Economic vulnerability, discrimination, and hurricane Katrina: Health among black Katrina survivors in Eastern New Orleans

Background: Few works have viewed disaster relief in the context of socioeconomic disparity and racial inequality before Katrina. Objective: By using the vulnerable-populations conceptual framework, our study aimed to investigate the relationship among economic vulnerability, perceived discrimination, and health outcomes among 69 Black Katrina survivors in Eastern New Orleans. Study Design: A mixed-method approach, including survey and focus groups, was applied to collect data. Results: Our findings suggested that a higher level of perceived racial discrimination during Katrina and financial strain post-Katrina were associated with more posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms; support provided by network members served to enhance mental and physical health. Compared with Black males, female survivors reported more PTSD symptoms and worse mental health. Conclusions: It is imperative for nursing scholars and public policies to directly address the intricacies of race, class, and gender inequality to deliver interventions tailored to meet the unique needs of vulnerable populations.