Health Indicators in Children from Meulaboh, Indonesia, following the Tsunami of December 26, 2004

The French Army medical service carried out an epidemiological survey to estimate health indicators in children living in Meulaboh, Indonesia, in the weeks following the tsunami of December 26, 2004, within a sample from refugee camps, schools, and quarters of the town. Thirty-four percent of the children in camps, 21.9% in schools, and 49.5% from quarters presented psychological trauma. Malnutrition affected 20.5% in camps and 34.4% in the town between 6 and 59 months, 11.3% in camps, and 7.6% in schools between 6 and 15 years. The children had suffered various symptoms since the tsunami; access to care was possible for 53.9% in the camps, 23.8% from schools, and 39.3% from the town. Those results have been subsequently used by the local health authorities to improve child health care. The method used for this survey could be applied for future disaster scenarios.