Psychology Research and Behavior Management (Feb 2022)
About Six in Ten Survivors of the November 2020 Maikadra Massacre Suffer from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Northwest Ethiopia
Abstract
Dawed Ali,1 Telake Azale,2 Melese Wondie,1 Jinenus Tadesse1 1University of Gondar, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Psychiatry, Gondar, Ethiopia; 2University of Gondar, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department Health Education and Behavioral Sciences, Gondar, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Telake AzaleUniversity of Gondar, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Health Education and Behavioral Sciences, PO Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia, Tel +251 918771951, Email [email protected]: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by recurrent, involuntary, and intrusive distressing memories of a traumatic event and dissociative reactions. Little is known about post-traumatic stress disorder in low and middle income countries such as Ethiopia where armed conflict, human rights violations, and ethnic-based violence are becoming everyday occurrences.Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder and associated factors among residents of Maikadra, North West Ethiopia.Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was employed in April 2021. A multi-stage cluster sampling technique was employed to select the study participants. A post-traumatic stress disorder checklist (PCL-5) was used to assess post-traumatic stress disorder through a face-to-face interview. Bivariate and multi-variable binary logistic regression analyses were carried out to examine the association between posttraumatic stress disorder and several demographic and psychosocial variables. Statistical significance was declared at a P-value < 0.05.Results: A total of 610 participants were interviewed with a response rate of 98.8%. The prevalence of PTSD in this study was 59.8% with a 95% CI of 55.7– 63.9. Female sex (AOR=1.93, 95% CI=1.64– 3.24), having a close family member killed or seriously injured (AOR=1.96, 95% CI=1.1– 3.48), having moderate (AOR=3.35, 95% CI=1.98– 5.68) and high perceived threat to life (AOR=3.66, 95% CI=1.85– 6.95), having depression (AOR=1.67, 95% CI=1.13– 2.47) and anxiety disorder (AOR=1.85, 95% CI=1.21– 2.83), and being directly exposed to the event (AOR=3.27, 95% CI=1.09– 9.83) were significantly associated with post-traumatic stress disorder.Conclusion: The majority of the residents of Maikadra town where the November 2020 massacre took place experienced posttraumatic stress disorder. Female sex, having a family member or a friend murdered or seriously injured, having depression and anxiety disorders and being directly exposed to the trauma were found to be significant predictors of post-traumatic stress disorder. People who have been exposed to such an intense traumatic event need psychosocial support to help them recover from the horrible experiences.Keywords: PTSD, prevalence, Maikadra, survivors, Ethiopia
