Citation

Masinda MT, Muhesi M. J. Child Adolesc. Ment. Health 2004; 16(1): 25–30.

Affiliation

Université Catholique du Graben, Département de science politique, République Démocratique du Congo

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, National Inquiry Services Centre, South Africa)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study focuses on post-traumatic reactions of children and adolescents in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The study was conducted in Butembo between April 2001 and May 2001 during the ongoing war that started on 2 August 1999. Semi-structured interviews combining a mix of open- and closed-ended questions were used to collect data from 88 children (44 girls and 44 boys) and 91 schoolteachers (40 women and 51 men) in 24 elementary and 20 secondary schools.

The results show that both children and adolescents, and schoolteachers, are traumatised by war-related traumatic events such as shooting, loss of family members and forced recruitment into the armed forces.

For example, 72.59% children and adolescents said they had lost a family member, 95.45% had experienced shooting, and 75% reported high levels of insecurity leading to a decline in school performance.

The research suggests that international agencies devoted to protecting young people should provide assistance even during war, because the cost of healing may be too high if action is only taken later. Special attention should be given to teachers, arming them with skills that will equip them in supporting traumatised children.