Sexual trauma and post-traumatic stress among African female refugees and migrants in South Africa
S. Afr. j. psychiatry (Online)
; 24: 1-4, 2018. tab
Article
in English
| AIM (Africa)
| ID: biblio-1270855
Responsible library:
CG1.1
ABSTRACT
Background:
While there is considerable research in developed countries on the nature and extent of post-traumatic stress among refugees and migrants, few report on female Africans migrating within Africa.Aim:
The aim of this study was to investigate the association between exposure to traumatic life events and post-traumatic stress disorder risk in refugees and migrants in Durban, South Africa, with specific focus on sexual trauma events among women.Methods:
Interviews were conducted on 157 consenting non-South African adults using a sociodemographic questionnaire, Life Events Checklist (documenting traumatic events experienced) and the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (measuring post-traumatic symptomatology). Associations between total number of traumatic events and post-traumatic stress were explored using adjusted regression models.Results:
The results of one model indicated that greater numbers of traumatic life events experienced by women were associated with raised odds of post-traumatic stress disorder risk (ß = 1.48; p < 0.001). Another model indicated that exposure to sexual trauma events were associated with greater odds of post-traumatic stress disorder risk (ß = 4.09; p = 0.02).Conclusion:
Our findings highlight the critical importance of mental health service for females with history of sexual traumatic events for this vulnerable population
Search on Google
Database:
AIM (Africa)
Main subject:
Refugees
/
South Africa
/
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
/
Female
/
Mental Health
Type of study:
Prognostic study
Country/Region as subject:
Africa
Language:
English
Journal:
S. Afr. j. psychiatry (Online)
Year:
2018
Document type:
Article