Mental health status of internally displaced persons in the Garmian region of Kurdistan, Iraq

A cross-sectional survey

Bibliographic Data

ID19503525
AuthorsPegah Seidi (0000-0002-7133-9701, Research Center, University of Garmian, Kalar, Iraq, corresponding author), Dilshad Jaff (0000-0002-9364-5152, Research, Innovation, and Global Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA), Nazdar Qudrat Abas (0000-0003-0894-9918, University of Garmian), Esther O Chung (0000-0002-2866-949X, Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA), Michael W Wilson (0009-0004-8618-9226, Advance Access & Delivery, Durham, NC, USA), Hannah Potter (Department of Maternal and Child Health, Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA), Aunchalee E L Palmquist (0000-0002-0848-6952, Department of Maternal and Child Health, Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA)
Year2023
Volume39
Issue2
Pages117-131
Publication date2023-04-03
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueMedicine Conflict & Survival (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1362-3699 • E-ISSN: 1743-9396
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13623699.2023.2188384
PMID36992622
OpenAlexW4361281202
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited23

There are an estimated 4 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Iraq, mainly settled in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and yet few studies have documented the mental health of IDPs in the region. The aims of this study were (1) to assess the prevalence of mental health disorders and trauma experiences amongst IDPs and (2) to explore associations between prior displacement and years living in the camp and mental health disorders. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with adults (N = 100) from March - July 2018. Structured surveys were used to collect sociodemographic information, and adapted measures included the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ), Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Inventory (PTSD-8), Hopkins Symptoms Checklist-25 (HSCL-25) and the Post-Migration Living Difficulties Checklist (PMLD). The average number of traumatic events experienced was 4.43 (SD = 2.63). The most commonly reported traumatic events included oppression due to ethnicity, religion or sect (92%) and exposure to combat situations (83%). Nearly half of the participants had experienced ill health without access to medical care, 44% lack of shelter and 43% lack of food or clean water. Thirty-two percent of respondents witnessed someone being murdered. There is a critical need for quality mental health services for IDPs in KR

Checklist · Cross-sectional study · Environmental health · Geography · Internally displaced person · Mental health · Population · Psychiatry · Refugee · Employment and Welfare Studies · Health and Conflict Studies · Medicine · Migration, Health and Trauma · Psychology · Gerontology

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