Post traumatic stress disorder among former child soldiers attending a rehabilitative service and primary school education in northern Uganda.
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Date
2008
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
African health sciences
Abstract
This study was prompted by the psychiatric hospitalization of 12 former child soldiers of the Lord’s Resistance Army
(LRA) at a rehabilitation school in northern Uganda with a case of mass psychotic behavior.
Objectives: To report the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder, depressed mood, and associated risk factors.
Methods: Data on post-traumatic stress disorder, depressed mood, physical disabilities, socio-demographic variables, and the
children’s war experiences were collected in face-to-face interviews using the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ), a modified
Hopkins Symptoms Check-List (HSCL), and a 15-item War Trauma Experience Check-list (WTECL-15). Data was analyzed with
SPSS version 11.0.
Results: There were 58 girls and 44 boys. Eighty nine children (87.3%) reported having experienced ten or more war-related
traumatic psychological events; 55.9% of the children suffered from symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, 88.2%, symptoms of
depressed mood and 21.6% had various forms of physical disability. Nearly half of the children (42.2%) reported a positive family
history of severe mental illness; 10.8%, a family history of suicide; 22.5%, a family history of suicide attempt; and 45.1%, a family
history of alcohol abuse. Children who experienced 10 or more traumatic war events were more likely than the rest to experience
depressed mood. Return through a reception center or through a cleansing ritual did not protect against depression.
Discussion: Post-traumatic stress disorder among former LRA child soldiers at a rehabilitation centre in northern Uganda is
presented. The report highlights the huge unmet need for psychological services among former child soldiers of the LRA.
Description
Keywords
Post traumatic stress disorder, Child soldiers, Rehabilitative service, Primary school education, Northern Uganda
Citation
Ovuga, E., Oyok, T. O., & Moro, E. B. (2008). Post traumatic stress disorder among former child soldiers attending a rehabilitative service and primary school education in northern Uganda. African health sciences, 8(3), 136-141.