Exposures to war-related traumatic events and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms among displaced Darfuri female university students: an exploratory study

Badri, Alia; Crutzen, Rik; Borne, H.W. van den

doi:10.1186/1471-2458-12-603

Cited by 38 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…However, the questionnaire was refined through survey pretesting and a stakeholder workshop and the HTQ-R had excellent internal reliability. Although the HTQ-R has not been updated to reflect the changes in the DSM-5 [33], it was selected, because it has been used in the majority of the studies investigating PTSD conducted in South Sudan, Sudan, or with Sudanese refugees [3, 5, 27–29] and has performed well in this population.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Posttraumatic stress disorder, trauma, and reconciliation in South Sudan

López²,

Pritchard

et al. 2017

Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol

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Purpose South Sudan is embroiled in a conflict that erupted in December 2013. This study examines what people in South Sudan think is necessary to achieve reconciliation and how trauma exposure and PTSD are associated with those beliefs. Methods 1525 participants (51.0% female) were selected using random and purposive sampling in six states and Abyei. Participants reported on traumatic events, PTSD symptoms, and attitudes towards reconciliation mechanisms. Results Results indicated that 40.7% met symptom criteria for probable PTSD. Most participants thought reconciliation was not possible without prosecuting perpetrators or compensating victims and did not support amnesty. Participants with probable PTSD were more likely to endorse confessions (OR 2.42 [1.75, 3.35]), apologies (OR 2.04 [1.46, 2.83]), and amnesty (OR 1.58 [1.21, 2.08]), and to report that compensation (OR 2.32 [1.80, 3.00]) and prosecution (OR 1.47 [1.15, 1.89]) were not necessary for reconciliation. The more traumatic events people experienced, the more they endorsed criminal punishment for perpetrators (OR 1.07 [1.04, 1.10]) and the less they endorsed confessions (OR 0.97 [0.95, 0.99]). Conclusions People with PTSD may prioritize ending violence via opportunities for reconciliation, while those with more trauma exposure may support more punitive mechanisms. Policy makers should take mental health treatment and trauma into account when designing conflict mitigation, peace building, and justice mechanisms.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Posttraumatic stress disorder, trauma, and reconciliation in South Sudan

López²,

Pritchard

et al. 2017

Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol

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“…The HTQ is a widely used instrument that includes questions about traumatic events (40 events). The HTQ has been adapted for, and used in, various cultures and languages [20] including Sudan [21] and South Sudan [22]. The validity and reliability of the HTQ have been extensively tested in several settings and the instrument had good reliability and validity [20,23,24].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Disability associated with exposure to traumatic events: results from a cross-sectional community survey in South Sudan

et al. 2013

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BackgroundThere is a general lack of knowledge regarding disability and especially factors that are associated with disability in low-income countries. We aimed to study the overall and gender-specific prevalence of disability, and the association between exposure to traumatic events and disability in a post-conflict setting.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional community based study of four Greater Bahr el Ghazal States, South Sudan (n = 1200). The Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ) was applied to investigate exposure to trauma events. Disability was measured using the Washington Group Short Measurement Set on Disability, which is an activity-based scale derived from the WHO’s International Classification of Disability, Functioning and Health.ResultsThe estimated prevalence of disability (with severe difficulty) was 3.6% and 13.4% for disability with moderate difficulties. No gender differences were found in disability prevalence. Almost all participants reported exposure to at least one war-related traumatic event. The result of a hierarchical regression analysis showed that, for both men and women, exposure to traumatic events, older age and living in a polygamous marriage increased the likelihood of having a disability.ConclusionsThe finding of association between traumatic experience and disability underlines the precariousness of the human rights situation for individuals with disability in low-income countries. It also has possible implications for the construction of disability services and for the provision of health services to individuals exposed to traumatic events.

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“…More than half reported being personally exposed as victims or as witnesses to war-related traumatic events with a strong association between direct war-related traumatic exposures and the full symptom of PTSD [12]. Generalised anxiety and symptoms for major depression were measured according to the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25) [13], where 56% and 51% manifested symptoms of anxiety and depression, respectively.…”

Section: Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Meaningfulness of life [26] has been used to describe the extent to which reappraised new situations help war-traumatised individuals deal with and offset the negative perceptions of war-related traumatic exposures and post-displacement stressors, permitting realistic coping and a positive outcome in their adjustment process in the form of growth [27]. Operationally, Darfuris’ meaningfulness resilience characteristics gradually allowed them to become aware of the urban-cultural clashes within their new environment at AUW and Omdurman city and placed new meanings based on their cultural upbringing that allowed them to interact with others in the community [12]. Resilience connotes inner strength, competence, optimism, flexibility and the ability to cope effectively when faced with adversity [19,28].…”

Section: Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recognising that during their on-going psychosocial stress of displacement, Darfuri female undergraduates’ social cognition [50] informs their perception and interpretation of social information [51] which impacts their level of functioning [12]. Further, Darfuri undergraduates’ social cognition and information processing may bear on their appraisal and reappraisal of stressors influencing their perceptions of social support with the belief that additional resources, in the form of significant others, are available [10].…”

Section: Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Promoting Darfuri women’s psychosocial health: developing a war trauma counsellor training programme tailored to the person

et al. 2013

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Women are considered special groups who are uniquely vulnerable in the context of war exposures. To effectively target the resources aimed at mitigating mental health consequences and optimising and maximising the use of mental health provisions, culturally relevant war trauma counsellor training is required. The objectives of this study are to promote a new philosophy in the Sudanese mental health care by introducing an integrative approach for targeted prevention and tailored treatments to the Darfuri person in a cost-effective way. Furthermore, the study provides evidence- and theory-based guidelines for developing a war trauma counsellor training programme in Sudan, mainly based on qualitative and quantitative studies among war-affected Darfuri female students. Cultural conceptualisations such as gender roles and religious expectations as well as theories that emphasise resilience and other psychosocial adaptation skills have been operationalised to reflect the totality of the Darfuri women’s experiences. Furthermore, the results of four interrelated studies among war-traumatised undergraduate Darfuri women who are internally displaced provide the basis that guides an outline for qualification development, capacity building and skills consolidation among Sudanese mental health care providers. Explicit war-related psychosocial needs assessment tools, specific war-related trauma counsellor training and particular counsellor characteristics, qualities and awareness that pertain to strengthening the efficacy of war trauma Sudanese counsellors are recommended. The aim is to produce expertly trained war trauma counsellors working with war-affected Darfuri women in particular and with regards to their helpfulness in responding to the psychosocial needs of war-exposed Sudanese in general.

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Exposures to war-related traumatic events and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms among displaced Darfuri female university students: an exploratory study

Cited by 38 publications

References 24 publications

Posttraumatic stress disorder, trauma, and reconciliation in South Sudan

Posttraumatic stress disorder, trauma, and reconciliation in South Sudan

Disability associated with exposure to traumatic events: results from a cross-sectional community survey in South Sudan

Promoting Darfuri women’s psychosocial health: developing a war trauma counsellor training programme tailored to the person

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