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Trauma and mental health problems of Sudanese refugees in Uganda
1Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, University of the North, Sovenga, South Africa. PeltzerK@unin.unorth.ac.za
Objectives:
To determine the extent of trauma and mental health problems.
Design:
Screening surveys.
Setting:
Sudanese refugee communities in Northern Ugandan camps.
Subjects:
100 adult refugees, 44 ex-soldiers, 60 patients at camp outpatient health facilities, 63 traditional healers' patients and 56 refugee children.
Main Outcome Measure:
Rate of trauma.
Results:
The most common trauma events experienced by 100 adults were forced isolation from others (94%), forced separation from family members (91%) and lack of food or water (83%). Thirty-two percent of the adults suffered post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Among the 56 children, 12 (20%) suffered from a chronic PTSD. Forty-four ex-soldiers scored a median of 74.6 (Q1 = 62.3; Q3 = 79.1) on the depressive scale of the Hopskins Symptom checklist. Out of 60 outpatients at a dispensary, 12 (20%) had psychological disorder. Out of a total of 63 patients attending traditional and faith healers' facilities, 26% suffered from PTSD and 39% from depressive disorder.
Conclusion:
High rates of trauma and psychosocial problems were found among Sudanese refugees in Uganda.