The psychosocial effects of landmines in Jaffna

Datos Bibliográficos

ID19502549
AutoresHentry Roche Gunaratnam (University of Jaffna), Sinothaya Gunaratnam (University of Jaffna), Daya Somasundaram (0000-0003-3305-3320, University of Jaffna)
Año2003
Volumen19
Número3
Páginas223-234
Fecha de publicación2003-07-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaMedicine Conflict & Survival (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1362-3699 • E-ISSN: 1743-9396
EditorialInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13623690308409693
PMID12964706
OpenAlexW1983089977
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas4
Referencias citadas7

The victims of landmines in Jaffna were studied from a psychosocial perspective in order to identity major problem areas and give priorities for rehabilitation. Sixty-seven victims of landmines from April 1996 to March 1998 in the Valikamam area of Jaffna were studied. There were three times as many males as females. About 48 per cent were aged 20-39 years. About one-fifth of the victims were children. Of the females, 60 per cent were unmarried. The majority belonged to the lower socioeconomic strata. Half lost their earning capacity after the injury. Post-traumatic stress disorder (72 per cent), acute stress reaction (73 per cent), anxiety disorder (80 per cent) and depression (73 per cent) were found to be very significantly higher in this group than in the general population. There were also remarkable changes in the areas of functional ability, religious practice, use of alcohol and social relationships. The 'phantom limb' phenomenon was a striking feature among amputees. The psychosocial impact of landmine injuries has to be considered seriously in rehabilitation work

Anxiety · Environmental health · Physical therapy · Population · Psychiatry · Psychosocial · Socioeconomic status · Sociology · Demography · Disaster Response and Management · Medicine · Migration, Health and Trauma · Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research · Rehabilitation