The students were part of the survey teams who collected data from 665 randomly selected households from February 11-20, 2006. Virtually all the respondents in the study came from one of five Louisiana parishes – Orleans (65%), St. Bernard (11%), St. Tammany (10%), Jefferson (7%), and Plaquemines (4%). Fifty-eight percent of the respondents would like to return to their former neighborhoods, 30% would like to relocate elsewhere (including a number of respondents interested in purchasing their FEMA-subsidized travel trailers and then moving them elsewhere), and 11% were still unsure about their future plans.
Study participant LSUHSC public health student Toni Marie Jones said, "I didn't expect to walk the talk so soon. I thought I'd graduate and be eased into it, but that's not going to happen. If you're in public health in New Orleans now, the city needs you."
The purpose of the study was to provide information about the health and social service needs of people living in transitional housing. Not only is such information important to health care providers, but also to preparedness planners and policymakers.
LSUHSC School of Public Health Dean Dr. Elizabeth Fontham noted, "Not only are we using this unique teaching experience, we are helping to meet critical needs that will shape the short- and long-term health of New Orleans and Southeast Louisiana."
Among the key findings were:
Among the conclusions are that four systems are key to improved future preparedness– access to care, availability of ongoing primary, mental health, and dental care, assurance of continuity of care, and the ability of schools to reach out and engage students and their families.
LSUHSC School of Public Health Associate Dean Stephanie Tortu concluded, "I hope this study helps people across the country understand the impact that this disaster has had on the health of the people of New Orleans."