Prevalence and risk factors of posttraumatic stress symptoms among Internally Displaced Christian couples in Erbil, Iraq

Abstract

BackgroundResearch about the impact of war and displacement experiences on the mental health of Internally Displaced People (IDPs) has recently grown. However, a limited number of studies focus on minorities. The objective of the present preliminary study was to estimate the prevalence of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSSs) among IDPs who live outside camps and belong to the Christian minority in Iraq, and to identify possible predictors.MethodsOverall, 108 internally displaced Christians (54 married couples) participated in the study. Traumatic events and PTSSs were assessed using the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire. Multivariable linear regression models were used to investigate possible predictors of PTSSs. Multivariable logistic regression models have been developed to estimate the odds of presenting PTSSs.ResultsResults demonstrated high rates of trauma exposure, with all participants having experienced at least three traumatic events. The estimated prevalence of PTSSs was 20.3%. A low economic status, the number of traumatic events, and a second experience of displacement were associated with increased PTSSs. Five traumatic events were identified as the main predictors of PTSSs.ConclusionFindings from the current preliminary study indicated the impact of war-related traumatic events on IDPs' mental health and the negative effects of post-displacement experiences. These findings may have important implications for setting up psychosocial interventions, as well as for further promoting physical and mental health services among these populations.

Post-traumatic stress disorder and associated factors among internally displaced persons in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…The current review also revealed that an increased frequency of displacement was also found to be significantly associated with PTSD. The finding is consistent with previous studies [ 21 , 23 , 42 , 67 , 68 ]. The number of times an individual had been displaced was positively associated with the risk of PTSD.…”

“…This review revealed that being injured is significantly associated with the existence of PTSD among IDPs, which is in line with other studies [ 23 , 42 , 67 ]. Experiencing physical injury during displacement can significantly increase an individual’s risk of developing PTSD because of direct trauma and physical pain, psychological impact of injury, impact on daily living and functioning, limited access to healthcare and support, trauma reactivation, and reminders of injury.…”

“…Internally displaced persons (IDPs) are particularly vulnerable to PTSD because they have often experienced traumatic events such as violence, loss of loved ones, and destruction of their homes [ 41 , 42 ]. They may also have difficulty accessing mental health care, which can make it harder to recover from PTSD.…”

Mental healthcare among displaced Congolese: policy and stakeholders' analysis

“…There are many possible reasons for why IDPs are at higher risk of developing mental health disorders. Mental illnesses among IDPs can result from multiple, often intersecting factors including direct exposure to the violence and destruction of war like (e.g., physical assault, the destruction of one's home, the disappearance or death of loved ones) and the stressful social and material conditions such as poverty, malnutrition, the destruction of social network or unemployment (Miller and Rasmussen, 2010;Rofo et al, 2023).…”