Citation

Rahman A, Hafeez A. Acta Psychiatr. Scand. 2003; 108(5): 392-393.

Affiliation

Human Development Research Foundation, Islamabad, Pakistan. atif.rahman@ntlworld.com

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

14531761

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To study levels of mental distress in a sample of Afghan mothers caring for children in two refugee camps in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan. METHOD: Cross-sectional survey of 297 consecutive mothers with young children, attending primary care centres, using a psychiatric screening instrument, the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20). RESULTS: One hundred and six (36%) of women in the sample screened positive for a common mental disorder. Ninety-six (91%) of those screening positive had had suicidal thoughts in the previous month, and nine (8%) rated suicidal feeling as their topmost concern. CONCLUSION: There is a high prevalence and severity of mental distress in Afghan mothers caring for young children in refugee camps. This may have serious long-term effects on the psychological and physical development of their children.

Language: en