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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Factors associated with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression amongst internally displaced persons in northern Uganda
BMC Psychiatry, Volume 8, Article 38, Year 2008
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Description
Background: The 20 year war in northern Uganda between the Lord's Resistance Army and the Ugandan government has resulted in the displacement of up to 2 million people within Uganda. The purpose of the study was to measure rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression amongst these internally displaced persons (IDPs), and investigate associated demographic and trauma exposure risk factors. Methods: A cross-sectional multi-staged, random cluster survey with 1210 adult IDPs was conducted in November 2006 in Gulu and Amuru districts of northern Uganda. Levels of exposure to traumatic events and PTSD were measured using the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (original version), and levels of depression were measured using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyse the association of demographic and trauma exposure variables on the outcomes of PTSD and depression. Results: Over half (54%) of the respondents metsymptom criteria for PTSD, and over two thirds (67%) of respondents met symptom criteria for depression. Over half (58%) of respondents had experienced 8 or more of the 16 trauma events covered in the questionnaire. Factors strongly linked with PTSD and depression included gender, marital status, distance of displacement, experiencing ill health without medical care, experiencing rape or sexual abuse, experiencing lack of food or water, and experiencing higher rates of trauma exposure. Conclusion: This study provides evidence of exposure to traumatic events and deprivation of essential goods and services suffered by IDPs, and the resultant effect this has upon their mental health. Protection and social and psychological assistance are urgently required to help IDPs in northern Uganda re-build their lives. © 2008 Roberts et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
Roberts, Bayard
Unknown Affiliation
Ocaka, Kaducu Felix
Unknown Affiliation
Browne, John
Unknown Affiliation
Oyok, Thomas O.
Unknown Affiliation
Sondorp, Egbert
Unknown Affiliation
Statistics
Citations: 288
Authors: 5
Affiliations: 3
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1186/1471-244X-8-38
e-ISSN:
1471244X
Research Areas
Environmental
Food Security
Mental Health
Sexual And Reproductive Health
Violence And Injury
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Quantitative
Study Locations
Uganda