Abstract
Objectives: To investigate the possibility of delayed health effects of a natural disaster and develop insight into the circumstances where such delays may be likely, we examined the existing Haitian Health Foundation (HHF) database of children for the years surrounding the events of Hurricane Gilbert. Subjects and methods: The HHF database was limited to records of children with valid entries that were age 60 months or younger and who first entered the HHF program between the years of 1988 and 1992. This resulted in a sample of 4413 children available for the study. The outcomes for this study were malnutrition and mortality. Results: Haitian children appear to have been immediately affected by Hurricane Gilbert through increased levels of malnutrition and mortality. Even higher numbers of pediatric deaths were recorded throughout the following year, after which the number of deaths decreased and began a return toward pre‐Gilbert levels. Conclusion: Our study found substantial amounts of delayed mortality a year subsequent to Hurricane Gilbert. These findings suggest that additional planning for agricultural infrastructure support and for extended relief should be considered under certain circumstances, including situations where the affected area has food sources and infrastructure that are affected by the disaster and where the local population is highly dependent on these food sources and infrastructure.