An Investigation of the Relationships among Women’s Experiences of the 2015 Earthquakes, Mental Health Status and Pregnancy Outcomes in Nepal

This research examined the impact of an earthquake on pregnant women’s mental health and their baby’s birthweight. Data were collected in Bhaktapur, a district highly affected by the 2015 Nepal earthquakes. Overall, 497 women contributed baseline data while pregnant, and 469 contributed their baby’s birthweight. Almost half the participants were experiencing clinically-significant psychological symptoms, and 16% of the babies had low birthweights. The babies of women with more severe earthquake experiences had worse psychological symptoms, which were related to their babies being 18.29 grams lighter than those of women with less severe experiences.