Document Type : Research articles
Authors
1
, Assistant lecturer Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, High Health Institute, Medical City Directorate, Iraq
2
, Professor Emeritus Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, Egypt
3
, Professor Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, Egypt
4
, Assistant Professor Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Baghdad University, Iraq
Abstract
Background: Internally displaced populations experience a wide range and a high
number of potentially traumatic, repeated, and prolonged adverse events.
Worldwide, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has become the most common
disorder among internally displaced persons (IDPs). It adversely affects the overall
quality of life and psychosocial functioning. Objective: Assess the prevalence rate
of PTSD among persons returning from internal displacement in Baghdad city and
determine which type of traumatic experience had the strongest independent effect
on PTSD. Settings: The present study was conducted in the Al-Karkh directorate
which is affiliated with the Ministry of Migration and Displacement in Iraq.
Subjects: A total of 600 returnees from internal displacement within six months and
aged 18 years and above were recruited. Tools: A socio-demographic, health
status, and traumatic events structured interview schedule, and The PTSD Checklist
for DSM-5 (PCL-5) were used. Results: Sixty-eight percent of the studied subjects
had symptoms of PTSD. The studied subjects who had a family member (s) being
killed as a result of violence were the strongest predictor of PTSD (β = 0.50, t =
18.18, P<0.001). Conclusion: The PTSD rate is substantially high among IDPs in
Iraq. Violence against family members was the most important predictor of PTSD.
Recommendations: Mental health services should be provided to reduce the
negative effects of trauma and strengthen a community-supportive approach to help
returnees reintegrate into society after returning to their place of origin.
Keywords
)
View on SCiNiTO