Community violence and mental health among Iraqi women, a population-based study

Abstract

Background: The recent events in Iraq following the 2003 war render Iraq as a country with a high level of all types of violence. Exposure to violence, as a witness or a victim, is related to a number of longer term emotional, behavioral and social problems. Objectives: To investigate the impact of witnessing and experiencing community violence and tragedy as a factor contributing to mental health disorders among Iraqi women in the city of Mosul. Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study of 500 women were selected by a multi-stage random sampling technique. Four catchment areas of primary health centers of Mosul city were selected. Community violence with nine commonly associated social, economic, emotional, physical and mental health symptoms were recorded by questionnaire. Results: The study revealed that all the participating women had a history of exposure to at least one type of community violence within the last twelve months. A mainstream consequence of exposure to community violence was transportation difficulties, loss of husband's job, and family displacement. More than half of the women were classified as having severe emotional disturbances that may evolve to mental health problems in future. Conclusion: Women are bearing the consequences of the violence in Iraq. National commitment and action needs to be taken to curb the violence which is hugely affecting the people of Iraq. Treatment programs targeted at promoting emotional resilience may be effective at preventing mental health problems.

The ethnic gap in mental health: A population-based study of Russian, Somali and Kurdish origin migrants in Finland

“…Also in Iraq, a major depressive episode has been found to be more common among Iraqi women than among men [17]. Al-Nuaimi [18] has concluded that women bear much of the consequences of community violence in Iraq. According to the findings of the Maamu study, the vast majority of Kurdish men and women have experienced a traumatic event in their country of origin, with men reporting higher prevalence rates of severe traumatic experiences (e.g.…”

Effects of witnessing or exposure to community violence on mental health of Iraqi men

“…( 30 , 31 ) Moreover, the related emotional symptom scores significantly amplify the increased number of traumatic events witnessed and is an indicator that a person has suffered repeatedly. ( 32 ) This alarming figure is higher than that reported for women in the Iraqi family health survey, which found that 40.4 percent of Iraqi women suffer from severe mental health disorders ( 29 ) and higher than that reported in a similar survey conducted in Mosul ( 27 ) where 54.4 percent of women were found to suffer from severe emotional disturbances as a result of exposure to various forms of community violence. Exposure to violence or threats of violence does not only affect the mental wellbeing, it may disturb the whole life of an individual by pushing them forcibly to leave their country.…”

“…Although this figure is relatively high, it is still less than that reported among Iraqi women in a previous study conducted (24%). ( 27 )…”

“…( 36 ) Meanwhile, family unit displacement following terrorization or sectarianism was significantly associated with a higher risk of severe emotional distress among the Iraqi men, the same being found in Iraqi women. ( 27 )…”

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