A Qualitative Study of Mental Health Problems among Children Displaced by War in Northern Uganda
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Date
2009
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Transcultural psychiatry
Abstract
While multiple studies have found that children affected by war
are at increased risk for a range of mental health problems, little research
has investigated how mental health problems are perceived locally. In this
study we used a previously developed rapid ethnographic assessment
method to explore local perceptions of mental health problems among
children and adults from the Acholi ethnic group displaced by the war in
northern Uganda. We conducted 45 free list interviews and 57 key informant
interviews. The rapid assessment approach appears to have worked
well for interviewing caretakers and children aged 10–17 years.We describe several locally defined syndromes: two tam/par/kumu (depression and
dysthymia-like syndromes), ma lwor (a mixed anxiety and depression-like
syndrome), and a category of conduct problems referred to as kwo
maraco/gin lugero. The descriptions of these local syndromes were similar
to western mood, anxiety and conduct disorders, but included culturespecific
elements.
Description
Keywords
Children and adolescents, Mental health, Qualitative research, Northern Uganda, War
Citation
Betancourt, T. S., Speelman, L., Onyango, G., & Bolton, P. (2009). A qualitative study of mental health problems among children displaced by war in northern Uganda. Transcultural psychiatry, 46(2), 238-256. DOI: 10.1177/1363461509105815