1.3–8.0]), those who used to work more than 70 hr/week (OR: 2.4 [1.1–5.3]), workers who used to hold higher job positions (OR: 2.6 [1.2–5.6]) or who had a concussion injury (OR: 3.7 [1.4–9.8]). Among the respondents, 83.4% remained unemployed, and only 57.3% (63 people) reported receiving a quarter or less of what they were promised as compensation. Conclusions Probable PTSD was prevalent among surviving workers of the Rana Plaza building collapse in Bangladesh. Am. J. Ind. Med. 58:756–763, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.