مجلة كلية الطب (Jul 2016)

Effect of post-traumatic stress disorder on school achievement among secondary school students in Baghdad, Iraq

  • Nesif J. Al-Hemiary,
  • Mushtaq T. Hashim,
  • Ameel F. Al-Shawi,
  • Jawad K. Al-Diwan

DOI
https://doi.org/10.32007/jfacmedbagdad.v2146-148%
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 58, no. 2

Abstract

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Background: Iraqi people were exposed to mass disasters for long periods of time. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may be of particular interest following a mass disaster. Evidence of poor school outcomes among adolescents affected by violence has been reported. Objectives: To study the effect of PTSD on school achievement among secondary school children in Baghdad, Iraq. Materials and methods: A total of 240 secondary school students from 4 secondary schools (2 for boys and 2 for girls) from Baghdad city were included. Multistage random sampling was carried out. Each student was interviewed and a questionnaire (consisted of demographic information, Harvard Trauma Questionnaire, and academic failure) was filled. Academic failure was indicated by poor school achievement. Results: Students with PTSD were 37.1%. No significant association was found between age, sex and PTSD.Of those with PTSD, 86.5% had bad school achievement. Conclusion: high rate of PTSD was reported among secondary school students, and PTSD had a negative impact on their school achievement

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